QPR’s development squad is set to face off against former Rangers midfielder Andy Gray’s Corinthian Casuals in the first round of the London Senior Cup on Tuesday evening.
The match will mark the first time QPR’s development side has participated in the competition. They will be facing the Isthmian League South Central side at their King George’s Arena stadium in Tolworth. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 pm.
The London Senior Cup is open to non-League clubs from the Step 5 level and above who are within the M25 jurisdiction. Invitations are also extended to Premier League and EFL Under-21s teams.
Gray, a combative and powerful midfielder, made over 300 appearances during his career, which included spells at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, QPR, and Tottenham. He also earned a solitary England cap against Poland in 1991.
Despite his brief stint at QPR, which lasted less than six months, Gray is fondly remembered by fans thanks to his two superb goals that helped the team come from behind to beat Manchester United 3-2 at Loftus Road.
Gray was signed by Trevor Francis from Aston Villa for £425,000 in February 1989, along with Nigel Spackman, who joined from Glasgow Rangers.
QPR was struggling at the time, and Gray, along with Andy Sinton, Colin Clarke, and Peter Reid, who joined the following month, helped the team end the season in a comfortable ninth position.
Gray played a significant role in the team’s success, losing just three of their final 16 games.
Gray was known for his outspoken nature, but he insists that was not the reason for his return to Palace in the summer of 1989 for £500,000.
He earned his England call-up while at Palace before moving to Spurs after a falling out with Palace boss Steve Coppell and his assistant Alan Smith.
Gray joined Spurs for £900,000 in 1992, but it proved to be an unhappy spell.
After retiring from playing, Gray worked as a player agent for more than 20 years before quitting after becoming disillusioned with the money side of the game.
He founded Corinthian Casuals in 1882, and the club is one of the oldest non-League clubs in the country.
Gray said the chance to be a manager with a vision of developing young players was too good to turn down.
He admitted that his young team will have their work cut out against QPR’s development side, but he said he will use the game to try and persuade Rangers to allow some of their young players to join him on loan.
Tickets for the game are available on the door priced at £12 for adults, £8 for senior citizens, and £1 for children under 12.
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