The hardest player to ever play for Reading?

[Norfolk Royal]

I’d add Steve Hetzke to the list.

[SpaghettiHoop]

Certainly Hurlock, but don't forget Dennis Butler and Stuart Morgan.

[Fox Talbot]

1970s - Robin Friday (really was as hard as nails)
1980s - Terry Hurlock
1990s - Parky

No one since that springs to mind.

1960s - Colin Meldrum (another jock)

[Elm Park Kid]

Ian Royal

[Franchise FC]

Hurlock no doubt if only we could find another one , they would need to be a little smarter not to get sent off every match.

Hurlock only got sent off once for us IIRC. I think it was against Rotherham.

Pretty sure it was away at Blackburn *
Sent of by the well known homer BT Stevens and for an incident when TH had been fouled and the guy bounced off him

* Actually not that sure - may have been Wigan away

[Henley Royal 1]

1st Terry Hurlock 2nd Mick Tait 3rd Steve Hetzke.

[blythspartan]

Terry Hurlock without doubt. Paul Bennett could look after himself.

[9165]

I'd add Steve Sidwell to that list too.

[Ascotexgunner]

1970s - Robin Friday (really was as hard as nails)
1980s - Terry Hurlock
1990s - Parky

No one since that springs to mind.

Problem is, football has changed....we have had plenty of players who are reasonably tough in recent years. Joey van den Berg could put himself about. Probably the last "tough" player I can think of. We certainly have lacked in that area recently when it's needed.

[From Despair To Where?]

I think also with blanket TV coverage and more latterly stuff like VAR, it's less easy to get away with some of the off the ball shit that used to go on. If the ref doesn't spot it, the cameras more often than not will.

[Ark Royal]

Hurlock. End of thread. Also have to say that at that level Hurlock could also really play as well as being a top-of-food-chain midfield enforcer. I can vividly remember an outstanding individual performance from him against Brentford at the fag end of the 85/86 season that really helped us to get over the line and clinch the title.

[Royality creeps In]

Hurlock without a doubt.
He used to scare the living daylights out of me and I was on the Southbank

[Pepe the Horseman]

Chris Gunter.

[RATM]

Pretty sure Hurlock is the answer in my lifetime, but don't forget Dave Madden.

Terry Hurlock is the correct answer but I clearly remember a wild Dave Madden tackle in front of the southbank and I turned to my Dad and said goodbye Dave.

It was bad and I don’t think he played for us again

[karbota]

No one has mentioned Punch up Price or chopper Chapman.

[nailseabiscuitman]

Pat Terry could handle himself pretty well. Robin Friday was hard but in a more sneaky way

[The Faith Healer]

Yep. Just thinking of John Chapman. Not with us long but definitely a quiet assassin. Tbf
not all that quiet as I remember...

[Franchise FC]

Dennis Nelson (although the answer is still Terry Hurlock)

[Mr Optimist]

Hurlock no doubt if only we could find another one , they would need to be a little smarter not to get sent off every match.

Hurlock only got sent off once for us IIRC. I think it was against Rotherham.

Pretty sure it was away at Blackburn *
Sent of by the well known homer BT Stevens and for an incident when TH had been fouled and the guy bounced off him

* Actually not that sure - may have been Wigan away

I think Blackburn away was Billy Whitehurst. I remember he had to walk past us RFC fans on a terrace down one side of the pitch to go down a Perspex covered tunnel which he punched hard in frustration on his way to the changing rooms! Funny the things that stick in your head.

[From Despair To Where?]

Hurlock only got sent off once for us IIRC. I think it was against Rotherham.

Pretty sure it was away at Blackburn *
Sent of by the well known homer BT Stevens and for an incident when TH had been fouled and the guy bounced off him

* Actually not that sure - may have been Wigan away

I think Blackburn away was Billy Whitehurst. I remember he had to walk past us RFC fans on a terrace down one side of the pitch to go down a Perspex covered tunnel which he punched hard in frustration on his way to the changing rooms! Funny the things that stick in your head.

I've got it in my head that Hurlock was sent off in the game where Hicks got his jaw broken for the first time.