The Lost Years of Reading FC

20 posts   •   Page 1 of 1
User avatar
strap
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 2802
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 09:06
Location: Gainsford End

The Lost Years of Reading FC

by strap » 23 Nov 2016 18:25

Not sure if this is the right forum, so mods please feel free to move as appropriate.

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/the-lost-years-of-reading-fc-star-roger-titford-book-3432364.aspx?

Was fortunate enough to buy an advance copy of Roger Titford's new book, The Lost Years of Reading FC - link above.

Have to say this is an excellent detailed history of RFC's amateur days, and is actually an interesting social commentary on the town of Reading as it was in the last quarter of the 19th century - for those who like that sort of thing.

In my opinion the title isn't strictly appropriate as books such as Heaven on Earth and Biscuits and Royals do provide a brief insight into the club's early years, but Roger's work is a fascinating in-depth study, and a fantastic addition to the available collective knowledge of our club.

It even has a comprehensive stats section listing all the games in RC's pre-Southern League history, with line-ups for most of them. I didn't realise that in 1871 we used a 1-2-7 formation, switching to 2-2-6 in 1877 before the more recognisable 2-3-5 came into vogue in 1885. Bizarre then that 3 of our 4 first ever games ended 0-0!

The other fascinating thing is even back then the club had money problems, threats of bankruptcy, problems with finding and keeping grounds, not to mention crowd problems and bad refereeing decisions. Nothing new under the sun!

Excellent read.

AthleticoSpizz
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 23971
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 19:49
Location: A Hicks Hoof from Coley Park

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by AthleticoSpizz » 23 Nov 2016 18:31

Is there anything much mentioned about our tenure in Coley Park?......apparently the steps in the "town" corner are part of the original ground.set-up

Would be very interested to read more

User avatar
genome
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 25180
Joined: 08 Jul 2012 13:29
Location: Universe

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by genome » 23 Nov 2016 18:33

Roger Titford


lol

AthleticoSpizz
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 23971
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 19:49
Location: A Hicks Hoof from Coley Park

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by AthleticoSpizz » 23 Nov 2016 18:56

Good grief Genome...... :roll:

Showing your newness around here

User avatar
genome
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 25180
Joined: 08 Jul 2012 13:29
Location: Universe

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by genome » 23 Nov 2016 18:59

I'm just being indecorous


AthleticoSpizz
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 23971
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 19:49
Location: A Hicks Hoof from Coley Park

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by AthleticoSpizz » 23 Nov 2016 19:04

very good......but how we barely tittered fifteen years ago


Back to topic....

User avatar
WAZZOCK
Member
Posts: 737
Joined: 11 Apr 2006 23:09

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by WAZZOCK » 23 Nov 2016 21:19


User avatar
Sutekh
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 18386
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Sutekh » 24 Nov 2016 09:10

Not all these old chestnuts again :roll: :lol:

User avatar
Fox Talbot
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1116
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 16:07
Location: Left Back.

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Fox Talbot » 25 Nov 2016 11:23

AthleticoSpizz Is there anything much mentioned about our tenure in Coley Park?......apparently the steps in the "town" corner are part of the original ground.set-up

Would be very interested to read more


Pretty definitive on this. Coley Rec where those steps are was never our ground. We played inside Coley Park itself and it sounds like a disaster for the club.

Fascinating details and quite a bit of new stuff here especially the Coley Park years which don't get covered much elsewhere. Each season gets it's own chapter.


AthleticoSpizz
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 23971
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 19:49
Location: A Hicks Hoof from Coley Park

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by AthleticoSpizz » 25 Nov 2016 11:46

Cheers Fox

If not the Rec, then what part of CP was it?

Got given some kind of a flyer a few years ago citing those "steps" as being part of the ground set-up....so it'll be interesting to read otherwise.

User avatar
Sutekh
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 18386
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Sutekh » 25 Nov 2016 12:41

Sounds a good buy. I presume it only covers 1871 until about 1895 when professionalism arrived?

Would have been interesting to have a book specifically covering the pre FL days i.e. to about 1920.

User avatar
strap
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 2802
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 09:06
Location: Gainsford End

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by strap » 25 Nov 2016 16:28

Sutekh Sounds a good buy. I presume it only covers 1871 until about 1895 when professionalism arrived?

Would have been interesting to have a book specifically covering the pre FL days i.e. to about 1920.


For my sins I have been telling a few of the great and good in the RFC publishing game that I am proposing to write such a tome, including a detailed stats section, (that's pretty much complete now). Having read Roger's latest work, I certainly have my work cut-out matching his standard, although his level of detail is exactly what I had in mind.

Don't hold your collective breath, but I hope to make a decent start in the near future.

boycey
Member
Posts: 562
Joined: 21 Aug 2006 13:18
Location: Here I am

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by boycey » 26 Nov 2016 00:01

Expect to see this on New York Times best sellers list for months to come


User avatar
Fox Talbot
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1116
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 16:07
Location: Left Back.

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Fox Talbot » 01 Dec 2016 09:44

AthleticoSpizz Cheers Fox

If not the Rec, then what part of CP was it?

Got given some kind of a flyer a few years ago citing those "steps" as being part of the ground set-up....so it'll be interesting to read otherwise.


Couldn't find the page - it's a big book - but it sounds more like they had a pitch or pitches within the Coley Park grounds, ie beyond the lodge gates, not a permanent ground with a stand or anything. Coley Rec came some years later.

User avatar
Green
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 25786
Joined: 29 Jun 2012 13:28

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Green » 01 Dec 2016 13:15

Is this for sale online anywhere?

User avatar
STAR Liaison
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1408
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 09:58

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by STAR Liaison » 01 Dec 2016 17:00

Green Is this for sale online anywhere?


Don't think so - it's at STAR Base, Megastore, Waterstones Reading. Megastore might do it online. STAR could probably do it by post!

User avatar
Sutekh
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 18386
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Sutekh » 02 Dec 2016 09:06

STAR Liaison
Green Is this for sale online anywhere?


Don't think so - it's at STAR Base, Megastore, Waterstones Reading. Megastore might do it online. STAR could probably do it by post!


Megastore would probably also have it in the shop as they've stocked other books. Not unknown for these books to surface on Amazon etc. after some time as well.

kwik-silva
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1907
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 07:26

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by kwik-silva » 02 Dec 2016 12:16

Sutekh
STAR Liaison
Green Is this for sale online anywhere?


Don't think so - it's at STAR Base, Megastore, Waterstones Reading. Megastore might do it online. STAR could probably do it by post!


Megastore would probably also have it in the shop as they've stocked other books. Not unknown for these books to surface on Amazon etc. after some time as well.


Out of stock but it's on Waterstones

User avatar
Huckleberry Hound
Member
Posts: 139
Joined: 16 Oct 2011 18:04
Location: The Magic Roundabout

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by Huckleberry Hound » 03 Dec 2016 12:34

When Saturday Comes have it in their shop http://shop.wsc.co.uk. Roger's a regular contributor of theirs.

User avatar
STAR Liaison
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1408
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 09:58

Re: The Lost Years of Reading FC

by STAR Liaison » 27 Jan 2017 09:03

This title (highly acclaimed by the experts!) sold out before Christmas but will now be available again on Sat 28 Jan at STAR Base, price £20.

Also available via the SHOP at wsc.co.uk for those wanting to buy online this account of turbulent and fascinating Victorian football in Reading.

Also likely to be in Megastore again soon.

20 posts   •   Page 1 of 1

Who is online

It is currently 28 Mar 2024 13:11