Tribute to Robin Friday on F365

[Broxroyal]

For what it is worth...I'd like to add something here.

I was fortunate enough to see EVERY home game Robin Friday played in for Reading
Plus a few away games. Quite simply...there will NEVER be another player like him.
Not at Reading. Not in professional football.
He was unique. The word 'legend' is used too often in football, but Friday was a
true legend.
These were days before mobiles and internet and teletext and Sky...and sometimes
you'd get to Elm Park and the previous nights Evening Post had stated that Friday
was nursing umpteen injuries etc.
You'd then see him wander out at 5 to 3...and the whole place would lift.
He really did put bums on seats.
He was injured one time and was due to play in a midweek home reserve game
against Plymouth. I went along. It was my first ever reserve game. The usual
crowd of 70-100 was swelled to around 500/600...just to watch Friday.

He was remarkable. I still have many newspaper clippings of the great man, and the
injuries he sustained was unbelievable. His shins were literally kicked to shreds most games.
But in his defense, he rarely missed a game through injury.

I saw his goal against Tranmere. Quite simply it was brilliant. But he did other brilliant
things that rarely get mentioned. He was skillful and probably the toughest player I have ever
seen play.
We were lucky. Reading FC were lucky. We had one of the greatest footballers EVER on our books.
I know that a lot of the younger fans on here are probably bored of the fact that some of the older fans continue to
talk about this great player, and for that I apologise.
But the man was a one-off.

I have managed to keep many newspapers cuttings of Friday. I am tempted, even now, to try and get
them reprinted and published into a book. Don't know if it is possible...but if I could, just maybe some fans
who never had the chance to see this legend could at least take a trip through some truly great moments of
the king that was Robin Friday.

As one who was also there Barney you are absolutely spot on. The only shame is that this was in the days before every goal at
every game was captured by television cameras or we wouldn't even be having this discussion with the youngsters.
Quite often our sole tactic would be to give the ball to Friday and let him do his stuff.
I am just grateful that we have had one player like Robin Friday at Reading during my lifetime. My Dad is now 86 and he
still regards Robin as our best ever.
It isn't just that he was the best, however, it is that he was a completely different type of player to anyone you are ever going to see.

As for Clive Thomas, don't get me started on him good people. An appalling referee but he did perform at the World Cup and
saw all the top stars. No reason why his view of his best ever goal should be suspect.

[Man Friday]

For what it is worth...I'd like to add something here.

I was fortunate enough to see EVERY home game Robin Friday played in for Reading
Plus a few away games. Quite simply...there will NEVER be another player like him.
Not at Reading. Not in professional football.
He was unique. The word 'legend' is used too often in football, but Friday was a
true legend.
These were days before mobiles and internet and teletext and Sky...and sometimes
you'd get to Elm Park and the previous nights Evening Post had stated that Friday
was nursing umpteen injuries etc.
You'd then see him wander out at 5 to 3...and the whole place would lift.
He really did put bums on seats.
He was injured one time and was due to play in a midweek home reserve game
against Plymouth. I went along. It was my first ever reserve game. The usual
crowd of 70-100 was swelled to around 500/600...just to watch Friday.

He was remarkable. I still have many newspaper clippings of the great man, and the
injuries he sustained was unbelievable. His shins were literally kicked to shreds most games.
But in his defense, he rarely missed a game through injury.

I saw his goal against Tranmere. Quite simply it was brilliant. But he did other brilliant
things that rarely get mentioned. He was skillful and probably the toughest player I have ever
seen play.
We were lucky. Reading FC were lucky. We had one of the greatest footballers EVER on our books.
I know that a lot of the younger fans on here are probably bored of the fact that some of the older fans continue to
talk about this great player, and for that I apologise.
But the man was a one-off.

I have managed to keep many newspapers cuttings of Friday. I am tempted, even now, to try and get
them reprinted and published into a book. Don't know if it is possible...but if I could, just maybe some fans
who never had the chance to see this legend could at least take a trip through some truly great moments of
the king that was Robin Friday.

As one who was also there Barney you are absolutely spot on. The only shame is that this was in the days before every goal at
every game was captured by television cameras or we wouldn't even be having this discussion with the youngsters.
Quite often our sole tactic would be to give the ball to Friday and let him do his stuff.
I am just grateful that we have had one player like Robin Friday at Reading during my lifetime. My Dad is now 86 and he
still regards Robin as our best ever.
It isn't just that he was the best, however, it is that he was a completely different type of player to anyone you are ever going to see.

As for Clive Thomas, don't get me started on him good people. An appalling referee but he did perform at the World Cup and
saw all the top stars. No reason why his view of his best ever goal should be suspect.

I too saw (almost) every home game Robin played in and everything you both say is spot-on - couldn't put it any better myself. We were very fortunate, honoured almost, to have seen him.

[Ark Royal]

I have published this before, but for those who are interested - especially Barney - here is the Evening Post, which I still have in its entirety, the day after the Tranmere game in '76.

To avoid Friday's goal turning into yet another 'angler's tale' you may notice from the photo of his goal that he is just outside the 'D' - albeit at an angle - and not two light years away. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/baz.greenaway/ReadingVTranmere31stMarch1976#

[Morph]

He was, inevitably, a legendary shagger; 'in and out like a fiddler's elbow', by his own admission.

[Derbyshire Royal]

I saw him play quite a few times, and he was the most gifted player I ever saw in the hoops. Was he our greatest player ever? I doubt it, if only because he could have been so much more. He would of course be in my top XI but the first name on the sheet for me would be Steve Death, almost as much of a hellraiser by all accounts but still managed a long career with the Royals.

[Gus the teenage cow]

Gus the teenage cow eh!To print things about someone you know nothing about makes you one idiot.If he had carried on playing he would almost certainly get in the England team so what the hell do you know sunshine

well sunshine i know this much


-he DIDN'T play for the england

-he DIDN'T play at the highest level or for a top club

-he NEVER won an honour of note

those are the facts so please dont shoot the messenger here

indeed i am quite angry with players like friday, best, worthington, le tissier etc for not making mroe of their talents, they are blessed with a gift but they abuse it and none of them will ever be considered all-time greats even though they all had the ability to be that

i know i am going against the grain but i have a million times more respect for a player liek roy keane with limited ability who works at his game constantly and improves than the players i have mentioned above who basically pissed away their talent, that we glorify them says a lot about us and it's really quite sad, how they ended up and how we love them because of this

i guess only a failure could love a failure


good night

[Sun Tzu]

Apart from the daft error of suggesting George Best (winner of one or two trophies in his time...) won't be thought of as an all time great I can see your point Gus.

I don't agree with it, because players like Friday, Worthington, Bowles etc etc played the way they did because of the type of person they were. I saw Friday and Worthington play regularly and whilst maybe both 'could' have achieved more i suspect that if either had been made to change their game would have fallen apart.

Better to be glad to have had these entertainers than bemoan what they 'could' have achieved.
I suspect Gus is too young to have seen any of this type of player in the flesh (was Gazza the last of them ?).

[SCIAG]

I'm a decade too young to have seen Friday play. By all accounts, the greatest player we've ever had. Imagine a team containing him and Little...

The photo has slightly ruined my perception of 'his goal' though- I think I'll stick to the one in my head.

[Avon Royal]

Gus the teenage cow eh!To print things about someone you know nothing about makes you one idiot.If he had carried on playing he would almost certainly get in the England team so what the hell do you know sunshine

well sunshine i know this much


-he DIDN'T play for the england

-he DIDN'T play at the highest level or for a top club

-he NEVER won an honour of note

those are the facts so please dont shoot the messenger here

indeed i am quite angry with players like friday, best, worthington, le tissier etc for not making mroe of their talents, they are blessed with a gift but they abuse it and none of them will ever be considered all-time greats even though they all had the ability to be that

i know i am going against the grain but i have a million times more respect for a player liek roy keane with limited ability who works at his game constantly and improves than the players i have mentioned above who basically pissed away their talent, that we glorify them says a lot about us and it's really quite sad, how they ended up and how we love them because of this

i guess only a failure could love a failure


good night

And with that, the last vestiges of Gus' credibility disappeared into the sunset never to return.

The End

[Gus the teenage cow]

Gus the teenage cow eh!To print things about someone you know nothing about makes you one idiot.If he had carried on playing he would almost certainly get in the England team so what the hell do you know sunshine

well sunshine i know this much


-he DIDN'T play for the england

-he DIDN'T play at the highest level or for a top club

-he NEVER won an honour of note

those are the facts so please dont shoot the messenger here

indeed i am quite angry with players like friday, best, worthington, le tissier etc for not making mroe of their talents, they are blessed with a gift but they abuse it and none of them will ever be considered all-time greats even though they all had the ability to be that

i know i am going against the grain but i have a million times more respect for a player liek roy keane with limited ability who works at his game constantly and improves than the players i have mentioned above who basically pissed away their talent, that we glorify them says a lot about us and it's really quite sad, how they ended up and how we love them because of this

i guess only a failure could love a failure


good night

And with that, the last vestiges of Gus' credibility disappeared into the sunset never to return.

The End

i can't believe my credibility lasted that long


thanks Avoners


on the street however i remain feared and respected, they cower before me

[RoyalBlue]

I have published this before, but for those who are interested - especially Barney - here is the Evening Post, which I still have in its entirety, the day after the Tranmere game in '76.

To avoid Friday's goal turning into yet another 'angler's tale' you may notice from the photo of his goal that he is just outside the 'D' - albeit at an angle - and not two light years away. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/baz.greenaway/ReadingVTranmere31stMarch1976#

I'm afraid (actually I'm not because it is a good thing) that the picture is proof that the camera can and does lie. The angle from which the picture was taken, and with a telephoto lens, has foreshortened the distances in the picture. Look how comparatively close the players on the halfway line appear.

I was privileged to be at the game and see all of the goals, including the wonder goal, and can assure you that he was a lot further from the edge of the D than the picture suggests (you'll have to take my word that there is no angler's tale involved in my version of events, nor has the distance grown with age/memory!).

I'm a decade too young to have seen Friday play. By all accounts, the greatest player we've ever had. Imagine a tea containing him and Little...

The photo has slightly ruined my perception of 'his goal' though- I think I'll stick to the one in my head.

See above and don't let the photo ruin it!!

[Avon Royal]

i can't believe my credibility lasted that long


thanks Avoners


on the street however i remain feared and respected, they cower before me

Tsk tsk,

Winding up the old folks is so last week - you'll be leaving them rude answerphone messages next claiming to have shagged Friday.

[Gordons Cumming]

. Imagine a tea containing him and Little...
.

A strong coffee maybe but never a tea.

[Ark Royal]

I have published this before, but for those who are interested - especially Barney - here is the Evening Post, which I still have in its entirety, the day after the Tranmere game in '76.

To avoid Friday's goal turning into yet another 'angler's tale' you may notice from the photo of his goal that he is just outside the 'D' - albeit at an angle - and not two light years away. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/baz.greenaway/ReadingVTranmere31stMarch1976#

I'm afraid (actually I'm not because it is a good thing) that the picture is proof that the camera can and does lie. The angle from which the picture was taken, and with a telephoto lens, has foreshortened the distances in the picture. Look how comparatively close the players on the halfway line appear.

I was privileged to be at the game and see all of the goals, including the wonder goal, and can assure you that he was a lot further from the edge of the D than the picture suggests (you'll have to take my word that there is no angler's tale involved in my version of events, nor has the distance grown with age/memory!).

I'm a decade too young to have seen Friday play. By all accounts, the greatest player we've ever had. Imagine a tea containing him and Little...

The photo has slightly ruined my perception of 'his goal' though- I think I'll stick to the one in my head.

See above and don't let the photo ruin it!!

RoyalBlue - My recall is that he was beyond the 'D' and was at an angle, so perhaps he was 25-30 yards out. The ball was knocked in from the left and then it was a combination of chest/knee or knee/chest, a swivel and one hell of a Buddy Holly. The ball certainly did not touch the ground after he received it. I can close my eyes and still freeze the moment that he hit the ball. Friday put a wicked dip on the ball and although it went over and beat Johnson all ends up it actually landed in the right-hand (Johnson's left) bottom corner of the net. Cannot remember too much about the goal celebration after that because I was too busy going totally lipstick in B stand.

[TNR]

Shame I never got to see him play, but my dad was always telling me stories about him.

[VOR]

"on the street however i remain feared and respected, they cower before me"

Which street would that be... Sesame Street?

[Gus the teenage cow]

"on the street however i remain feared and respected, they cower before me"

Which street would that be... Sesame Street?

nice use of the quoting facility

[Jackson Corner]

I was 12 when I saw him play and he was without doubt a very talented player. But the best? I would have to say no. For the reasons already mentioned on this thread. Had he have gone on to play in the top flight and England then i would say so but he didn't. A couple of good seasons of running rings round 4th division defences isn't enough to make him Readings best ever player.

[Gordons Cumming]

I was 12 when I saw him play and he was without doubt a very talented player. But the best? I would have to say no. For the reasons already mentioned on this thread. Had he have gone on to play in the top flight and England then i would say so but he didn't. A couple of good seasons of running rings round 4th division defences isn't enough to make him Readings best ever player.

With respect, you're not implying that England cap,Nicky Shorey was better are you?

[friday fan]

I saw him play a few times before I left as a teenager to live in Australia. He used to go to the spread Eagle and drink and was often barred. Who would have imagined a 4th division player with the rock and roll attitude that is now reserved for prem players of today. In those days Reading was a small town and the football team had been mediocre to say the least, when we got good players the club cashed in on them. I'm so glad Robin Friday lasted as long as he did at Reading and not to take anything away from current or recent managers but Charlie Hurley did a great job at Reading considering we had Oxford all to spend. Love Robin Friday, the best player I've ever seen at RFC. All the Southbank went off when he produced his skill, those times can never be felt at the MAd Stad unfortunately. Great article