场馆描述
The plot of land on which today’s iteration of Loftus Road exists was originally used by Shepherd’s Bush FC who were an amateur football team. First used on 11th October 1904, the team disbanded during the outbreak of the First World War ten years later, and Queens Park Rangers took over the pitch after their ground at Park Royal was commandeered by the army.
The initial version of Loftus Road consisted of a football pitch and pavilion for changing, and it wasn’t until 1919 that the first stand was erected. Located on Ellerslie Road, it was capable of accommodating 2,950 supporters, and remained the only section of covered seating until 1968.
To some clubs this may have been remarkable, however for such a nomadic club as QPR it is probably explainable. Before moving into Loftus Road the club had played at over 16 venues throughout West London, and even after settling on their permanent hope they flirted with relocation to White City Stadium on two occasions in 1931 and 1962.
The record attendance was set on 27th April 1974 against Leeds United when 35,353 made the trip to Shepherds Bush. Considering that this was during the era of terracing, you begin to get a feel for the relatively small size of QPRs ground. Renovated over a 13 year period between 1968 and 1981, today’s Loftus Road was already largely converted to all-seating by the time the preliminary Taylor Report was published in 1990.
When QPRs holding company accrued large debts in the late 1990s many were concerned for the future of the club. There was rumours of a relocation to Milton Keynes and merger with South West London neighbours Wimbledon, however under the ownership of Tony Fernandes the club is on the up, and QPR are now planning to move to a new stadium near Old Oak Common dubbed New Queens Park.
交通信息
TRAIN
If you’re visiting London and live elsewhere then likely you will be travelling into a large national train station such as London Victoria, Kings Cross/St Pancras, Liverpool Street or Paddington. One you have gotten of the train you will likely see a signs for the London Underground (refer to tube section below).
The nearest Overground train station to Loftus Road is at Shepherd’s Bush which is only round the corner from the tube station of the same name. You can catch direction services from major transport hubs such as Euston Station, Clapham Junction and Stratford.
TUBE
The closest tube stations are White City on the red central line and Wood Lane on the yellow/pink Circle, Hammersmith and City lines. They are both located on Wood Lane which is a long road which runs horizontal to the eastern stand of Loftus Road with the ground accessible by turning left onto South Africa Road or if you want something more scenic through Hammersmith Park.
BUS
QPR’s ground is served by the 283 which stops at Bloemfontein Road, located behind the western stand and the 955/220 to White City stations on Wood Lane near to the BBC Worldwide headquarters.
DRIVING
The stadium’s address for satnav:
Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London, W12 7PJ.