Loftus Road

What's The Ground Like?

Loftus Road has a compact feel, as the ground is totally enclosed, with supporters being close to the pitch. An unusual aspect is that all four stands are roughly the same height, their roofs meet at all four corners with no gaps. The South Africa Road Stand on one side of the ground, has a larger upper tier, compared to the lower tier, with a row of executive boxes running across the middle. There are a couple of supporting pillars in this stand. The other side, the Ellerslie Road Stand, is single tiered, with a television gantry suspended below its roof. Both ends are similar looking two tiered stands. There is a small electric scoreboard at the away end of the ground, dividing the two tiers. The ground oozes character and there is nothing similar in the league. However, Loftus Road is starting to look  tired, having had little recent investment.

What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?

Away fans are situated in the lower tier of the School End, where 1,279 fans can be accommodated. If demand requires it then the upper tier can also be allocated, increasing the number of places available to around 2,500. If the away club only takes the lower tier allocation, then the upper tier is allocated to home supporters. However, unlike most other grounds the upper tier of the School End doesn't necessarily  mean a better view as James Brooks a visiting Derby fan informs me; 'Unless you sit right at the front of the upper tier, you can't see all the goal at the near end or indeed the last couple of yards of the pitch'.

I must say that on my three visits, I have found the stadium lacking a little in atmosphere. Also the leg room between rows of seats was a little tight. There is normally quite a large police and steward presence, and you should expect to be searched before you enter the away end. However on the plus side I have never experienced any problems there, as it is generally relaxed and friendly. Dan Markham a QPR fan disagrees with me; 'It is virtually impossible to have such a small compact enclosed stadium, and not have a tremendous atmosphere. You are close to the pitch, close to the visiting fans and most importantly close to the action'. Another plus point was that the food that was served within the ground was quite good and the service prompt.

Richard Wilson, a visiting Birmingham City supporter adds; 'A word of advice for away fans. They are often very slow at the turnstiles at Loftus Road. I would seriously suggest arriving half an hour before kick off, or risk missing the start of the game'.

Where To Eat & Drink?

Grant Donnohoe recommends the Springbok right by the ground (near the ticket office). Come out of White City Underground Station, go down the road right in front of the station; the Springbok is down on the left. Whilst Richard Wilson recommends 'The Green' in Shepherds Bush. Exiting Shepherds Bush Underground Station, on the Hammersmith & City line, turn left out of the station and 'The Green' is a short way down the road on the left. The pub sits across from Shepherds Bush Green where there are other pubs to be found nearby, such as O'Neills. Diagonally across Shepherds Bush Green opposite the Central line entrance to Shepherds Bush Underground Station, is a retail complex called Vue, which upstairs includes a Wetherspoons outlet. Please note that alcohol is not available in the away end. 

On the eating front David Frodsham adds; 'On my travels to many football grounds, I have yet to find a wider selection of food available than on the Uxbridge Road. The cosmopolitan inner city nature means that you can almost eat your way around the world. From the normal range of cafes, burger bars, fried chicken outlets and chippies, there are Indian, Chinese & Thai outlets. There are Lebanese and Indian kebab shops, the latter selling "doner" kebabs made with Indian spices!

How To Get There By Car And Where To Park

From The North/West:
At the end of the M40, take the A40 towards Central London.  At the point where the A40 becomes the A40(M), turn off onto the A40 towards White City/Shepherds Bush and turn right into Wood Lane, turn right into South Africa Road for the ground.

Daniel Sleigh a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; 'There is a car park on the Ariel Way industrial opposite the BBC television centre. The car park located at the end of Silver Road (near the royal mail unit) It costs £6 and is open 12:00-19:00 for afternoon games and 16:30 -23:00 for evening games'. Otherwise it is a case of trying to find some street parking.

For a map showing the location of the ground and the surrounding area click here (to take you to the Street Map website).

<SMALL>To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here.</SMALL>

How To Get There By Train/Tube

I tend to use Shepherds Bush tube station, simply because there seems to be more pubs around this area. There are in fact two Shepherds Bush tube stations, one on the Central Line and the other on the Hammersmith & City line. The latter is nearer to the ground which is about a ten minute walk. Leaving the tube station turn right and the ground will come into view further down on the right. Michael Howard a visiting Reading supporter recommends; 'White City Tube on Wood Lane (opposite the BBC Television Centre). It's nearer the ground and less people seem to use it on match day'. Please note that Queens Park tube station is nowhere near the ground!.

Jonathan Burt adds; 'the nearest train station to the ground is Kensington Olympia which can be
accessed via Watford or Clapham Junction. It is normally much quicker to get to the ground this way rather than using the tube line, it really cuts down the journey time.  Olympia station is about 20 to 25 minutes walk away from the ground, or about 10 to 15 minutes walk away from Shepherds Bush Green.

Admission Prices

The Club operate a match category policy (A & Standard) whereby the more popular matches cost more to watch. Standard prices are shown below in brackets.

Home Fans:
South Africa Road - Adults £30 (£28), OAP's £19 (£17), Juveniles £16 (£14)
Ellerslie Road Stand - Adults £28 (£26), OAP's £17 (£15), Juveniles £15 (£13)
Loftus Road Stand - Adults £26 (£24), OAP's £16 (£14), Juveniles £14 (£12)
East & West Paddocks - Adults £24 (£22), OAP's £15 (£13), Juveniles £13 (£11)

Away Fans:
School End Stand - Adults £26 (£24), OAP's £16 (£14), Juveniles £14 (£12)

Programme & Fanzine

Official Programme £3
A Kick Up The R's Fanzine £2.50

What Do The QPR Fans Sing?

Up your a**e, oh up your a**e,
We'll stick the blue flag up your a**e,
From Stamford Bridge to Wembley,
We'll stick the blue flag up your a**e.!

We're the Q block, We're the Q block, We're the Q block Shepherds Bush....
We're the P block, We're the P block, We're the P block in Shepherds Bush....
We're the R block ... (and so on in sequence)

Chim chim-enee, chim chim-enee, Chim chim cheroo,
Who needs Sol Campbell when we've got Shittu!

I’m Rangers ‘til I die, I’m Rangers ‘til I die,
I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m Rangers ‘til I die!

Kevin Gallen's magic, he wears a magic hat,
He plays for Queens Park Rangers, he's such a lovely chap.
He scores with his left foot, he scores with his right
And when we play the Chelsea, he scores all ****** night !

Come On You R's!
We are QPR, say we are QPR...

Thanks to David Frodsham, Rob Finn Lex Harris, David Pearce & Jonathan Harris for providing the song information.

Local Rivals

Brentford, Fulham, Chelsea.

Record & Average Attendance

Record Attendance:
35,353 v Leeds United,
Division One, April 27th, 1974.

Modern All Seated Attendance Record:
19,002 v Manchester City
Division One, November 6th, 1999.

Average Attendance:
2004-2005: 16,056 (Championship League)
2003-2004: 14,785 (Division Two)
2002-2003: 13,206 (Division Two)