One Club Men Reading

[linkenholtroyal]

Hello I was struggling with this one. Can anyone name the last player to play for reading and only reading from academy graduate right the way through to retirement??

[Gordons Cumming]

Maybe because there isn't one?

[tidus_mi2]

If there hasn't been one, HRK could be the first.

[George_]

If there hasn't been one, HRK could be the first.

Wasn't he with Arsenal before us?

[From Despair To Where?]

If there hasn't been one, HRK could be the first.

Wasn't he with Arsenal before us?

and 2 loan spells at Southend and Swindon.


As for the OP, you're probably looking at someone like Maurice Evans for your answer.

[tidus_mi2]

If there hasn't been one, HRK could be the first.

Wasn't he with Arsenal before us?

He was but he joined our youth academy after being released by them at 15. if that doesn't count I suppose the next most likely is Obita.

[Sutekh]

Gordon Neate

[linkenholtroyal]

If there hasn't been one, HRK could be the first.

Wasn't he with Arsenal before us?

and 2 loan spells at Southend and Swindon.


As for the OP, you're probably looking at someone like Maurice Evans for your answer.

Maurice Evans I think was is there no one more recent than that??

[From Despair To Where?]

Even with Maurice Evans, I think he was officially player/coach at Shrewsbury, although he never actually played for them

[The Royal Forester]

Even with Maurice Evans, I think he was officially player/coach at Shrewsbury, although he never actually played for them

Wasn't he also the manager of that club up the A34 from Newbury?

[strap]

Off the top of my head I'm guessing Jimmy Wheeler. Joined as an amateur in May 1952 from the Huntley & Palmers works team, and left in 1968 to manage Bradford City.

Maurice Evans joined from the RFC ground staff (ie apprentice/juniors) in September 1953 and left in 1967 to join Andover Town as player/manager, so he doesn't quite qualify having played for Andover - unless we are ignoring non-league apps?.

Dick Spiers joined from Cholsey United as a junior in October 1955 and left for Banbury United in 1970. So would that count?

A later one could be Steve Richardson. Whilst he was an apprentice at Southampton, he didn't make any apps for them and joined us in July 1982. He left for Newbury Town 11 years later, so in theory never played for another league club.

Can't think of anyone after Stevie Rich to be honest.

Not sure if Michael Thorp ever played for another league club. He was an RFC YTS boy before leaving for Slough Town, and then signed for us a further 3 times (so four times is a record I believe). He went on to play for a few non-league sides, but don't think he ever made a league app for anyone else.

[AthleticoSpizz]

If we are going to take that route...I give you Mark White....Sheffield U Yoof, 278 professional appearances but only for Reading....that was it

[The Royal Forester]

Gordon Neate

Best nomination so far. Joined the club at 15 years old in April,1956, became groundsman when injury, I believe, ended his career stayed in that job until he retired in July 2009. just over 53 years service to the club will take some beating.

[Melton Royal]

My old school chum Malcolm Swaine ? I think his career was fairly short - no idea if he went anywhere after us

[From Despair To Where?]

Even with Maurice Evans, I think he was officially player/coach at Shrewsbury, although he never actually played for them

Wasn't he also the manager of that club up the A34 from Newbury?

Non league kind of muddies the waters a bit. I'd be inclined to make a distinction between full time and part time/amateur clubs, which would basically discount all non league before 2000. Maurice Evans going to Andover 50 years ago is a world away from a current squad member going to Grimsby Town now.

Also, with automatic promotion and relegation between League 2 and the Conference National, the dividing line between the Football League and the top end of the pyramid is more fluid.

I'd also discount someone like Michael Thorp. In the spirit of the original post, I'd only consider someone who had a significant presence in the first team (50+ appearances, for example).

[Jackson Corner]

Wayne oxf*rd?
Andy Allene?

[AthleticoSpizz]

Both went on to play for Wokingham, oxf*rd eventually managing them via Carshalton iirc

[Nameless]

Need to exclude red herrings like Academies as obviously people like Gordon and Maurice played decades before academies existed. Not even sure there would have been youth contracts in their day.
Would Alex Pearce qualify ? Seems he's struggling to get a game for anyone else ! Likewise Jem has hardly racked up his non Reading appearance tally.

[Gordons Cumming]

Gordon Neate

Best nomination so far. Joined the club at 15 years old in April,1956, became groundsman when injury, I believe, ended his career stayed in that job until he retired in July 2009. just over 53 years service to the club will take some beating.

Probably only famous for pouring "neat" weedkiller onto the pitch instead of fertiliser.

Classic.