Jack Mansell - RIP

[strap]

Sad to hear of his passing. It was his brand of football that first enticed me to Elm Park, sparking a life-long fascination for RFC.

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/jack-mansell-obituary-3021649.aspx?

Only with us for 2½ years, and took us down to the basement for the first time in our history, but nevertheless an RFC legend in my eyes.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Took us down to 4th tier sadly, but I'd class the 1969/70 season in my top 5 seasons for supporting Reading.

[Victor Meldrew]

Ironic that I posted yesterday the you tube video of the Watney Cup game v Man Utd. from Mansell's time.
The 8-0 v Southport under Mansell ranks up there with a thrashing of Derby under McGhee and the playoff first leg at Tranmere as three of the most complete performance by any Reading side in my lifetime.
RIP Jack.

[Ian Royal]

Condolences to his family and friends. Obviously before my time, but a name I recognise, which must surely be a testament to his contributions to RFC.

[Pete10]

Sad news May he rest in peace.

[

[glass half full]

Great footballl which sadly never reached its potential. RIP.

[Ark Royal]

Very sad. I fell in love with his 69/70 team and was hooked; and although 45 years on, the memories are still vivid of a fantastic footballing team, which ranks among the club's finest.

RIP Jack and thanks for the memories.

[ayjaydee]

Agree with many of the posts mentioning the Southport game, my first full season and what an ending. I can recall standing under the old tin roof cheering every goal. IIRC we needed three to qualify for the Watney Cup? We scored 87 in that season but conceded 77, cavalier football at its best.

Jack,s promise to get us out of Div 3 did not quite pan out as he hoped.

RIP sir.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Way ahead of his time.

RIP

[Sutekh]

Very sad. So much promise and then it all fell apart. RIP

Anyone from that time able to give an insight as to why it didn't work out. Logically, after that first season, only a small amount of adjustment to the defensive side of the team should have been required to attain promotion?

[Haag Royal]

Sad news. I still remember buying the programme in those days with his column "Jack Mansell talks frankly". I don't know why but it has stuck in my mind.

Also the 8-0 v Southport I remember the Bobby Williams goal and again I have no idea why it seems so random - then seeing Best, Charlton etc in the Watney cup at Elm Park has to be one of the all time best memories for fans from that era.

RIP Jack.

[MoorgateRoyal]

I was talking to my old man about this yesterday and he said if Mansell was the manager nowadays, the stadium would be full every week.

Very sad to lose a servant to our club, who played the game in the right way and also, let's not forget, reintroduced the hoops into our kit.

[Gordons Cumming]

Sad to hear of his passing. It was his brand of football that first enticed me to Elm Park, sparking a life-long fascination for RFC.

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/jack-mansell-obituary-3021649.aspx?

Only with us for 2½ years, and took us down to the basement for the first time in our history, but nevertheless an RFC legend in my eyes.

Yep. As Strap.

In charge when I first started supporting Reading in 1969.
Great little all out attacking team.......................enjoyed most visits to Elm Park (wearing my rose tinted glasses)

[Barney]

Very sad. So much promise and then it all fell apart. RIP

Anyone from that time able to give an insight as to why it didn't work out. Logically, after that first season, only a small amount of adjustment to the defensive side of the team should have been required to attain promotion?

1969/70 season. Les Chappell and Bobby Williams = 40 league goals
1970/71 season. Les Chappell and Bobby Williams = 7 league goals

[Victor Meldrew]

Very sad. So much promise and then it all fell apart. RIP

Anyone from that time able to give an insight as to why it didn't work out. Logically, after that first season, only a small amount of adjustment to the defensive side of the team should have been required to attain promotion?

It was probably because that was the only season that I wasn't a regular at Elm Park having moved to Southampton with a very young family.
If that wasn't the reason it might be because Fred Sharpe played most of the season at centre-back!!

If you want a flavou r of how that team played have a look at what I posted a couple of days ago under "something to cheer us up"
That bit of video brought back some great memories.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Like many of us crinklies on this thread, this is a real lump in the throat bit of news. Maybe because it's Jack - 'my' first RFC manager with his wonderful, ridiculous approach to cavalier sunshine footy, or maybe because it moves us one step closer to popping off this mortal coil ourselves.
Another '68/69 first season checking in.
RIP Jack "we'll score more goals than you"......

[The Cap]

RIP Jack. "When I was a boy" said in that old fogey type voice, my abiding memories are of us playing the ball forward into the spaces behind their backs, and our wingers/forwards running, like gazelles, to get to the ball before finishing. Counter attacking play at its finest.

[Half Biscuit]

As above, many of us fell in love with Reading Football Club in that magical 1969-70 season - as attested by the fact that so many Hobnobbers have usernames based on players from that era. Personally, I will never forget the 14-match unbeaten run where we usually scored 2 or 3 goals, and topping the division with a 4-1 thrashing of Halifax under the floodlights. "The Prenton Park massacre". ""Hero Fred played on with a broken nose". Leading Barrow 6-2, South Bank chanting "6-2 yer bums, 6-2", Barrow scored a 3rd in mid-chant, song changed instantly to "6-3 yer bums, 6-3". Could ramble on.
Mansell brought a feelgood factor to Elm Park with his irresistible brand of football, and by all accounts was a true gent.
A very sad piece of news.

[From Despair To Where?]

RIP

Before my time but one of the names mentioned in reverential terms when I was a kid. His was a team that played with style and verve and drew fans to Elm Park by all accounts.

[sputnik]

Before my time but RIP in peace.

Could ramble on.

whenever you like HB!
I quite enjoy some of the nostalgic ramblings on the TB tbh