50 Not Out

[sg1961]

Long time reader but first time poster, so I'm braced for the traditional welcome and won't take offence!

The reason for posting is that today marks the 50th anniversary of my first Reading match - a 1-0 win against Torquay at Elm Park on 12th April 1975. I've seen many hundreds of Reading games since then, though not so many in the last few years as I now live in Norfolk. I will be at Northampton this afternoon though. I was lucky enough to be a season ticket holder along with my two sons from 2000 to 2014, so was present during what looks like being a golden age, at least as far as my lifetime is concerned.

So I got to thinking about some of the highs (and lows), and thought I might share some of my memories. I don't claim these to be 'the best' in any objective sense, just my personal favourites in chronological order.

Top 10 Games:
Reading 5-0 Tranmere, Division 4, 31.3.1976
Reading 3-1 Aldershot, FA Cup 1st Round, 26.11.1977
Reading 1-0 Wolverhampton, League Cup 2nd Round, 30.8.1978
Reading 4-2 Chesterfield, Division 3, 2.10.1985
Luton 1-4 Reading, Simod Cup Final, 27.3.1988
Tranmere 1-3 Reading, Playoff Semi Final, 14.5.95 - probably the finest Reading performance I have seen.
Reading 2-1 Wigan, Playoff Semi Final, 16.5.2001
Reading 3-1 Liverpool 1, PL, 8.12.2007
West Ham 2-4 Reading, Championship, 31.3.2012
Southampton 1-3, Championship, 13.4.2012

Top 10 Players:

Robin Friday
Richie Bowman
Michael Gilkes
Shaka Hislop
Graeme Murty
James Harper
Nicky Forster
John Salako
Jimmy Kebe
Jem Karacan

Top 10 Goals

Robin Friday v Tranmere, 31.3.1976. (Obviously I had to include this, but although I was there if I'm honest I didn't realise how special it was until I read the Evening Post on my home from school the following day. I was probably lighting up a Players No 6 as it went in and missed it)
Lee Nogan v Bolton, Playoff Final 29.5.1994
Stuart Lovell, 2nd goal v Wolverhampton, 12.4.1997
Nicky Forster v Wigan, Playoff Semi Final 16.5.2001
Graeme Murty v QPR, Championship, 30.4.2006
Steve Sidwell v Middlesbrough, PL, 19.8.2006
Ulises De La Cruz v Sheffield Utd, PL, 20.1.2007
James Harper v Liverpool, PL, 8.12.2007 - my favourite RFC moment ever!
Shane Long, 2nd goal v Aston Villa, FA Cup 6th Round, 7.3.2010
Pavel Pogrebnyak v WBA, PL, 12.1.2013

Hopefully these have stirred some memories for other supporters.

[Snowflake Royal]

Welcome (oxf*rd off newbie) sg!

Much more of a newbie than you, but here are a few of my highlights.

Reading 3-4 Bolton - Play Off Final 95. My first game
Reading 2-1 Wolves Archie brace in the dying minutes
Reading 3-0 Wolves - That Quinn goal
Reading 0-3 Man Utd Fa Cup - first time I saw us mix it with the big boys
Reading 5-0 Millwall 2005 Convey's break from their corner
Reading 3-2 Middlesbrough 2006 our first ever top flight game

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Good memories - I go back to 1971 (year we were relegated to 4th division for first time) but most of these games would feature on my list too...possibly adding a 4-0 win at Blackpool in 1994.

Agree I wouldn't have any game on my all time list post Southampton in 2012.

Best goal - difficult one - didn't see it live (was on Sky) but in terms of an overall team move a goal at Hull just after Steve Clarke left would be right up there.

[Sutekh]

20 best of goals between 1993 and 2012

[Brogue]

Lives in Norfolk I.P registered in Amsterdam.

[Snowflake Royal]

20 best of goals between 1993 and 2012

That first Osborn goal is worthy of Messi, the touch to get round the challenge is audacious, then finish with a cheeky lob.

[Sutekh]

20 best of goals between 1993 and 2012

That first Osborn goal is worthy of Messi, the touch to get round the challenge is audacious, then finish with a cheeky lob.

I really like Quinn’s v Bournemouth, he just seems to be gently running across the pitch when this ball bobbles across his path and he just nonchantly kicks it out of the way.

[AthleticoSpizz]

20 best of goals between 1993 and 2012

lovely stuff
……but where is THAT Quinny goal (v Wolves)?

[Sutekh]

20 best of goals between 1993 and 2012

lovely stuff
……but where is THAT Quinny goal (v Wolves)?

Here

[LUX]

My first match was 1968 , aged 7.

I have been to the following matches which resonate with me in particular) some obvs not great)

Tranmere 5-0 ( Friday’s goal)
Simon Cup Final
Bolton play off final
Swansea play off final
Huddersfield play off final
Arsenal FA cup semi
Clinching promotion to the Premiership at Leicester
Winning away at Forest 4-3
Losing 3-2 (?) at Newcastle in our first season in the Premiership.
25000 at Elm Park to see us draw 0-0 with Southampton in the League Cup. Keegan was supposed to play but was a no- show.
Losing 2-1 at Wealdstone in the Cup in about 1977. George Duck scored a brace.
Football special to Hereford in 1976 ( at that time two Divisions above us). Lost one nil.

[LUX]

Edit

Taking the lead at Chesterfield, then going on to lose 7-1. 1979 or so.

[Sutekh]

Wigan po semi, 1-0 down with less than 5 minutes left then 2-1 up when the whistle finally blew. So exciting there was a pitch invasion - by mounted police

[AthleticoSpizz]

20 best of goals between 1993 and 2012

lovely stuff
……but where is THAT Quinny goal (v Wolves)?

Here

ooooooo yeeeeeeah, gets me everytime, was in the TE right in line with the great mans magic, the stand went mad.

Thanx Sutekh

[blythspartan]

1st match age 8 in 1972 Reading 6 Blyth Spartans 1

Highlights
- Hearing about Robin Friday’s goal against Tranmere
- Easter Monday beating Aldershot 4-1
- Beating Wolves 1-0 in the league Cup (Pat Earle’s winner).
- John Alexander scoring 4 goals against Grimsby
- Port Vale away last game of the season, we won 3-0
- comeback to win 4-3 at home to Plymouth
- Simod Cup semi final and final
- Tranmere away in 1st leg of playoff semi final
- Wigan home in 2nd leg of playoff semi final
- Draw at Brentford and Curo’s equaliser
- Standing outside M&S in 2006 waiting for the title winners
- The first prem win against Boro, especially Sidwell’s equaliser.
- Southampton away and Alfie’s second goal.
- 2-1 win away at Wycombe last season

[East Grinstead Royal]

Wigan po semi, 1-0 down with less than 5 minutes left then 2-1 up when the whistle finally blew. So exciting there was a pitch invasion - by mounted police

I tore a muscle in my left side celebrating the winning goal that night.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Winning 3-2 at Bristol City after being 2-0 down. All three goals to the keeper’s right, IIRC. Kermorgant got at least one.

[Sutekh]

Most famously, of course, THAT Plymouth game. 2-0 down at HT at home, then 3-0 just after the restart had many thinking about leaving early but then Deano scored from the penalty spot after an hour or so. Then, as the clock reached 80 minutes all hell started breaking loose, first Bremner started pushing further forward and Senior netted twice in as many minutes. Next Bremner hit a winner a minute or two later and Plymouth started losing it and had a player sent off just before the end.

God I wish the TV had been there instead of in dispute with the FL.

[grey_squirrel]

Most famously, of course, THAT Plymouth game. 2-0 down at HT at home, then 3-0 just after the restart had many thinking about leaving early but then Deano scored from the penalty spot after an hour or so. Then, as the clock reached 80 minutes all hell started breaking loose, first Bremner started pushing further forward and Senior netted twice in as many minutes. Next Bremner hit a winner a minute or two later and Plymouth started losing it and had a player sent off just before the end.

God I wish the TV had been there instead of in dispute with the FL.

Plymouth also hit the crossbar before we scored our first.

[stealthpapes]

- Southampton away and Alfie’s second goal.

that entire run-in, 4 games in 2 weeks, West Ham (A), Leeds (H), Brighton (A), Southampton (A)
went from contenders to champions

i don't remember my first game, i thought it was 1991-92 season opener vs Hull but I also went to
09 Mar 1991 Reading v Tranmere Rovers W 1-0 League Division Three
Dad's mate broke a tooth on a frozen Mars bar

I also vividly remember

15 October 1991 - England 2 Turkey 0 [0-0]
Elm Park, Reading (7,489) Shearer (2) HW

for the curious
England: David James, Gary Charles, C.Vinnicombe, J.Ebbrellᶜ, C.Tiler, P.Atherton, T.Johnson, D.Matthew (M.Blake), Alan Shearer, P.Williams, K.Campbell.

Other squad members were Andy Awford, Jason Cundy, Jason Dodd, Paul Kitson, Chris Kiwomya, Glen Livingstone, Ian Olney, Paul Warhurst and Alan Wright.

[bcubed]

Wigan po semi, 1-0 down with less than 5 minutes left then 2-1 up when the whistle finally blew. So exciting there was a pitch invasion - by mounted police

I tore a muscle in my left side celebrating the winning goal that night.

I don't believe there's been a better atmosphere at the Madstad