Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road will be renamed The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium from the start of next season after a public vote.
Fans were invited to nominate a local charity which would be gifted the naming rights, with The Kiyan Prince Foundation winning with 63 per cent of the votes after five charities were shortlisted.
Kiyan Prince was a footballer in the QPR academy, who was tragically stabbed to death at the age of 15 outside his school, when he broke up a fight on 18th May 2006.
His father Mark set up the foundation to educate young people about the devastating consequences of knife crime.
Mark said: “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.
“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.
“It means so much and only confirms the relationship that I know I have with the QPR fans. They always give me their support. Kiyan would be blown away by what is going on.”
😀 'I'm totally excited!'@markno1prince on what it means for @TheKPF to be gifted the Loftus Road naming rights – and much more.#ChooseLRCharity
— QPR FC (@QPR) June 7, 2019
QPR’s CEO Lee Hoos recognised that the foundation already had a close bond with the club and they hope to improve it moving forwards.
“From the outset we wanted fans to nominate a local charity which has had a strong impact on our community, and The Kiyan Prince Foundation has certainly done that,” Hoos said.
“With Kiyan’s connection to QPR, there is already a very close bond between the club and the charity.
“We will be looking to strengthen that over the coming months while helping to enhance the impact and reach of their fantastic work. I am delighted for Mark who is an inspiration to us all.”
The official unveiling of the stadium’s new name will take place when QPR play their first competitive fixture of the 2019/2020 campaign, the date of which is still to be confirmed.
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