Reserves to play home games at aldershot

[Stranded]

This is still more local than Chelsea fans had.

I wonder how the players feel. It must have been great for the youngsters to play at the Mad Stad!

I couldn't care less about Chelsea or their fans to be honest.

You're right about our young players though. For some of them it would be quite a treat to play at the Madejski, although if thats a highlight for them I'd suggest they've not got the mentality to make the step up to league football.

We'll still get the annual FA Youth Cup games at the Madejski though, so fingers crossed for a long run of home games in the cup.

Was going to make a similar point. It could actually be better for younger players as the goal to play at the Madjeski will most probably go habd in hand with breaking into the first team.

[Royal Soupanoodle]

This is still more local than Chelsea fans had.

I wonder how the players feel. It must have been great for the youngsters to play at the Mad Stad!

I couldn't care less about Chelsea or their fans to be honest.

You're right about our young players though. For some of them it would be quite a treat to play at the Madejski, although if thats a highlight for them I'd suggest they've not got the mentality to make the step up to league football.

We'll still get the annual FA Youth Cup games at the Madejski though, so fingers crossed for a long run of home games in the cup.

Was going to make a similar point. It could actually be better for younger players as the goal to play at the Madjeski will most probably go habd in hand with breaking into the first team.

Good point, almost well made

[handbags_harris]

I wonder if RFC STH's get the same deal as Chelsea STH's last season, ie free entry?

Probably not...

[working class hero]

I think this is short sighted. I am sure that many who went to reserve games last season will not bother this year so the reserves will have even less support.

The pitch has tolerated more games in the Championship and reserve football and stood up to it in the past. So why the problems now?

[weybridgewanderer]

well, for me aldershot is easier than the mad stad to get to for a 7pm kick off!

[Behindu]

I think this is short sighted. I am sure that many who went to reserve games last season will not bother this year so the reserves will have even less support.

The pitch has tolerated more games in the Championship and reserve football and stood up to it in the past. So why the problems now?

1. Isn't it just HNA speculation that the reason for the move is the pitch ?

2. Having spent £500k on a new pitch it is possible that the club have been advised to restrict usage for a season, just as they were advised to do when we first moved to the Mad Stad.

3. Interesting to see that the reserves will have 'even less' support. IIRC we were by far the best supported reserve team in our league last season !

4. I would agree that it's a shame that a very successful initiative won;t continue as hundreds of youngsters were introduced to the joys of RFC last season through reserve matches.

[SpaceCruiser]

If we want to protect the pitch, then might I be mischievous and suggest that we give the London Irish the boot.

[Hoop Blah]

1. Isn't it just HNA speculation that the reason for the move is the pitch ?

No, it says as much on the official site.

2. Having spent £500k on a new pitch it is possible that the club have been advised to restrict usage for a season, just as they were advised to do when we first moved to the Mad Stad.

Exactly, although I think the relayed pitch needs less bedding in from what they've said previously.

3. Interesting to see that the reserves will have 'even less' support. IIRC we were by far the best supported reserve team in our league last season !

Just because it was such a success, and fed well off the buzz that surrounded the club for the last 18 months, doesn't mean we should be happy to see the club take a backwards step in terms of building a closer relationship with it's fans.

4. I would agree that it's a shame that a very successful initiative won;t continue as hundreds of youngsters were introduced to the joys of RFC last season through reserve matches.

Totally agree.

[Hoop Blah]

I think this is short sighted. I am sure that many who went to reserve games last season will not bother this year so the reserves will have even less support.

The pitch has tolerated more games in the Championship and reserve football and stood up to it in the past. So why the problems now?

My memory might be wrong, but last wasn't year was the first year that all reserve home games were at Madejski?

I'm pretty sure we had the odd one here and there before but not the whole season.

[Stranded]

I think this is short sighted. I am sure that many who went to reserve games last season will not bother this year so the reserves will have even less support.

The pitch has tolerated more games in the Championship and reserve football and stood up to it in the past. So why the problems now?

My memory might be wrong, but last wasn't year was the first year that all reserve home games were at Madejski?

I'm pretty sure we had the odd one here and there before but not the whole season.

As far as I can remember you are right. Previously they tended to play at either Newbury, Didcot or the training ground. Usually at 2.30 on a Wednesday.

As a result, the pitch was most likely subject to more fixtures last year than in the Championship season.

[Hoop Blah]

As far as I can remember you are right. Previously they tended to play at either Newbury, Didcot or the training ground. Usually at 2.30 on a Wednesday.

As a result, the pitch was most likely subject to more fixtures last year than in the Championship season.

Yep, definately at Newbury and Didcot for a few seasons. I'm just not sure if we played a whole season at Madejski during the promotion season or not.

I know I went to a few lunch time reserve games during the season, but I thought they were the exceptions not the rule. My memory has gone a little vague on them for some reason.

[Gloria Gooner]

well, for me aldershot is easier than the mad stad to get to for a 7pm kick off!

Me too.

[Farnborough Royal]

well, for me aldershot is easier than the mad stad to get to for a 7pm kick off!

Me too.

Me three.

[Behindu]

If we want to protect the pitch, then might I be mischievous and suggest that we give the London Irish the boot.

Why bother suggesting it ?

[Yellowcoat]

I believe that to play in the Premier Reserve League there is a requirement to use a ground of at least conference standard. This may explain why some of the other local grounds have been ruled out. Even Oxford reserves played at Didcot last season rather than use their own ground. Given that our total reserve attendance last season was by far the highest in the league (more than 3 times that of Chelsea and more than twice of Arsenal) no doubt the decision has not been taken lightly (i.e. not to upset fans as the usual culprits have said!).

[davis69]

you lot make it sound like aldershot is in wales its not too far away

[shadesrwrf]

Oh well. That's the end of my brief flirtation with watching Reading Reserves. A shame, but I have no doubt the club have very sound reasons for making the decision.

[working class hero]

I like watching the reserves. For several seasons I struggled to get to games as K.O. was during work hours - but enjoyed the perk of 'free' games on my ST.

The second the club went up prices doubled and the freeby disappeared. It was still worth occasional trips.

Sadly I am now forced to accept that reserve team football is not worth the effort which must be made....

[Behindu]

The second the club went up prices doubled and the freeby disappeared. It was still worth occasional trips.

As was mentioned many times on here free vouchers were available for reserve games last season and large numbers of people who went to games used them. I presume some didn;t think it worth the effort to pick them up and therefore decided that £3 was worth paying...

[RFCMod]

This is still more local than Chelsea fans had.

But Chelsea got crowds of 5,000+ for games against Arsenal, Spurs etc. as they are well supported in Aldershot and the surrounding areas.

I remember the reserves played at Farnborough for a season not long ago, and in return Farnborough got to play two games at the Madejski, do you think Aldershot will do the same?

Yes and perhaps we could show our support and mingle with A Company before the game