by Barney »
04 Dec 2012 22:07
If you talking LEGEND, then there is ONLY one. That is Robin Friday.
Let me provide you with some substance. I was fortunate enough to see EVERY game that the man played at Elm Park. I was also fortunate enough to obtain a ticket to the recently held "tribute to Robin Friday evening" held at the Reading Market place building.
So ignoring all the other threads on Mr Friday, let me provide you with some facts;
1) I was among the 10,000+ crowd when we played Tranmere in 1976. I saw the goal. I remember the goal. I can remember it now, 36 years later.
2) I was lucky enough to watch Robin play in a reserve game at home to Plymouth in 1975. He scored. He dominated the game. He quadrupled the crowd that night.
3) When his name WASN'T called out over the tannoy to start the game (pre txt, sky, ceefax and all that sh!te) the crowd would grown.
4) He was fouled beyond belief, yet was as hard as nails. In todays game, which I appreciate is faster, the current players would be out for WEEKS. Robin was hard.
5) I was lucky. I saw Friday play. He was unique. He was a lunatic, but you HAD to see him. Maniac. Super strong. Long hair. An heroic figure.
6) I've been a season ticket holder at Reading FC since 1981, and have hardly missed a home game since 1974, yet Robin Friday will ALWAYS be the most legendary player I expect to ever see at Reading.
I know that younger fans will not appreciate the continual plaudits for this man, but he was, quite simply, unique.
He was a great player. Hard beyond belief. Mad, but brilliant. Incredible skill. Dozens of ultra brave goals. Shocking disciplinary record.
The ONLY player in my 40 years of watching this game that would GENUINELY ALWAYS put bums on seats.
Legend. Mr Robin Friday. I am not religious, but thank Christ I watched this man play.
Death, Blackman, Hicks - all great great players for Reading. The LEGEND - that is the one and only Mr Robin Friday. RIP the great man.
