HDU Members Spotlight: Gary Hazell (WA)

Mark Davis
Aug 10
3 min read

Hey folks! We're coming to the end of our Members Spotlights for this Pre-season as we gear up for Season Kick off in a couple of hours time! Here's the last two Spotlights..... First we head back over to Hamilton Hill in Western Australia where we meet Gary - another legendary ex-pat who's been cheering on QPR for 61 years!

Nawwww what a pic Gary! 💙🤍 — *Nawwww what a pic Gary!* 💙🤍

Q: Hi Gary! How are you? So how long have you been a QPR fan?

A: For as long as I can remember, so probably since I was born... so we're talking 61 years! There are generations of QPR fans before me so I had no choice in the matter!😆.

Q: What is your most favourite QPR memory to date? A: Highbury 1982 (FA Cup Semi Final - QPR 1 West Brom 0) was a fantastic day! When Clive scored I was near the back of the North Bank and by the end of the celebrations I was near the front! Mental! Plenty of alcohol was consumed afterwards of course which was just topping up the amount consumed before the game 🥴

22nd May 1982. FA Cup Semi-Final at Highbury. Queens Park Rangers 1 v West Bromwich Albion 0. West Bromwich Albion's Martyn Bennett battles for the Ball with QPR's' Gary Waddock.

Q: Who is your all time favourite QPR Player? And Why?

A: It has to be Stan Bowles. As a kid playing football up on the Welsh Harp park in Neasden we all pretended to be him. He lived In Neasden for a while and we all would go round his house and wait for him but we never met him unfortunately. He was an all round entertainer, not just on the pitch but of it as well. Dad would often see him at the dogs at White City and he would always be friendly.

Stan Bowles of League Division 1 team QPR at the start of the 1973-74 football season, 22nd August 1973.

Q: Who is your all time favourite QPR Manager? And Why?

A: Close one...Dave Sexton or Terry Venables? Probably Terry because he took us to Wembley and got us playing attractive football. I couldn't believe it when he left us for a second rate team like Barcelona 😒

Q: Who is your current favourite QPR Player? And Why?

A: Jimmy Dunne, especially now he has signed a new contract! He is a solid defender who can push forward and score important goals. He keeps the team spirit up as well by encouraging all his team mates around him.

Jimmy Dunne celebrates victory following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between QPR v Rotherham United @ The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on January 08, 2022

Q: Where would you like to see QPR in say, 5 years time (2030-31)? How do QPR reach this achievement? A: So difficult to say as we are very unpredictable. I am old enough to remember when we would beat Fulham, Palace, Brentford and even Chelsea on a regular basis finishing as top London team occasionally. All these teams have left us behind now and it hurts like hell. Why has this happened? Everyone has their opinion and I have mine but we must look forward. As I type this today we have another new manager Julien Stéphan who I would not know from a bar of soap. To be in a good position in five years we need to keep a manager for a very long period to build something and he needs good support from above! So in five years to be in the EPL and holding our own would do me but alas I may be dreaming.