On Friday 8 July, Queen’s Park Rangers launched their 2022-23 season kit at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in Shepherd’s Bush.
The event introduced new front-of-kit sponsor and principal partner Convivia, who signed a three-year deal on 22 June to support QPR’s club and community ambitions.
The team aims to build for the future as it recovers from the disastrous 2019-20 campaign, with the pandemic nearly halving club revenues.
QPR last year launched a bond option for fans to invest directly into the team, part-financing the new £20mn training ground at Heston and offering supporters a bonus if the club secures promotion.
Head Coach Mick Beale, who joined QPR this season from Aston Villa, said: “A lot of people have sat in this chair over the years and said the same things. I think what is really important is we excite you.
“I think it is important you understand where we are as a club and what we are trying to do.
“The average age of the team is going to come down but that doesn’t make it a weaker team. It means we are invested in talents that we think can grow and really prosper and this team can travel somewhere together.
“There is a lot being done behind the scenes to make sure we are winning longer than this season.”
The club has already signed Jake Clarke-Salter from Chelsea, Kenneth Paal from PEC Zwolle, and loanee Tyler Roberts from Leeds.
Beale suggested on Friday the club would pursue more signings.
Roy Ledgister, founder of Convivia, said: “I would have done the deal for ten years if it were possible, QPR being the obvious choice – it is my team.
“But I think what QPR represents being a community club – it’s got aspirations. We shouldn’t be where we are. We should be in the Prem.
“Just like Convivia, we are trying to push forward, trying to grow. QPR is a club that’s moving forward and going to get promoted. It’s going to happen.
“But most important is really being that community club and having that alignment of doing so much in the community, trying to empower young kids, trying to progress the community – that’s the biggest pull for us.”
Ledgister grew up in Shepherd’s Bush and attended Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, relying on free school meals before going on to qualify in law and become the UK’s youngest senior partner at 24.
He is currently working on a ‘Millionnaire Mentor’ series on YouTube, offering five disadvantaged young people across London £200,000 each to start their own businesses.
Convivia will work with the QPR Foundation, developing and supporting existing community work.
The QPR Foundation works with 80 schools in the city and has raised nearly £16 million in social impact savings.
Euan Inglis, commercial director of QPR, said: “We are already discussing how QPR in the Community Trust can tap into Roy’s leadership and motivational skills and the work he does in inspiring youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to be the best that they can be.
“The partnership really is an all-encompassing one and one that we are hugely excited about.”
QPR will play Hallescher FC in the German third league as part of pre-season training tomorrow.
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