Loftus Road is actually a former Isthmian League venue, a team called Shepherds Bush FC played here, before they folded in 1915, & QPR took over the tenancy, in .1917.
I first saw a match here when I was at school, in the early eighties. It was a mid-season friendly, during bad weather, when they had their awful artificial pitch, nothing like modern ones, when they played Notts County. In the late eighties I saw Dulwich Hamlet lose here, also on the 'carpet', in an FA Youth Cup replay, losing 6-0!
It is also a ground where I have been arrested at! In the mid eighties a controversial christian preacher Maurice Cerullo hired the venue, & I was part of a demonstration disrupting it!
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uEXgcYJCH3A/TyxJDyI7M6I/AAAAAAAAAs0/GjqPOaTN2RQ/s400/DSCF1623.jpg)
The ground, to the right, is nestled into the community, a local council estate next to it.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0XC_YaFMGdg/TyxIlnq2QvI/AAAAAAAAAsc/IxsCL07z6vg/s400/DSCF1617.jpg)
Approaching the ground, this is the main side, on South Africa Road, and will be the only stand open this evening.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-npwcAPDxmQs/TyxIleMd9XI/AAAAAAAAAsk/G0EMtzZwbDQ/s400/DSCF1618.jpg)
Some of the turnstiles.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-thv1Dv0d-3E/TyxJc2cJwTI/AAAAAAAAAs8/y0kgLnVIihE/s400/DSCF1624.jpg)
The usual things of items not allowed. Cameras? Ahem....
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hAYtN0OT_m4/TyxJBGZh1LI/AAAAAAAAA0E/WIovdmtGwY0/s400/DSCF1619.jpg)
The main entrance.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eC78OGxraBs/TyxJhqvQjSI/AAAAAAAAAtE/fGZXPrQCnqM/s400/DSCF1628.jpg)
And the players one, note the frosted glass to the right of the steps.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YoyZUcSDUdo/TyxJ41aDWgI/AAAAAAAAAtM/gt2lO1orP9g/s400/DSCF1630.jpg)
Former club greats listed on it.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oD4xvCGqZos/TyxKVbXa6VI/AAAAAAAAAtc/RrSa8IyasU4/s400/DSCF1632.jpg)
Just inside, can't recall if it was the players entrance, or the other one, to be honest, was this trophy & plaque. An 'Oi! You can't come in here!' moment!
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nzSVlg7tbKw/TyxUued_BvI/AAAAAAAAAz4/BVejr7b61tw/s400/DSCF1699.jpg)
Moving along the street, we're almost at the next corner of the ground.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g9ZV2s9MOUM/TyxKax7tjVI/AAAAAAAAAtk/5DORhPt90ic/s400/DSCF1634.jpg)
The club shop is here, but it was closed when I took this.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vcUy0KfpOL4/TyxKxA3YphI/AAAAAAAAAts/zXB31dn2uvc/s400/DSCF1635.jpg)
A map of the ground.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bjeYQC9O1IQ/TyxK1tnaODI/AAAAAAAAAt0/tWwzRImrCQo/s400/DSCF1637.jpg)
Only one entrance was open for spectators, up these steps.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GgZDk4eOqK8/TyxLOCAmMxI/AAAAAAAAAt8/e_NtbAjvtHw/s400/DSCF1639.jpg)
A little graffiti, ironically from the 'Tidy Boys'!
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-noHMSkf6hpY/TyxLSBeloeI/AAAAAAAAA0I/boNfJndyO7o/s400/DSCF1641.jpg)
At the top of the steps is this concourse.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DeqKY5HkLTw/TyxLpyiDn3I/AAAAAAAAAuM/AGbloZM9AyU/s400/DSCF1642.jpg)
Refreshment areas.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QpsBdSO0iJk/TyxLvnSIYCI/AAAAAAAAAuU/C5oYU-WdD5s/s400/DSCF1643.jpg)
At and the end the press area.
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6iUBeOTnD18/TyxMLw_CpZI/AAAAAAAAAuk/zYa6bWnY6HU/s400/DSCF1645.jpg)
The windows are nicely done, with programme covers from some of their major games of the past.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oSVZGr9lmew/TyxMGeF2vnI/AAAAAAAAAuc/r949v0GwMeo/s400/DSCF1644.jpg)
And pictures of heroes from yesteryear.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i6iNIAXAvcI/TyxMkpRl-BI/AAAAAAAAAus/dwZk6wHEbIg/s400/DSCF1646.jpg)
Inside the ground, we are in the South Africa Road stand, I go toward the corner on the right, where we see the two tiered School End,behind the goal, where away fans are housed.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9NZVQS6ag-k/TyxMmyOBbcI/AAAAAAAAAu0/sk5s35cdkyA/s400/DSCF1647.jpg)
Across the pitch is the Ellierslie Road stand.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gvy8-JPRNUY/TyxNBFq7JCI/AAAAAAAAAu8/dF2mYU1bk0U/s400/DSCF1648.jpg)
Here we glance along the South Africa Road stand.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vJO6a9IyDqA/TyxNDVSehbI/AAAAAAAAAvE/oVe1P2_2LAI/s400/DSCF1649.jpg)
While to the left is the Loftus Road end.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kSwAW1OX7_w/TyxNeJCuHnI/AAAAAAAAAvM/lUzmJV5K8j0/s400/DSCF1651.jpg)
Many of the seats in the main stand are reserved for season ticket holders, with their own names on them.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-004h8vfcslg/TyxNfBYOsYI/AAAAAAAAAvU/q7FH3RB67qQ/s400/DSCF1652.jpg)
Back in the corner, I can't get right to the end, as it's taped off.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9YO_kme8Kvk/TyxN7hxlg-I/AAAAAAAAAvc/yKMcsMyuy84/s400/DSCF1654.jpg)
From the back rows we see over the penalty area.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N92uFkP-sLU/TyxN8NyfeII/AAAAAAAAAvk/-k8ZNp1wK1A/s400/DSCF1655.jpg)
Then turn left, along the main stand again.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9-CuEE-WH1Y/TyxOYAHUpqI/AAAAAAAAAvs/AvQJWI1jKAk/s400/DSCF1656.jpg)
Toward the centre there are press seats at the back.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Eoys-PP581Y/TyxOZXfiw7I/AAAAAAAAAv0/wrbWu2AqfHo/s400/DSCF1658.jpg)
Not many in use, unsurprisingly, this evening.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DmP21t9Xo68/TyxO3HqMf-I/AAAAAAAAAwE/z_eLxCjYtx8/s400/DSCF1661.jpg)
Same spot, but looking more down to the pitch.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZnB9lVtczq8/TyxPS2BQndI/AAAAAAAAAwM/RehOKenqH3A/s400/DSCF1662.jpg)
This was the view, from the area I chsoe to sit.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6K7-ACGCV3c/TyxO0xzMa9I/AAAAAAAAAv8/LB8v21E23pw/s400/DSCF1659.jpg)
Turning the other way...
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A68WVAD4yS4/TyxPVZQt8yI/AAAAAAAAAwU/itUg1ROpV0U/s400/DSCF1663.jpg)
Here we try to see the rest of the South Africa Road stand, which was closed, like the rest of the stadium.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v_xf74S_Vs8/TyxPxMzS7eI/AAAAAAAAAwc/qQXCIu6QgHk/s400/DSCF1665.jpg)
Over the halfway line area.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s6cRbheAlXY/TyxPyU9uEnI/AAAAAAAAAwk/N9aj-diWjZU/s400/DSCF1667.jpg)
The stand fuller, with the match underway.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ACwSUUiPmq4/TyxRnje2pII/AAAAAAAAAxk/1TJPSa6WMog/s400/DSCF1682.jpg)
Another almost identical view across the pitch.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Jlfnj243l3A/TyxS5oUatjI/AAAAAAAAAyM/EIQXuZd-ujg/s400/DSCF1687.jpg)
Similar view, but not zoomed in.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZmgDMwS3FWc/TyxUL5zX9oI/AAAAAAAAAy8/ZBk0NhhqMCA/s400/DSCF1695.jpg)
At the end of the game I tried to lean over the front, I presume these are roofs of executive boxes, below?
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yxQ-6OwBN-U/TyxUn57hSPI/AAAAAAAAAzM/2ut4Kyfy0Qw/s400/DSCF1697.jpg)
And now for a few photos from the game itself, not the best, as my camera doesn't do night games, but I thought I'd give it a try under the powerful Premiership floodlights.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A8SzU5HPKxM/TyxQPEVi1JI/AAAAAAAAAws/y9HU87mNF-I/s400/DSCF1668.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A8SzU5HPKxM/TyxQPEVi1JI/AAAAAAAAAws/y9HU87mNF-I/s400/DSCF1668.jpg)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2KHbfu9QejQ/TyxQtEu8HsI/AAAAAAAAAxA/eWJ3gx1akdU/s400/DSCF1671.jpg)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QMOg4Cnaf5A/TyxQtAbD0OI/AAAAAAAAAw8/I0tGtG-w5Ng/s400/DSCF1672.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4QUCFXHfLTg/TyxRJ2V6cZI/AAAAAAAAAxM/KsHBbk5zXNI/s400/DSCF1673.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fxEMMoYa0Jc/TyxRKBAejlI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/6qHOiBBkIYE/s400/DSCF1676.jpg)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y0hicf0uYA0/TyxRlieNPXI/AAAAAAAAAxc/5acvGvP4zGc/s400/DSCF1679.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FDN82ETL-1I/TyxSBUaQRaI/AAAAAAAAAxs/AWfluyk4cSI/s400/DSCF1683.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1n5lGGifz1A/TyxSFFv9brI/AAAAAAAAAx0/QqtgNU6E8QA/s400/DSCF1684.jpg)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KDFOFbrom6A/TyxSdcimZTI/AAAAAAAAAx8/THuIaEqIKR4/s400/DSCF1685.jpg)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YsVVmMuPdsE/TyxSgsSylfI/AAAAAAAAAyE/3W6kBsqT3B0/s400/DSCF1686.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nqY-1wUsJNU/TyxS-LRlECI/AAAAAAAAAyU/w6h3KtjQfIg/s400/DSCF1688.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yXB9p2cC6nQ/TyxTVb_9d5I/AAAAAAAAAyc/6JNWgQTRNKE/s400/DSCF1690.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hOnH5d28piM/TyxTaHflOvI/AAAAAAAAAyk/kMJW-Zat57g/s400/DSCF1691.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O1XwKAdbTHs/TyxTxtqbuAI/AAAAAAAAAys/OceTbdLvilU/s400/DSCF1692.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1jJyUZqs2XM/TyxUVXKV7lI/AAAAAAAAAzE/E5vw2kfyEJE/s400/DSCF1696.jpg)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cNNqEsAg1QI/TyxJ9n348OI/AAAAAAAAAtU/7M1jAnf_rT8/s400/DSCF1631.jpg)
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