THE best away fans I have ever seen at my club Queens Park Rangers created a truly unique carnival event.
This was on Sunday 22nd March 1998 as QPR hosted the full Jamaica international team in a testimonial for long serving R’s midfielder Simon Barker.
Such matches at Loftus Road had never been well supported in the past but this time the attendance was a near capacity 16,978.
It was the first time those affectionately named ‘Reggae Boyz’ had played in Europe attracting plenty of football betting on the result.
Jamaican Football Federation president Horace Burrell said beforehand: “We hope the Jamaicans in London pack the QPR ground to capacity for this worthy cause.”
Indeed, some 15,000 London-based Jamaicans took over all four sides of the stadium and created a vibrant atmosphere.
Testimonial man Barker recalls: “It was an unbelievable day for me. I had a good testimonial committee and we were very lucky with the timing. Jamaica had qualified for the World Cup Finals that year so interest was high.
“In the end, we could have sold out the stadium three times over. The occasion was fantastic with steel bands in the corners of the stands and all their fans chanting non-stop while blowing whistles and horns.
“I remember seeing our players’ faces when they were going out for the pre-match warm-up and they couldn’t believe the noise! It was incredible.
“I think it was the first time that 99.9% of a football crowd didn’t know who the person was that was having their testimonial!
“My career was coming to an end so the day was helpful financially. But just as important was the fact that a lot of people enjoyed themselves.”
Football journalist Rob Phillips also has fond recollections of attending the match. He said: “It was a sea of green and yellow flags, with ebullient Jamaican fans in jovial mood.
“In the press box, I sat behind a DJ broadcasting her programme live from the ground. It was the one and only…Ranking Miss P! A true reggae legend. So a rocking afternoon was had by all!”
Jamaica won the keenly contested testimonial 2-1. Their scorers were Theodore Whitmore and second half substitute Robbie Earle.
Meanwhile, Steve Slade was on target for Rangers. The level of betting from interested parties matched that for Premier League odds.
A descriptive report by Mike Rowbottom in The Independent newspaper was entitled “Homage to the Boyz of summer” and read:
“THERE were hooters. There were whistles. There were steel drums. There were many, many green and yellow flags. As the visiting coach, Rene Simoes, justly observed, Loftus Road was a Jamaican ground yesterday. ‘I don't think QPR will be the same again,’ he said.
“Judging by the colours evident all round the ground, the vast majority of the 16,978 crowd present at Simon Barker's testimonial match were not - with the best will in the world - there to honour Simon Barker.
“They were getting a first glimpse of the rolling bandwagon that is the Reggae Boyz. No wonder the sponsors are falling over themselves to get a piece of the action.”
On a personal note, I recall an enormously funny incident that day.
Before the game, there was a magnificent party vibe. Thousands of Jamaican fans were milling around on the approach to the stadium in South Africa Road – playing loud music, dancing, eating and having a great time right in the middle of the street. I was there myself joining in with the festivities and chatting to everyone.
After a while, the Queens Park Rangers chairman of that time Chris Wright appeared in his gleaming Bentley. It was the most expensive car I have ever seen in Shepherd’s Bush and must have been worth around £250,000.
Mr Wright was driving extremely slowly down South Africa Road towards the stadium. With thousands of people blocking the street, he looked awfully nervous that his flashy motor would get scratched.
But the Jamaican fans were really well behaved and started to move out of the way shouting:
“Make way for the big man…Make way for the big man…”
The road began to clear. Then all of a sudden, a burly-looking Jamaican supporter leapt in front of the Bentley and held his two arms aloft. I can still visualise the fearful beads of perspiration starting to run down Mr Wright’s head.
And the Jamaican man yelled: “STOP! Stop man!...I told you to come and pick me up AFTER the match, man!”
With guffaws of laughter cascading down South Africa Road, a very flustered Mr Wright was able to continue his journey to the stadium entrance unhindered.
*Credit for the main image belongs to Alamy*
*Credit for the in-text images belongs to Tony Incenzo*
