This season has ended in tears of joy and jubilation rather than hurt. The team has succeeded in its aim of promotion to the 1st division thanks to another must win game on the last game of the season. This time away at struggling Sheffield Wednesday.
8-10,000 away fans travelled north in the hope of seeing history and a promotion winning victory. Pre-match nerves matched the build up and expectation...as the ground began to fill up. Blue and white filled the away following with balloons, confetti, scarves, replica shirts, flags and banners. It felt like Cardiff all over again- this time we were praying for the fairytale ending which we had missed.
Manager and messiah Ian Holloway walked around the ground before kick-off hugging fans and supporters, shaking hands and even posing for photographs, being flattered by good luck messages, maybe even tactics “play Thorpe” “play Cureton” “go 4-3-3”. Ollie knew what we had to do and he knew what team to play, he simply smiled an agreed with every strategy posed to him.
The team had been picked and it was down to them from now on, apart of course to the mammoth following who would be roaring the boys from West London on from the stands.
Referee Mark Clattenburg blew his whistle at 3.02pm and the rollercoaster ride had begun. 90 minutes of emotions would no doubt be endured as elation; dejection and anxiety would surely fill in somewhere.
Rangers began excellently, chasing down every Owls player in possession, forcing errors and picking up the loose balls wherever possible. Down the left Martin Rowlands and Gino Padula constantly had their defenders beaten and Gareth Ainsworth down the right was as always putting 110% into every challenge.
Up front R’s legend Kevin Gallen spearheaded the attack alongside veteran Paul Furlong (one of many out of contract this summer).
Rowlands had two early shots from distance flash past both posts, Gallen also tried his luck-but with his back to goal he chipped the ball over the top of Kevin Pressman’s goal.
After 20 minutes news was fed through the scoreboard that rivals Bristol City had taken a one and then two minutes later two-goal lead at home to Blackpool. That meant Rangers needed maximum points to grab promotion back to the 1st division.
The news seemed to transfer onto the pitch. Wednesday had started to edge their way slowly back into the game and were twice in positions in which they should have done better. First through Mark Robins and then moments later Lee Camp was called upon to break down a promising attack which saw Jon Shaw nearly get on the end of a penetrating ball from Paul McLaren.
From then on until half time it was all Rangers. Paul Furlong headed over when well placed after excellent work from the ever-impressive Martin Rowlands.
Clarke Carlisle was an early casualty having to be taken off after a bang on his right ankle. Arthur Gnohere took his place and slotted in beside Matthew Rose in the heart of the defence.
It was Rose who was helping to keep the scores level with some superb last-ditch tackles and interceptions.
Marc Bircham, sporting his blue and white hairstyle was tireless in the centre of midfield next to Richard Johnson.
On 35 minutes the break through came. Following some good work from right back Richard Edghill, Bircham made his way into the penalty area and fed a low ball into Furlong who held off his defender and Gallen slotted home from five yards. The away end erupted, fans, players and management were caught up in emotion. There was still 55 minutes to play but nobody could deny anyone connected with the club their delight in taking the lead.
It was Gallen’s 17th league goal of the season and how fitting for the local Hammersmith born king of Queens Park Rangers to give them the advantage on D-day.
The first half ended much the same as it had began. Neither Ainsworth nor Furlong could double the advantage and Rangers went into the interval with there heads high and the supporters dreaming of promotion. Fingers crossed that it would stay the same.
Rangers came out of the break flying, three minutes into the second half Furlong had grabbed the goal that the fans were crying out for. Bircham who was having by far his best game of the season had won the ball on the right hand side and floated a beautiful ball in for Furlong who controlled it deftly on his chest, turned and stroked it first time past the hapless Pressman.
Rangers seemed to sit back then, much to the frustration of the fans as Wednesday now started to look dangerous on attacking the R’s goal. Chris Brunt twice came close for the Owls and then Chris Carr somehow missed the target from six yards.
On the hour mark teenage winger Jon Shaw netted the goal Wednesday had started to deserve. A snap shot from 20 yards to beat Camp following neat build up play involving Robins and McLaren.
2-1 with half and hour and the impetus with the home side. Their tails were up and their supporters behind them, enjoying our agony they would have loved to spoil the party. It seemed to galvanise them as they pressed for an equaliser. But for utility man Rose stepping in time after time to spoil what looked like promising attacks.
Rangers were under the cosh and needing a bit of luck. Luck that had evaded the Hoops since that first game of the season.
Our prayers were answered with an own goal from Carr on 69 minutes. Rowlands had broken down the right and had dazzled two Wednesday defenders with his magical tricks and delivered a wicked cross. Carr could only swing a foot at the incoming ball only to see it slice straight over his head into the top hand corner of the net. Pressman was again beaten convincingly and Rangers had established that two-goal lead again.
The fans were in ecstasy. One man close to me looked ready to burst in emotion. His cheeks were bright pink, tears had filled his eyes but 10,000 others somewhere or another felt the emotion in the ground.
The game was over from then on. All that mattered was when the referee would blow his whistle to start the party. In truth the party had already began in the stands as R’s fans sang “now you gota’ believe us the R’s are going up”. They were dead right.
An ironic cheer from the fans greeted every pass as the players enjoyed their final moments as division two players. Not all of which will be playing a division higher in August according to Ian Holloway. Many of them “55% of the players who played” are out of contract in the summer and therefore which division they play their trade in next season is still up in the air.
It did not stop them enjoying the promotion party. After 93 minutes referee Mark Clattenburg blew his whistle and R’s players and fans alike went ballistic. Bircham threw himself into adoring supporters; others simply dropped to the floor as the reality hit them. This was the seasons aim and it had finally been achieved, a fortnight later than Plymouth had done the same- in front of us.
As everyone celebrated together, Sheffield fans swamped the pitch in protest at their chairman but nothing could spoil the sheer relief and happiness felt by all Rangers followers.
Next year trips to Leeds, possibly West Ham, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield again (United this time), and a chance for revenge at Cardiff where a certain Richard Langley is now playing his trade. Its a refreshing change to home games on a Tuesday night against Port Vale, Chesterfield and having to renew that rivalry with Brentford.
As Ollie says, the club is on the up and this promotion is just the first step. Pivotal players can now be kept on, the rebuilding can continue and the team will grow as the fan base does too. Hopefully we can steady ourselves next season, maybe even a playoff place- after all Wigan and Reading did it when they went up and consolidate out future with a healthy investment from on of the many consortiums bidding to take control. Who knows maybe even a Russian billionaire will want to take over now? Ok that was going too far.
Whatever happens everyone should be delighted and enthusiastic about he future our club has, I know one thing I can’t wait to see the boys back in action even if its in a pre-season friendly.
Rangers are back.