Queens Park Rangers (QPR) enthusiasts cherish the memories of the 2010/11 Championship-winning team, a season filled with excitement and culminating in the West London side topping the Championship table, losing merely six league games throughout the campaign.
Key contributors such as Adel Taraabt, Jamie Mackie, and Heidar Helguson played pivotal roles under manager Neil Warnock as QPR secured promotion to the Premier League.
Among the standout players from that victorious campaign was Latvian defender Kaspars Gorkšs, who emerged as a reliable presence in the team under Warnock’s guidance. However, acquiring Gorkšs for £250,000 in 2008 was far from a straightforward process and came with its fair share of controversy.
Before joining QPR, Gorkšs spent a year and a half with Blackpool, and his departure to QPR sparked dissatisfaction from his former club. The transfer saga unfolded as QPR officially bid for Gorkšs in June 2008. Just five days later, Blackpool reported QPR to the FA and the Football League, alleging an illegal approach for their player.
In early July, QPR announced on their official website that they had received permission to negotiate with Gorkšs, with personal terms agreed. However, Blackpool’s chairman at the time, Karl Oyston, refuted these claims, stating, “We definitely have not given them permission to speak to him.” The situation escalated, leading QPR to remove their statement from the official website. Despite the controversy, QPR eventually secured Gorkšs for £250,000, marking a tumultuous but ultimately successful deal for the club.
Gorkšs endeared himself to the QPR faithful during his three-year tenure at Loftus Road, making 126 appearances and scoring six goals as a center-back. While initially managed by Iain Dowie, Gorkšs truly flourished under Neil Warnock, who steered QPR to Championship glory in the 2010/11 season.
During that triumphant campaign, Gorkšs was a stalwart in the QPR defense, starting 42 Championship games and contributing three goals, including a brace against Doncaster Rovers.
The team’s defensive prowess was evident as they conceded a mere 32 goals in 46 games and secured an impressive 25 clean sheets, complementing their noteworthy attacking displays.
Despite the messy circumstances surrounding Gorkšs’ transfer to QPR, the Latvian defender’s impact on the team and the successful campaign highlighted the worthiness of the acquisition. Gorkšs etched his name into QPR’s history, becoming a memorable figure at Loftus Road.
Leave a Reply