Queens Park Rangers FC

For those whom the 1970's were the apogee of hardware design, Gerry Francis' goal from 1975 and the ball-against-the-wall-in-training aesthetic of the ball hitting the Loftus Road nets says everything you need to know about QPR at that time.




But like their partners in ball-retention-crime West Ham Utd, if you look back far enough you discover the R's have a rich history of goal nets.

During the time of the Model T and "any colour as long as it's black," the Loftus Road hardware and software was very much in fashion for their time.




There were A-list A-frames in 1967.




By 1969, QPR replaced the A-frames with the 70's classics.




The 1970's were dumped in 1983 for trendy Continental D's, which stayed in place through the 1990's.



This haunting video gives one last glimpse of the old Gerry Francis stanchions in 1979.

Hearts FC - Historian David Speed

I was recently in touch with Hearts historian and archivist David Speed regarding the wonderful stanchions that once supported the Gorgie goal nets. His reply to my enquiry is as below.

Dear History of Goal Nets, thanks for your enquiry about the goal nets and frames. This is indeed an interesting question. 

Th nets and stanchions to which you refer were installed at the start of 1965-66 and, as you say, were dismantled at the end of 1983-84. Sadly I was not involved in preserving the club's history at that time and they were not retained. I checked this with the club groundsman and there is nothing of this nature in the store. I have also checked the club minutes and no reason is given for the change of goals. This must have been a fashion issue. 

Regarding the change in 1983-84, it is only a personal observation but perhaps the change was due to the fact that the ground was struggling to comply with the Safety of Sports Ground Act. In this connection, more space was required around the perimeter for the police and stewards. The D-shape stanchion achieved this. 

David supplied the marvellous photo below for our pleasure.

Thanks David.