A Hollywood star at Fratton Park, a new stadium name in West London and the impact of deadline day signings. Here are five things you may have missed from a frantic weekend of football in the EFL.
Kıyan Prince Tributes at QPR
Queens Park Rangers’ first home of the 2019/20 season was an emotional one as Loftus Road was officially renamed as the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in memory of Kiyan Prince, a member of QPR’s Youth Academy who was stabbed to death in 2006 at just 15 years of age.
Father of Kiyan, Mark Prince set up the Kiyan Prince Foundation Charity to educate young people about the consequences of knife crime and in an innovative move, QPR announced their intention of gifting the stadium naming rights to the charity back in April. Saturday saw the official unveiling of the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Among a number of tributes throughout Saturday, QPR wore a commemorative shirt, Kiyan’s photo featured on the cover of the matchday programme and the 15 year old was remembered with the opening of the new stadium followed by a minute’s silence before kick-off. In what was a significant day, QPR responded by scoring a late equaliser against Huddersfield Town to share the points.
Hollywood star Will Ferrell watches Portsmouth at Fratton Park
It’s not every day a Hollywood film star watches Sky Bet League One football, however on Saturday Fratton Park welcomed Will Ferrell as a guest of American owner, Michael Eisner. The decision to attend was not one to regret either, as the promotion favourites got their season up and running with a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers, as well as a goal of the season contender from Ben Close.
Kenny Jackett told BBC Radio Solent after the game: “It was great to meet him, he’s a great character. He thought we ran offside too many times but the lads had a bit of banter with him.”
100% record so far for Lincoln City
Further north in Sky Bet League One, Lincoln City continued their excellent start to life in a new division as Danny Cowley’s side show no sign of struggling with the jump up to League One. Before the game, Rotherham United had not lost at home to Lincoln City in 25 games - a run that stretched back to 1957. The Imps were also looking to start successive EFL seasons with two wins for the first time since 1950-51 and 1951-52.
Danny Cowley’s side continue to ride on the crest of a wave following two promotions in three seasons and were everything you would expect in a side where winning has become a habit. An own goal from Shaun MacDonald and a header from Harry Anderson saw Lincoln leave the New York Stadium with three points and a clean sheet.
In the Sky Bet Championship, newly promoted Charlton Athletic also made it two wins from two to extend an unbeaten run at the Valley to 18 games under Lee Bowyer.
Relegated Clubs up and running
Last weekend saw all three relegated clubs from the Premier League lose their opening game of the new season in the Championship for the first time in EFL history. However the trio of relegated clubs had a happier weekend as they all recorded their first points of the season with something to build on.
Fulham enjoyed being back at Craven Cottage, beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 with goals from Tom Cairney and Aleksander Mitrovic. Cardiff City beat Luton Town the hard way, new signing Isaac Vassell was introduced as a substitute before scoring an injury-time winner on his debut to secure all three points for Neil Warnock’s side and only a late Grant Hall goal prevented Huddersfield Town from taking all three points at QPR, the game ending 1-1.
Biggest EFL win in eight years for Macclesfield Town
The Silkmen had a Saturday to remember, as they beat newly promoted Leyton Orient 3-0 at Moss Rose, the clubs biggest win in the EFL since the 2011/12 season. A goal of the season contender from Theo Archibald was the pick of the strikes from 25-yards as Sol Campbell’s young side with an average age of just 23 years and 246 days picked up their first three points of the season, something to build on.