FIRST TEAM

 
QPRnet.com
 

Have your say on our message board
 

Upload your QPR pictures to our photo gallery
 

Read a range of opinions on our regular blogs
 

Check your team's progress in Fantasy Rangers
 

Stay in touch on the move with QPRnet Mobile
 
 
Varc's Ex Files
Season 1, File 6

So last week I mentioned the fact that on the back of a great season with Barnet, ex Ranger Wayne Purser had been signed by Leyton Orient. What did he do? On his debut for the O's he scored a hat-trick! Congratulations Wayne!
 

But I reckon, such was the depth of our youth squad at his time, there will be more like him who will be bouncing back to the football league. Many I have mentioned already, but there are plenty more starting to make names for themselves and sometimes I wonder why we don't give them a chance to shine in our reserves instead of filling them with people who have failed elsewhere.

Having watched the reserves and youths on and off for the past few seasons I have seen lots of players who I considered prospects, but somehow never get the breaks. However, the disappearance of one such person this season fills me with disbelief. I had watched Luke Sheekey in the reserves having been promoted from the youth set up and he seemed sharp and dangerous in font of goal. Then suddenly... he's gone. I thought he was injured, or maybe even just dropped, so I was shocked to hear from ex files reader Terry Carter, who noticed that he had scored for Hanwell Town.

Hanwell play in the Minerva Spartan South Midlands League and, to be honest, are pretty rubbish. Having checked it out Luke has scored 5 goals in the last 3 weeks and if only the rest of his team could defend they might be doing well, rather than the current mid table mediocrity they enjoy. This week Hanwell lost 4-2 to Milton Keynes City (that's the real one and not the fake ones who pretend to be something to do with Wimbledon).

So, my question to QPR, is what are you playing at? Obviously they didn't want us to know he had been released or it would have been mentioned on the website. Wouldn't it? Maybe not. The official website is pretty poor once you get outside the first team coverage. They barely even advertise the upcoming reserve games, and can't even be bothered to carry an up to date results section. Ridiculous really.

A few weeks back we had a keeper on trial from Chippenham Town. Some of you may have seen the story on the messageboards but I will repeat the poor mans bizarre bad luck story here as a number of people had emailed it to me. James Bittner was forced out of one of his Town matches after only one minute when a hockey ball from a nearby all-weather pitch ricocheted off a crossbar, cleared two fences and almost dislocated his shoulder. The injury came just at the time we were going to extend his trial but effectively ended it! He didn't do too good this week either, letting in 3 at home to Hednesford Town.

Today I am going to feature the team of Canvey Island. Currently they are having a good season in the Ryman Premier, and some of the credit has to go to QPR. Most recently signed is Richard Graham, who has been about a bit and featured once already in the ex files when at Billericay. He must have had a domestic with his brother since then because having recently been joined at the hip at Aldershot then Billericay, Mark has stayed put this time!

Richard has paired up with another of the old boys from the QPR academy Steve Parmenter. Steve has scored 6 goals this season, his latest at the weekend in a resounding 6-1 win for the Islanders. And, if it wasn't for the St Albans keeper, the 6th goal would have belonged to Bertie Brayley, who completes the triumvirate of Canvey R's.

So Canvey stay second behind the other QPR old boy's network of Aldershot. Nikki Bull and Lee Charles are well on their way to the Conference after a 2-0 win against Enfield.  A good Ryman week for the ex hoops was completed by Justin Cochrane, who kept his composure and calmly slotted home an equalising penalty in the 90th minute at Maidenhead for Hayes.

Elsewhere, who else has been on the scoresheet this week? Well after receiving the cruellest of reflections by me last week my hat has been doffed to Dave McEwen. Not only did he get on the scoresheet for Hertford Town but was described in the Non League paper as "rifling home a spectacular shot from the edge of the box" and earlier going "close for Hertford with a rasping 25 yard drive". Perhaps I shouldn't spoil it for the lad by mentioning that they lost and still sit bottom of the division having conceded 102 goals. Oops, too late!

Meanwhile, over in the Dr Martens Eastern division, Hamid Barr, scored yet again for Tonbridge Angels, this time lobbing the keeper, to crown a 3-1 win.

Finally, in one of the biggest non-league games of the season so far, the FA Trophy semi-final between Aylesbury United and Burscough (sounds more like something you would do if you contracted the deadly Asian SARS virus, than a football team) appears what I think is one of our current squads major prospects, Marien Ifura. How he got there I have no idea, lets face it the club weren't going to tell us, but it appears he is on loan. However, now I've told you all, the least you can do is get behind him and Aylesbury, and hope that one of OUR players gets to bring home one of the FA's prized medals. Its 1-1 after the first leg and they must travel to Burscough (sorry), managed by Shaun Teale (former Villa player) in a bid to reach the final. I will of course keep you posted as to how he does.

Thanks again to those who contributed this week

varc@qprnet.com