It’s been three years in the making but I’m so proud to announce the publication of Hoops Through History – The definitive story of the QPR kit!
The book traces the history of Queens Park Rangers’ truly iconic kit; from the University Blues halved shirt at their origins, through the Celtic-influenced years of green and white through to the famous blue and white hoops that they wear today.
In all my years of illustrating and writing about football kits I honestly don’t think I’ve come across a club whose supporters have such a fond attachment and pride in their home strip. It’s an integrity the club also uphold with all designs coming from the club themselves and their deep understanding of just what those hoops mean.
I am so proud of this book. It was written and certainly finished in real adversity for me as I dealt with a cancer diagnosis and getting the book over the line was achieved during chemotherapy treatment. Fortunately I had the support and invaluable input from my co-author Chris Guy, the QPR official historian and a man with an encyclopedic knowledge of the R’s, Francis Atkinson – the man responsible for the club’s kit designs, Martin Percival and his promotional expertise, love of the club and infatiguable energy and the proof reading genius of Chris Kemp who has put so much effort and time into helping us get the book ready and for which I will be eternally grateful.
On to the book…in a way this is the True Colours style I would love to do for every club. An indepth analysis of the kits, along with variations of shorts and socks AND goalkeepers kits AND selected training wear. I wanted this book to tell the complete story. The text expands on the designs and looks at what was going on in the football kit world at the time. Chris Guy has added concise context information as to what was going on at the club from a football perspective along with noting key matches and players who wore the specific kits.
In addition I’ve included programmes, adverts, catalogues, memorabilia and hundreds of photos to support and back up the text and kit illustrations.
I’ve put my heart and soul into this as has Chris, and we really hope QPR supporters and kit fanatics love it as much as we do!
The book costs £24.99 and is available directly from the QPR Superstore at Loftus Road or online here