Queens Park Rangers came within a point of winning what was then the English First Division in 1976 and there are a bunch of forty-something year old blokes like me who have never quite forgiven them for casting us under their spell.

They teased us that season. The Match of the Day cameras found their way to Shepherd's Bush on regular occasions that season to cover a side that was better than Chelsea, better than Manchester United, better than Spurs, better than Man City and better than Newcastle. Only Liverpool bettered the R's that season and only by a point.

Many of us, barely in double figures at the time and looking for a team to follow, fell in love with the hooped affair right then and there. And how could we not? Phil Parkes in goal, Dave Clement, Ian Gillard, Don Masson, Dave Webb, Don Givens, Frank McLintock, Terry Mancini and Dave Thomas were the staples, with skipper Gerry Francis the midfield maestro and the genius Stan Bowles playing up front.

With his shoulder-length hair, love of the punt and a lager, Bowles was your archetypal '70s soccer star. But he loved a goal and put on a show for the Rangers every Saturday. And we 10-year-olds just starting to develop a love for the sport, and in particular the English game, fell hard for the lads from Loftus Road.

QPR last played in the Premier League 15 years ago and not long after, were relegated not just to the Championship, but to League One. During this time, the club changed manager as often as most people change their socks. Star players came and went, allegations of financial impropriety were rife, promising juniors died and the club went within days of going under.

Things turned for the better in 2004 when the club returned to the Championship and was bought by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore. The billionaires stabilised the club, but kept rotating the managers until early 2010, when Neil Warnock was brought to the club from Crystal Palace with a brief to save it from relegation.

That he did, and it earned him the job again last season, a magical season that nobody saw coming. QPR was leading the league after a week and went coast to coast, and were as much as 10 points ahead before cruising to win the title by four points. Of course, being QPR, there was drama attached, with the threat of a major points deduction hanging over the club's head for much of the second half of the season following irregularities in the signing of Argentinian international Alejandro Faurlin.

Last season saw the unveiling of the brilliant Moroccan striker, Adel Taarabt, who does things with a football that not many others can. And how he fares in the Premier League will be the key to whether QPR's stint in the top grade is a cameo or the start of a prolonged run.

Again, there has been controversy. The owners outraged the fans, first by ramping up the price of the tickets and then by not dipping into their considerable pockets to bring quality players for the club. Most of Warnock's signings have been free transfers, hence the general belief that the R's will be going straight down.

If QPR is in the Premier League for only a short time, let's hope it's for a good time. Having Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal visit Loftus Road will be magnificent. The tight, cramped and noisy confines will be nothing like they're used to. And the west London derbies with Chelsea and Fulham will be spectacular. All those Chelsea-hating chants, not heard for 15 years, will be sung with gusto once again.

I'm counting the days to Saturday night for the clash against Bolton. I've followed the Premier League with interest, but not much passion for the last 15 years, so to have my team back in the big time is just wonderful.

C'mon you Rrr's.