Ray "Bomber" Reeves

[fruits]

On the official website ,the death of one of our finest ever players, Ray"Bomber "Reeves at the age of 76. He played over 300 games for us in the 50´s.

What a player,had a shot on him that most centre forwards would die for. Brave as a bull, I saw him when we beat Southampton 1-0 at the Dell,he suffered a bad cut blood pouring out everywhere, went off for about 10 minutes fixed up with vinegar and brown paper and because this was before substitutes came back on the pitch even though he had lost a lot of blood and completed the game.

If only we had him now to take our penalties his shot was so hard, if the goalie got in the way he ended up in the back of the net as well.

A true legend and a fine man, my condolences to his widow and three children.

[Alan Partridge]

Sad news. R.I.P.

[Coppell's Right Footed 11]

A name passed down to me from My Grandfather many many times about what a great player he was in defence.

R.I.P

[Geekins]

RIP

Please can we have a minutes silence. Not only a loyal footballer but also a lifelong fan, last seen at the Mad Stad in August verses Everton

[cheeryoleary]

I joked that we would have a minutes silence before the game due to the rail worker who died yesterday.

RIP

[SpaceCruiser]

Obviously I've never seen him play, but always sad to hear of a former Reading player die. I am astonished to read that he scored 32 times from a fullback position. How many players have done that?

[AndyRFC]

RIP

[Old Biscuitman]

Obviously I've never seen him play, but always sad to hear of a former Reading player die. I am astonished to read that he scored 32 times from a fullback position. How many players have done that?

Yes, I didn't know he scored that many, but a great achievement, especially since in those days defenders were defenders and attackers were attackers - nothing like today's formations. My memory must be slipping because I recall him as a centre half, but a true player who always gave 100%. RIP.

[SpaceCruiser]

Obviously I've never seen him play, but always sad to hear of a former Reading player die. I am astonished to read that he scored 32 times from a fullback position. How many players have done that?

Yes, I didn't know he scored that many, but a great achievement, especially since in those days defenders were defenders and attackers were attackers - nothing like today's formations. My memory must be slipping because I recall him as a centre half, but a true player who always gave 100%. RIP.

The official site did say that 22 of those goals were penalties!!!

[BR2]

A gentle giant.
I once played cricket with him and a few of his team-mates for about half an hour at Elm Park when they were supposed to be training-what a thrill for a ten year-old on an errand from school to get my teacher's (Mrs Barnes) ticket for the next game.
A very big man for a full back and he had a really powerful kick with of course the old heavy leather ball.
Would love to have seen him tackle one of the modern nonces of wingers like Beckham .
A sad day for me and condolences to his family.

[strap]

Hero.

Some facts ....






(Sorry about the size - will try to learn to upload links instead next time )

[BR2]

One thing that strikes me from those figures is the number of goals scored by Gordon Cumming playing as a winger.
Different era, different level I know but the goalscoring records of Little,Oster,Convey and Hunt do not even come close if you add them all together let alone individually.

[elman]

My condoleces to Ray's family. Many memories of Bomber, all good
As has been said How would the nambies pambies of this era stand up to him?

[higher]

RIP Ray.

[Compo's Hat]

A very sad day for RFC.

Obviously never saw him play, but i've always known the name.

R.I.P.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Very sad news - the official website says the following.

The Club was greatly saddened to hear of the death of former player Ray Reeves on Friday morning

Richard Wickson, president of the Ex-Players Association and a close friend of Ray's, has written the following tribute.

Ray Reeves died in the early hours of this morning after a long battle against illness. He was 76.

Born in Reading, he was a lifelong supporter of the club/

He joined the groundstaff in 1947 at the age of 16 and turned professional two years later.

He was a powerfully built defender and due to his formidable physique and thunderous shooting ability he was given the nickname 'Bomber'.

Ray played 317 times for Reading, scoring 32 goals from the fullback position, including a club record 22 penalties.

In all he served the club loyally for 14 years until being released in 1961.

He moved to Brentford and made another five league appearances before having to retire.

However, he continued playing non-league football for Dover, Burton Albion and Rugby Town before finishing playing and settling to retirement in his Caversham home.

He saw his last match at Madejski Stadium against Everton in August.

Our sincerest condolences go to his wife Margaret and his three sons Stephen, Richard and Andrew.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Truly, a gentle giant.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

A very sad day for RFC.

Obviously never saw him play, but i've always known the name.

R.I.P.

Ditto.

RIP.

[M0J0]

Its all been said, but, Ray may be gone but never forgotten , while i am alive, i will never forget the big bold Right Back .

LOADS OF MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK BUT

what about the very wet night at Aldershot..a cup game we were getting beaten can't remember the score but 2 or 3 goals down and we got a penalty..as you can guess in those days there was no discusions if we had a penalty up stepped Ray ,only e few minutes of the game left even Ray can't win this one for us....he steps back e few paces and runs in and BANG he hits the ball as hard as his nickname would lead you to expect,
now i dont know if he was off balance or slipped or what,...i have always thought it was deliberate....the ball flew to the left half way between the goal and the corner flag..and hit the floodlight stansion,, i swear to you i thought it was coming down...the lights were still shaking when the final whistle went...Great Memories and thanks "Bomber" you were a one off R.I.P.


just checked and it was Dec 1955 and we were 3-0 down.

[bagman]

In the days of heavy leather balls I remember him scoring a freekick from 50yards. The goalkeeper hardly moved.

How ironic that he died exactly 50years after scoring for Reading at Gillingham!

[Y21_Royal]

very sad news. I am too young to have ever seen him play but I know the name and his reputation. Sad day for RFC

RIP Bomber