On what is Stan Bowles’ 73rd Birthday (Friday 24th December), we are delighted to say, that Queens Park Rangers Football Club, has agreed to The Ellerslie Road Stand, being renamed The Stanley Bowles Stand.
Our sincere thanks, to everyone involved, in making this happen.
To all the QPR fans, who signed the petition and made their feelings known to the club.
To the QPR CEO, Lee Hoos and the QPR Board.
Last, but not least, to Stan Bowles himself, whose genius and personality, inspired so many to support the cause.
Happy Birthday, Stan.
Born is The King.
Below is the Press Release released by the club this morning announcing the decision.
'A stand for Stanley!
On his birthday, we are delighted to confirm, we will be renaming the Ellerslie Road Stand, as The Stanley Bowles Stand, while a Legends Stand will be created in the Loft.
Read all about it: https://bit.ly/StanleyBowlesStand
FOLLOWING fantastic dialogue with hundreds of supporters, we are delighted to confirm we will be putting plans in place to provide additional acknowledgement of the impact certain individuals had on QPR.
This will see the Ellerslie Road Stand renamed as The Stanley Bowles Stand while a Legends Stand will be created in the Loft.
We are pleased to announce this today - 24th December - on Bowles's 73rd birthday.
Through engagement with a variety of fans we took on board lots of different views.
QPR CEO Lee Hoos said: “Since the creation of The Forever R’s Club in 2016, we have built up an excellent reputation in the game for how we celebrate and engage with our former players.
“Our ex-players’ association is something that we are very proud of, and I know our supporters share in that pride.
“Our club ambassador Andy Sinton has worked tirelessly to build the Forever R’s Club into the success that it is, and there are now 115 inductees.”
Regarding additional acknowledgement of certain individuals, Hoos said: “The conversation about how we can honour particular players is one that has gone on for a number of years.
“It is an emotive subject and my stance has always been the same – my role as CEO is not to decide whether something like this should happen, it is to canvas as much opinion as possible so that it is the fans who make the decision.
“After all, it is your club.
“Through engagement with a variety of fans which included meetings, online surveys and stadium surveys, we took on board lots of different views from supporters.
“With a topic such as this, you are never going to get a unanimous vote but one largely common theme did shine through – Stan Bowles should be honoured while a number of other former players also deserve special recognition.
“We believe we have achieved this with the decision to rename the Ellerslie Road Stand as The Stanley Bowles Stand, and also introducing a Legends Stand.”
Hoos added: “While this took longer than I would have liked to resolve this, I hope it further demonstrates that we are a club that listens to its supporters and that all supporters can unify behind these initiatives.
“I make no secret that my aim is to protect as much money as I can for the first-team budget, so supporter contribution for this initiative is going to be critical to its implementation.
“This has been a fan-led initiative. While the club will be helping to facilitate the fundraising for the cost of the changes, this will still need to be financed as a fan-based initiative.
“Any funds raised beyond the costs incurred will be donated to The No.10 Foundation.”
What is The No.10 Foundation?
Learn more here: https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/the-qpr-no10-foundation/
The Stanley Bowles Stand
The Ellerslie Road Stand will be renamed The Stanley Bowles Stand.
The Legends Stand
The names and imagery of QPR legends will be added to the Loft Stand.
We have agreed a small working group comprising of fans and club representatives to agree the exact details, the budget required, an implementation plan and the choice of legends. All supporters will be kept fully informed of progress made. We will need the input of fans to help with the funding and to also ensure that what is planned is in line with what the majority of QPR fans want.
More details will follow in 2022.'