MARTIN ROWLANDS
12
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my first caps for Ireland was just
unbelievable. It was a dream
come true. It was great for
everyone involved with the club.
"Winning my first cap was
special. Playing alongside
players like Roy Keane and the
rest of the boys was a brilliant
experience and I hope I can win
more caps.
"Playing international football is
a totally different^experience.
Training with other lads who
were there was a real change.
I was learning new things all the
time andut can't hurt to expose
yourself to a few new ideas."
To cap off a brilliant summer,
the Rangers star was offered a
new three year deal, which will
see him stay at the club until
the summer of 2007. It is a
commitment that the midfielder
was delighted to make, while
he also recognises the
commitment made to him by
the Club.
"When I signed my new three
year contract with QPR it felt
great to be able to commit
myself to a club which had
ambitions like my own. My
ambition is to play the best
football I possibly can, and to
work hard to recapture the same
form that saw us win promotion
last season.
"My personal reward for last
season was a call up to the
Ireland squad, and I hope that
I can continue to put pressure on
for a place in the squad, and the
only way I can do that is week-in
week-out on the pitch for
Rangers.
"The call to renew my contract
came from both parties. We
talked with the club about it for
a while and everything got sorted
and I'm really happy where I am.
I always wanted to sign an
extension to my contract because
I love it here at Rangers, and
both the Club and I were looking
to seal that commitment. It's a
great club, with a proud past,
and a big future."
With pre-season in full swing,
Rowlands is positive about what
Ollie's men can achieve this
season in the Championship,
and it is a challenge the lads are
well focused on. Having been
able to retain the majority of
the side, with the addition of
Lee Cook, it is a balanced
squad, according to Rowlands,
and one which will hit the
ground running come Saturday
August 7th.
"Everybody is thinking about the
same things. We all know we did
well last year, and we all know
how hard we had to work to get
there. We have to carry on the
hard work, and keeping the
squad together has allowed us
build on what we've got.
"We have a strong squad who
will be more suited to the
Championship, and we just can't
wait 'til the season kicks off.
QPR CLUBCALL 09068 121 162 [CALLS COST 60P PER MINUTE AT ALL TIMES
