Players at Reading who you had completely forgotten about

[Mr Angry]

Steve Archibald, Scottish International, ex Spurs, played 1 game for us in about 1992 (?)

[bakerlou]

With ref to Keith Scott, he scored a belter for us v Bradford City (then of the Prem) in the League Cup - a turn and sprint and shot that surprised him as much as it did us watching. Tommy Burns was sacked the next day despite us winning the match.

With ref to Jim Leighton, he made the greatest save I've ever seen by a Reading keeper, away at Hull in McGhee's first season. A Gordon Banks'esque save, you could almost taste the tequila as he twisted in mid-air to turn a goalbound header over the bar. Alas only around 100 loyal Royals were there to watch it, but I saw it and it was fanfuckingtastic.

[scumbag]

Dave Edwards

[Clyde1998]

I remember the final day of (checks notes) 14/15 when Jack Stacey started alongside some other youngsters, having impressed in his other cameos earlier that season. He got injured, Tariqe Fosu came on for him and looked like a real gem while we won 3-0 and ruined Derby's play-off dream.

Fosu never played for us again, had a few loans and has built up a reasonable career in the EFL. Stacey was the same but has played in the Prem and is currently at Norwich.

How Tarique Fosu was never given another chance after that game I don't know.

Had a look at what Jack Stacey did for us; was surprised to see he made six appearances for us (all in the league), including all of the final four that season.

Our striker that day was Kwesi Appiah - a name I'm sure people have forgotten.

[JedMaxwell]

I remember the final day of (checks notes) 14/15 when Jack Stacey started alongside some other youngsters, having impressed in his other cameos earlier that season. He got injured, Tariqe Fosu came on for him and looked like a real gem while we won 3-0 and ruined Derby's play-off dream.

Fosu never played for us again, had a few loans and has built up a reasonable career in the EFL. Stacey was the same but has played in the Prem and is currently at Norwich.

How Tarique Fosu was never given another chance after that game I don't know.

Had a look at what Jack Stacey did for us; was surprised to see he made six appearances for us (all in the league), including all of the final four that season.

Our striker that day was Kwesi Appiah - a name I'm sure people have forgotten.

Yeah I genuinely thought Fosu was going to go on and become a star. I guess there's always reasons players don't come through and it's not like he's done an Olise so I don't think he's one that got away.

Can't believe I forgot Appiah from that game as well. He even scored!

That was the season we signed Zat Knight, Jure Travner and Yakubu and also got to the FA Cup semis. Mental.

[Brum Royal]

Davies, CB. Gareth?

Gareth Davies


Now 51, retired from the game at 29 due to persistent knee problems. Played about 20 league games for Reading and was the epicentre of Bodingate.

Keith Scott


Now 58. Retired in 2006 though still turns out in occasional charity/old boy affairs. Shocked everyone when the club suddenly paid £250k for him on transfer deadline day in March 1999 as Wycombe were desperately short of money - about 30 league games and not much return goals wise over 2 years. Another one of Tommy Burns’ great ideas - and there were loads of them.

Thank you to both of you for responding to this. Both of these are correct.
I’d like to add Brayson and the other McIntyre to this (from Burns’ period, not Tom).

Don't remember much of Brayson, but Jim McIntyre was initially a very hopeless forward who got moved to play at left midfield/wing and then looked pretty competent in that Division 2 ( current League 1) team. Might have been part of the 00/01 play off final squad, depending if I'm a year out or not on my memories.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

I liked him. Called himself Pélé. Wasn't his real name.

It's almost like I can't quite believe he was ever real.

And someone I've never forgotten, but I reckon many will have done: Ulysses de la Cruz.

[Brum Royal]

Saw Chris Armstrong mentioned.

Player of Season 08-09 and revealed, after retiring, he'd been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in that season.

Fondly remembered here.

Yep, Armstrong was class that season. Very sad end to his career.

[morganb]

I remember someone earlier on but couldn't remember his name so looked him up but then didn't get around to posting.

I've remembered to post now but it still took a bit of effort to recall his name again - David Meyler

[rabidbee]

I liked him. Called himself Pélé. Wasn't his real name.

It's almost like I can't quite believe he was ever real.

And someone I've never forgotten, but I reckon many will have done: Ulysses de la Cruz.

I remembered his goal, the long run from one end of the pitch to the other, but I had forgotten that it was in *that* match against Sheff Utd. Just had a diverting eight minutes watching the highlights

[stealthpapes]

I liked him. Called himself Pélé. Wasn't his real name.

It's almost like I can't quite believe he was ever real.

And someone I've never forgotten, but I reckon many will have done: Ulysses de la Cruz.

I remembered his goal, the long run from one end of the pitch to the other, but I had forgotten that it was in *that* match against Sheff Utd. Just had a diverting eight minutes watching the highlights

good plan.

"What do you want me to do when I come on boss?"
"Nothing stupid"
Oh.

First goal - classic bit of Shane Long and then they bundle Kingsley.
Second goal - ulises!
Third goal - not entirely sure what S. Hunt was doing there, worked.
Dreadful offside trap for their consolation.

IIRC De La Cruz went back to Ecuador, won the South American version of the Uefa cup with his old (boyhood?) club in I THINK his last game for them, and, once retired, ended up in Ecuadorian parliament.

[JedMaxwell]

Saw Chris Armstrong mentioned.

Player of Season 08-09 and revealed, after retiring, he'd been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in that season.

Fondly remembered here.

Yep, Armstrong was class that season. Very sad end to his career.

I recall him coming back for a couple of games in the 10/11 season, and he played in centre-mid and looked a revelation. Turned out he was actually suffering with MS in those games, but was charging about and looking like one of our best players.

Remarkable, perhaps the club could invite him back as a special guest or something for a game, if he feels up to it.

[ILoveMoonPig]

Whilst its not strictly true that I had forgotten about him, i do wonder how many people would remember Eric Obinna Chukwunyelu. I think he once hit the bar with a header, away at Southampton in 05/06?

John Halls was a strange one. Quality player, but he was never going to get in ahead of Murty that season.

[stealthpapes]

John Halls was at that night for the Nuts awards.
GOAT

[West F]

Had completely forgotten about a particular striker who came to us for good money with a decent record, but struggled to find real form. Only remembered him when I saw his signature on a shirt. Carl Asaba.

[KC Royal]

I liked him. Called himself Pélé. Wasn't his real name.

It's almost like I can't quite believe he was ever real.

And someone I've never forgotten, but I reckon many will have done: Ulysses de la Cruz.

I remembered his goal, the long run from one end of the pitch to the other, but I had forgotten that it was in *that* match against Sheff Utd. Just had a diverting eight minutes watching the highlights

good plan.

"What do you want me to do when I come on boss?"
"Nothing stupid"
Oh.

First goal - classic bit of Shane Long and then they bundle Kingsley.
Second goal - ulises!
Third goal - not entirely sure what S. Hunt was doing there, worked.
Dreadful offside trap for their consolation.

IIRC De La Cruz went back to Ecuador, won the South American version of the Uefa cup with his old (boyhood?) club in I THINK his last game for them, and, once retired, ended up in Ecuadorian parliament.

I was at that game. I rememeber he didn't get off to the best start, looked like a player playing out of position. At the time i thought that was the best team goal i'd ever seen

Going back to Appiah: Fondly remember him as around that time (can't recall if it was when we signed him or after) I discovered he was at Margate a few seasons earlier and a work colleague at the time used to watch Margate and he mentioned their FA Cup run. Appiah scored in at least one of those games (got a feeling he was their star player). Crazy to think he would end up scoring for us.

[KC Royal]

Saw Chris Armstrong mentioned.

Player of Season 08-09 and revealed, after retiring, he'd been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in that season.

Fondly remembered here.

Yep, Armstrong was class that season. Very sad end to his career.

I recall him coming back for a couple of games in the 10/11 season, and he played in centre-mid and looked a revelation. Turned out he was actually suffering with MS in those games, but was charging about and looking like one of our best players.

Remarkable, perhaps the club could invite him back as a special guest or something for a game, if he feels up to it.

I voted Armstrong as my POTS that season. Might sound mad but i knew that Long was going to win it anyway and i thought it was amazing that he played with MS.

[Franchise FC]

I liked him. Called himself Pélé. Wasn't his real name.

It's almost like I can't quite believe he was ever real.

And someone I've never forgotten, but I reckon many will have done: Ulysses de la Cruz.

I remembered his goal, the long run from one end of the pitch to the other, but I had forgotten that it was in *that* match against Sheff Utd. Just had a diverting eight minutes watching the highlights

good plan.

"What do you want me to do when I come on boss?"
"Nothing stupid"
Oh.

First goal - classic bit of Shane Long and then they bundle Kingsley.
Second goal - ulises!
Third goal - not entirely sure what S. Hunt was doing there, worked.
Dreadful offside trap for their consolation.

IIRC De La Cruz went back to Ecuador, won the South American version of the Uefa cup with his old (boyhood?) club in I THINK his last game for them, and, once retired, ended up in Ecuadorian parliament.

Wasn’t he the one that was sending a large amount of his salary back to his family ?

[Dirk Gently]

I remembered his goal, the long run from one end of the pitch to the other, but I had forgotten that it was in *that* match against Sheff Utd. Just had a diverting eight minutes watching the highlights

good plan.

"What do you want me to do when I come on boss?"
"Nothing stupid"
Oh.

First goal - classic bit of Shane Long and then they bundle Kingsley.
Second goal - ulises!
Third goal - not entirely sure what S. Hunt was doing there, worked.
Dreadful offside trap for their consolation.

IIRC De La Cruz went back to Ecuador, won the South American version of the Uefa cup with his old (boyhood?) club in I THINK his last game for them, and, once retired, ended up in Ecuadorian parliament.

Wasn’t he the one that was sending a large amount of his salary back to his family ?

More than his family. His whole village and community with a massive number of projects

At the time, STAR organised a collection among Reading fans which added a few 1,000 to the kitty

https://web.archive.org/web/20080103180920/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/02/15/sfncru15.xml

[From Despair To Where?]

Sekou Baradji.

Played just 23 minutes for us but took the last minute free kick that Bryn scored from to give us a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United in 2005/06.