Alan McDonald - THREAD #QPR

A story about the time I met Alan McDonald. Amazing to think the following happened 30 years ago now! So..

It was February half term in 1991. I would have been about 14 years old at the time.

I decided I wanted to go & watch QPR train. At the time they trained at the British Gas Sports Ground in Acton. So I got a map & worked out how to get there, I lived in Ruislip at the time. A couple of mates decided to come with me so off we set.

We found the ground & wandered in. It seemed pretty quiet; certainly couldn’t see any footballers on any of the fields. Dejected, we turned around to go when a voice shouted to us - it was the voice of Brian Morris, the physio of QPR at the time.

He asked us what we were doing - I explained. He then asked where we’d travelled from.
“ Wait there, I’ll see if I can get you a lift home.”
A couple of minutes later, he came back.
“I’ve got you a lift.”
Out of the building came Alan McDonald. “Hi lads. Follow me.”

I couldn’t believe it!
Our lift home was from Macca!
He had been in having some treatment on an injury. He drove a Ford Sierra Cosworth - quite a car back then. We all jumped in & it wasn’t long before we were flying down the A40 towards Ruislip.

I spent the journey quizzing him on QPR, what it was like to play at the World Cup, anything I could think of! The journey flew by. He dropped us off at Hillingdon Station. However, the story doesn’t end there....

“If you boys aren’t doing anything tomorrow, meet me by the Master Brewer Hotel at half 9 tomorrow & I’ll take you to watch us train“.
I couldn’t believe it! Of course we took up the invitation. I could barely sleep that night, it was like Christmas Eve!

So, next day, my mates & I made our way down to the entrance of the Master Brewer Hotel ( this was across from Hillingdon Station). We got there half an hour early at 9 but to our astonishment Macca was already there waiting for us !!

I remember 2 things driving in - one was him taking a call from Don Howe on his car phone asking him about how his injury was. The other thing was Macca offering us all a cigarette

The day at training was amazing. We sat & watched the first team - I think they had an upcoming away game at Luton. When they warmed down, Macca gave us a shout & let us have a kick about with him & some of the others - remember taking a few shots at a bemused Tony Roberts

I also remember sitting having some lunch with the players in the canteen. I remember talking to Ray Wilkins & Clive Wilson in particular , and filling up my autograph book. It was a memorable day & went too quickly. Macca then dropped us all back home too.

What a man - imagine this happening nowadays & the credit he’d get for doing such a great thing. He was the heartbeat of that squad & it felt like meeting extended family. I wrote to the club to thank him; I hope he got that letter.

So that was my story. Fond memories of him & what a top guy he was for doing that - something that will always live with me & why QPR has become such a big focal point in my life. Cheers Macca .

END. #QPR #Macca