Rangers promise to 'play our hearts out' for Jones
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Your support makes all the difference.Queen's Park Rangers players have pledged to "play our hearts out" for Ray Jones, the teenage striker killed in a car accident on Saturday morning.
Rangers' game at Burnley on Saturday was postponed as a mark of respect. In a statement the captain, Adam Bolder, said: "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the news regarding the untimely death of Ray Jones. Ray was one of us, a footballer with a passion to succeed for himself and for QPR.
"Ray was the most gifted player at the club. He had fantastic raw ability and was destined for a very bright future, both at club and international level. He was a great character, a very popular figure in the dressing room, and he will be sadly missed. Words can't really express how we all feel at the moment, but ... we will pick ourselves up and play our hearts out for Ray. Every kick, every shot, every tackle will be for him. He was one of us and will never be forgotten."
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said Jones had "the world at his feet. We are all shocked and saddened by the news," he added. "It's a huge loss for this club. He will be sorely missed."
Jones, 18, was one of five occupants of a Volkswagen Golf which collided with a bus at around 12.20am in East Ham High Street. Jones, who was driving, and 17-year-old Idris Olasupo, who was a rear-seat passenger, died at the scene; Jess Basilua, 17, died in hospital. The two remaining occupants, aged 16 and 17, were taken to hospital, where one was in a serious condition.
Jones was a product of the west London club's youth scheme and a regular member of the first-team squad. He made his debut against Watford in April 2006 and made 35 appearances last season, scoring six goals.
Last year a QPR youth team player, Kiyan Prince, 15, was stabbed to death outside his school.
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