QPR rename Loftus Road after charity for tragic academy player
Queens Park Rangers will rename their Loftus Road stadium The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium from the start of next season.
The West London club announced in April that the naming rights for their home ground would go to a nominated local charity following a supporter ballot.
Of the five shortlisted, The Kiyan Prince Foundation received 63% of the vote.
Kiyan Prince was stabbed to death aged just 15 in 2006 while trying to break up a fight at his school in Edgware, North London.
Prince was part of the QPR academy at the time and described as a promising young player.
Big Announcement for @TheKPF! #QPR fans have voted for Loftus Road to be renamed The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium from the 2019/20 season. #KiyanPrince
I want to thank @QPR & all the fans for making this dream come true! Kiyan Prince would be blown away by this! 💙 pic.twitter.com/936hBISxE7— Dr Mark Prince OBE (@markno1prince) June 7, 2019
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Kiyan’s father Mark set up the foundation in his son’s name with the aim of educating other young people about the dangers and consequences of knife crime.
“I can’t tell you what this means to Kiyan’s mum, to me, his brothers and sisters, his friends and people who have been supporting the work we have been doing,” Mark said after the announcement.
“Kiyan was a very special young man. We hear many stories about his kindness and good nature so to have the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium at a place where his skills were honed is a dream come true.”
The official unveiling of the new name will take place ahead of QPR’s first competitive Championship match of the 2019/2020 season.
“It means so much and only confirms the relationship that I know I have with the QPR fans,” Mark Prince added. “They always give me their support.”
“This gives us so many opportunities and we have to make sure we capitalise on them. Kiyan would be blown away by what is going on.”
