Masters Football

[Barry the bird boggler]

Will Reading ever have a Masters football team? I keep seeing these competitions every summer on SKY and there never seems to be a Reading team (OK so lots of teams aren't represented but just thought I'd raise the question in case anyone thought it might be a goable concern for the future).

For the record the last Masters type thing, I saw Reading involved in, was a 7 a-side tournament in Wembley Arena in about 1988 - only it was for current players I think (seem to remember Trevor Senior and Sturat Beavon playing). For the record we were total crap and played 2 games losing them both - think a big problem were the rules took a little getting used to (it was all new then you see) and Reading were the first team on so had no opportunity to pick up on watching other teams in action first.

[TBM]

Add on to this thread - what would your team be?

[WoodleyRoyal]

What age rules are there? i am sure ive seen players retired the season before.

[WoodleyRoyal]

marcus? not sure if allowed being only out of contract not retired?
Murty
A williams
Casper
Bernal
gilkes
houghton
parky
meaker
morley
quinn

[peterroyal76]

I would love to see masters football done properly, I can't see why it can't include every club. I know it would probably include loads of regional games first, but surely this could be done. Maybe even Stuart Beavon would realise he isn't really a Tottenham legend! 4 appearances for Spurs over two years and nearly four hundred for Reading over 10 years.

[Radders]

Don't Kerr and Gooding already play for other teams as well?

[Stranded]

We're in a bit of limbo on this one - as I understand we fall in a bit of a rock and hard place between the London/Southern comps. We have to wait for someone to pull out for us to take a slot.

[Ian Royal]

Shaka
Murts
Armstrong/Kerr
A Williams
Hicks
Gooding
Caskey
Gilkes
Meaker
Senior
M Williams

[Wycombe Royal]

Don't Kerr and Gooding already play for other teams as well?

Gilkes, Gooding and Scott Taylor play for the Wolves Masters team (along with my cousin).

[Jackson Corner]

They have a Mersyside masters which must be all of 2 teams? A south region of Pompey, Saints, Brighton and ourselves would be worth a go?

[The Prisoner]

They have a Mersyside masters which must be all of 2 teams? A south region of Pompey, Saints, Brighton and ourselves would be worth a go?

Wigan, Tranmere and Southport (!) also in Merseyside (county of). Think Chester have also played. Certainly Wigan and Tranmere also played this time out.

Surely we'd have more fun playing Swindon, Oxford and Wycombe?!

[Svlad Cjelli]

They're interested in people watching, and selling tickets and advertising - there wouldn't be enough demand to watch Reading, because we didn't have that many supporters when we were crap - when the masters players would date from.

[biscuitman]

They're interested in people watching, and selling tickets and advertising - there wouldn't be enough demand to watch Reading, because we didn't have that many supporters when we were crap - when the masters players would date from.

Have you actually seen the teams? My friend went to see Doncaster play in one of the heats...I think Peterborough are in the central one aswell. I know I'm bias towards Reading but..

[SCIAG]

Isn't it 7-a-side?
Marcus
Murty
Williams (c)
Little
Parky
Gilkes
Fozzy

Williams captain ahead of Murty or Parky because I think he's the only one to have played with all the others.

[Hoop Blah]

They're interested in people watching, and selling tickets and advertising - there wouldn't be enough demand to watch Reading, because we didn't have that many supporters when we were crap - when the masters players would date from.

Have you actually seen the teams? My friend went to see Doncaster play in one of the heats...I think Peterborough are in the central one aswell. I know I'm bias towards Reading but..

Agreed, there are some pretty minor and unattractive teams that get involved and it seems to vary quite a bit each year too. Teams like Barnsley, Notts County, Huddersfield, Carlisle, Bristol Rovers and City, Hartlepool and Tranmere have also been involved over the years.

Strandeds point on the geography might come into a bit but it seems they have different regional events each year as well. The London and Southern based ones seem to change a fair bit too, both in which regions are run and which teams fall into them.

Basically I just don't think our old boys association can really be bothered to enter a team. They don't seem to be the most active on the keep playing football front.

[B14 Royal]

We did have a team for one season when we were in the Prem. Got knocked out without winning a game if I remember rightly.

[Forbury Lion]

Will Reading ever have a Masters football team?

I'm sure we had one, maybe not the masters it had some celebrities such as Michael Sprott plus ex-Reading players and some fans in the team. It was on Sky and I think Helen Chamberlain was co-hosting it.

[Hoop Blah]

We did have a team for one season when we were in the Prem. Got knocked out without winning a game if I remember rightly.

Don't think we did, but you might thinking of the fans thing that Forbes mentions.

[bassavage]

You mean the Premier League All Stars in 2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League_All_Stars

Reading Team:

Goalkeeper - Scott Howie
Legends - Michael Gilkes, Mick Gooding, Barry Hunter
Celebrities - Mark Rumble, Michael Sprott, James Fox
Fans - Mark Croydon (Betting Shop Manager), Darren Webb (Audio Sales Manager), Ben Fisher (Captain and Transport Administrator)
(Charity - Reading Respect Project)

We played 1 game against West Ham and lost 4-0.

[parky]

Quick look on the Masters football website.

Players must be 35 in the year of the tournament.

How are the Masters teams chosen?

Masters teams are chosen based on league status and location, with regards to where the particular event takes place.