By Steve Hoad HOW did it come to this? I was drawn into QPR Vital by the siren calls of Sandy DL promising me a cookery page. I commented on some posts, added a thread or two, wrote a couple of blogs, and here I am, a guest writer in the Times, or as my w

By Steve Hoad

HOW did it come to this? I was drawn into QPR Vital by the siren calls of Sandy DL promising me a cookery page. I commented on some posts, added a thread or two, wrote a couple of blogs, and here I am, a guest writer in the Times, or as my wife is telling people, "approached by a leading football pundit to write for a newspaper".

Me! What do I know about football? I was surprised that referees had names! I thought they were... (on second thoughts there may be minors reading), but that IS what the crowd call them.

Who'd want to do that job? I'd rather be a dentist or a chiropodist, and I'd hate being either! I suppose you do get a whistle, and not one out of a Christmas cracker, mind. Which is a bit of luck really, what if they got a false black moustache, or a plastic top instead?

You wouldn't toss for heads or tails, you'd spin for a number. And just think what they'd make of the mottos - fail to laugh and you're on a yellow! As they tend towards policing games, rather than simply refereeing, I wonder if they should have a siren as they run up to a confrontation or foul, execute an elaborate skid as they screech to a halt at the scene of the crime and reach for their notebook.

Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, I wrote a couple of blogs for QPR Vital, which seemed to go down OK, hence me being here.

Have you tried it? Adam Boxer does a sterling job adding articles and keeping the discussion going, and there are a host of other characters posting articles and adding comments. A lot of it is very informed, but there's also a great deal of fun and banter.

It's largely football-based and QPR-orientated, as you'd expect. Lately there's been a lot about Crashgate, which has been educational in terms of F1, legal process and corporate ownership, but in a light, easily digestible manner.

And we've also been treated to the lyrics of a Vera Lynn song. No one quite knows how that thread developed - it took three days or so before Vera took the stage!

Good as Vital is, of, course, it's no substitute for a trip to Loftus Road on matchday, but it keeps us primed and involved.

Anyway, that's a bit about me and how I came to be writing this - and I'll be back in a few weeks with something a bit more consequential, hopefully.

In the meantime, have a go on Vital. I'm sure you'll like it! And who knows where it might lead.