QPR youngsters go for cup glory
By Ben Kosky YOUTH team boss Steve Gallen wants his players to emulate Josh Parker when they take on Stockport in the Football League Youth Alliance final on Thursday. Parker scored in last year s final against Grimsby and, although Rangers lost the game
By Ben Kosky
YOUTH team boss Steve Gallen wants his players to emulate Josh Parker when they take on Stockport in the Football League Youth Alliance final on Thursday.
Parker scored in last year's final against Grimsby and, although Rangers lost the game 2-1, the teenager has gone on to break into the first team in recent weeks.
Now the Rs' current under-18 side - whose title hopes were ended when they lost their final league game at Northampton last weekend - have another opportunity to win the tournament at Loftus Road (kick-off 7pm).
"Last year Josh played in the final, now he's in the first team and the manager really likes him," said Gallen. "Antonio German has also come through in the last year or so.
"Losing to Grimsby last year was bad, but the other way of looking at it is that we're in the final again, which suggests we're doing something right. If we can get one more kid from this year's final playing in the first team this time next year, that's an achievement.
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"The most important thing is that we're getting the lads playing at Loftus Road and getting experience in a big game, with a bit of a crowd and some pressure on them.
"Of course we also want to win the competition. I saw Stockport in the northern final against Macclesfield - they're a decent team and they will be so up for it at Loftus Road."
Tickets for the final are available at �3 for adults and �1 for senior citizens and under-16s. Entry is free for under-eights.
