Bircham's own fantasy league

14 April 2012

Marc Bircham describes tomorrow as the biggest day of his life and he means every word. The Queens Park Rangers midfielder cares about his employers with a passion almost unheard of in any workforce, but then again his career has been one long labour of love.

Having watched almost every big Rangers game since first going to Loftus Road as a twoyearold in 1980 - apart from the six years he spent as a youngster at Millwall - Bircham has the chance to bring the club their first success in a decade. Victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough will see Ian Holloway's side return to the First Division, and they can also win promotion by matching Bristol City's result at home to Blackpool.

Bircham said: "It'll be the biggest day of my life definitely, other than having the kids and getting married. If we get promoted it'll be fantastic.

We've sold 8,000 tickets, will have more there and at least 8,000 at Loftus Road watching on the big screen.

"We know that if we win we'll go up so we can't have any complaints. I'm not a religious man but I'll be praying to God this weekend. All I want is one win, that's not too much to ask for is it? I'm not asking for world peace or anything."

The encounter at Hillsborough is more than another game, though. Failure to win promotion is not worth thinking about for a team in the top two all season, particularly after last year's play-off heartache, and the consequences could be far-reaching.

Rangers have 14 players including Bircham out of contract in the summer, not to mention their manager, and cannot afford to keep this squad together in the Second Division.

Bircham is desperate to stay, no matter where Rangers are playing next season, but knows there are no guarantees.

He said: "It was great to beat Swindon last week because it could've been my last game at Loftus Road. I hope it's not but you never know nowadays. The club know I want to stay but it all depends what division we're in. I'd want to stay at QPR no matter what, but the feedback I'm getting is that if we don't go up they can't afford it. I wish it was sorted out, but hopefully we'll get promoted and that'll be the end of it.

"The manager is out of contract as well and they should be tying him up as he's a hot property. He's one of the best young managers out there and should be up for a Bafta judging by his interviews. He's more important than any player and they need to tie him down."

The fan inside Bircham wishes he was travelling to the game on the 30-seater bus he has booked for his family, but he is glad to be playing after being forced to watch QPR's defeat to Bristol City earlier this season.

He said: "If we win part of me will wish I went up with my family and f r iends so I could enjoy it. I want to split myself in two and do both, but it's better as a player because at least you can affect the game.

"I don't get nervous-when I'm playing, only watching. I saw the Bristol City game when I was suspended and all the bad memories of being a QPR fan came back. I hated every minute of it. QPR have always been a nearly club and I'm fed up of it.

It's about time we did something."

Tickets are still available for the beamback at Loftus Road, priced £10. Call 0870 112 1967.

Sheff Wed v QPR, Hillsborough, tomorrow, 3pm

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