Pre-season for football clubs across the country are convoluted affairs with fitness and preparation for the coming season being the main aim, but of course, it’s also a time to say goodbye to some old faces and welcome in some less familiar ones.
In the world of football that invariably means the standard initiations where players have to sing to their new colleagues in some form of University hazing ritual. It’s certainly not as bad as some stories we get from the United States and their practices, but grown footballers banging out their favourite tunes from the charts is not something that particularly interests me – but I must admit it did raise a smile.
However, it’s now commonplace for such bonding rituals to be promoted by clubs and Queens Park Rangers are no different this summer.
With the players out with Steve McClaren and his new staff in Portugal for our summer’s training camp, it was time for the trio of Paul Smith, Giles Phillips and Toni “The BFG” Leistner to step up and potentially embarrass themselves.
😅 Let's all be grateful that @paul_ps17, @GilesPhillips22 and @ToniLeistner are better with a ⚽️ than a 🎤#RsInPortugal pic.twitter.com/ZqQNVd1MeP
— QPR FC (@QPR) July 3, 2018
Fans have certainly taken it in the spirit it was intended.
Actually not bad lol ????????????????
— angela b (@angelabqpr) July 3, 2018
Painful. Very brave, particularly the beast @ToniLeistner ????????????
— ♛UP✰the✰R's♛ (@Jakderippa) July 3, 2018
????????????????
— Steve Gee (@SteveGe58486520) July 3, 2018
Too easy chaps, not a public restaurant?Love to see the tradition continues. 23 years ago I did a terrible version of the theme tune of “Neighbours”
— Andrew McDermott (@reallyfatmac) July 3, 2018
Should have given Toni some Rammstein instead lol
— Nath #FBPE (@KallipolisState) July 3, 2018