On this day

[stealthpapes]

On this day ... well a day late ... but ITV4 show the Nuts Football Awards, in which a bunch of very sozzled Reading fans racially abuse a labrador.

[sandman]

At least they didn't sexually abuse it.

[Henley Royal 1]

Final game of the season.

Birmingham City 0-1 Reading

Michael Gilkes scores late with the most unwanted Reading goal in history. Birmingham denied a play off spot.

Anyone else at this game? Genuinely terrifying exprience trying to make it to the station afterwards.

Game held up due to 2 mass pitch invasions. Tried to make a run for it to the station whuilst the first was taking place. this backfired as they all poured through the main stand and out in to the road. Had to do a u turn and head back into the away end!

Yep. was there with the Junior Royals and took part in a penalty shoot-out at half time (scored both penalties that I took) - luckily was 0-0 at half time. Remember we were bundled back onto our coach at full time and had to travel with the curtains closed with a police escort to get the coach away.

I havent been back since.

[Henley Royal 1]

JM getting the beers in in the pub near the ground

Ha. The Mersey Clipper?

Thats the one

missed that i was in the Prenton Arms.

[Jerry St Clair]

Ha. The Mersey Clipper?

Thats the one

missed that i was in the Prenton Arms.

Knew it was going to be a good day before the game when the barman in the Prenton Arms, faced with a bar three deep, pointed at thirsty Royals in turn saying "I'm serving you, then you, then you, then you...". And he did as well.

Concur with all of the above. Just the most perfect away day and performance. Never to be topped I suspect.

A couple of extra things on the home leg: Anyone remember the temporary scaffolding allowing us to have half the Town End? I think the Tranmere fans only had access to ladies toilets as a result? And John Aldridge standing in the middle of the pitch, pointing at all four stands and doing an exaggerated belly laugh?

[Jerry St Clair]

Final game of the season.

Birmingham City 0-1 Reading

Michael Gilkes scores late with the most unwanted Reading goal in history. Birmingham denied a play off spot.

Anyone else at this game? Genuinely terrifying exprience trying to make it to the station afterwards.

Game held up due to 2 mass pitch invasions. Tried to make a run for it to the station whuilst the first was taking place. this backfired as they all poured through the main stand and out in to the road. Had to do a u turn and head back into the away end!

Yep. was there with the Junior Royals and took part in a penalty shoot-out at half time (scored both penalties that I took) - luckily was 0-0 at half time. Remember we were bundled back onto our coach at full time and had to travel with the curtains closed with a police escort to get the coach away.

Didn't go, but the trouble was making news on Grandstand before being trumped by Leeds supporters committing even more spectacular thuggery in Bournemouth the same afternoon.

[Jerry St Clair]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

[Ark Royal]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Despite achieving so much in the last 15 years or so, I am so embittered every year when the playoffs come round and three teams get to enjoy the thrill of winning them. From a football point of view, this is the most heartbreaking time of year for me, and that will never go until we actually win one

[Royality creeps In]

Bolton, Walsall, Swansea and Huddersfield.
Been to all 4
At least I saw us win in the Simod Cup against Luton though! yea!

[Victor Meldrew]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

Little did we know how patched up our team was that day with a number of players turning out who were way off being 100% fit.
I remember reading something Archie said some time later that he put the penalty to a different side than normal because he assumed that the Bolton keeper had watched videos of his earlier penalties-the keeper hadn't!!

We were a long way off being ready for top level football off the pitch but with a wealthy owner (who at the time was willing to spend money) we might well have done a Bournemouth and survived on gates of 11,000 or so.

What disappointed me was in the next season Jim and Mick broke up the Archie/ Nogan partnership (we were ahead of our time in having two small strikers) to bring in Quinny's mate Trevor Morley and we became a long-ball side relying far too much on Morley falling over to get free-kicks.

[Sutekh]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

Little did we know how patched up our team was that day with a number of players turning out who were way off being 100% fit.
I remember reading something Archie said some time later that he put the penalty to a different side than normal because he assumed that the Bolton keeper had watched videos of his earlier penalties-the keeper hadn't!!

We were a long way off being ready for top level football off the pitch but with a wealthy owner (who at the time was willing to spend money) we might well have done a Bournemouth and survived on gates of 11,000 or so.

What disappointed me was in the next season Jim and Mick broke up the Archie/ Nogan partnership (we were ahead of our time in having two small strikers) to bring in Quinny's mate Trevor Morley and we became a long-ball side relying far too much on Morley falling over to get free-kicks.

But then the overall playing budget may have dictated things somewhat meaning that to be more effective on what JM was willing to approve at the time a more direct style was necessary.

[Ark Royal]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

Little did we know how patched up our team was that day with a number of players turning out who were way off being 100% fit.
I remember reading something Archie said some time later that he put the penalty to a different side than normal because he assumed that the Bolton keeper had watched videos of his earlier penalties-the keeper hadn't!!

We were a long way off being ready for top level football off the pitch but with a wealthy owner (who at the time was willing to spend money) we might well have done a Bournemouth and survived on gates of 11,000 or so.

What disappointed me was in the next season Jim and Mick broke up the Archie/ Nogan partnership (we were ahead of our time in having two small strikers) to bring in Quinny's mate Trevor Morley and we became a long-ball side relying far too much on Morley falling over to get free-kicks.

This is true. Bumped into Shaka at Sonning for Minor Counties vs West Indies and he confirmed that some players needed painkilling injections to play.

[Stranded]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

Little did we know how patched up our team was that day with a number of players turning out who were way off being 100% fit.
I remember reading something Archie said some time later that he put the penalty to a different side than normal because he assumed that the Bolton keeper had watched videos of his earlier penalties-the keeper hadn't!!

We were a long way off being ready for top level football off the pitch but with a wealthy owner (who at the time was willing to spend money) we might well have done a Bournemouth and survived on gates of 11,000 or so.

What disappointed me was in the next season Jim and Mick broke up the Archie/ Nogan partnership (we were ahead of our time in having two small strikers) to bring in Quinny's mate Trevor Morley and we became a long-ball side relying far too much on Morley falling over to get free-kicks.

The biggest issue IIRC, was that we wouldn't have been allowed to play at Elm Park in the PL. Am sure there was a tentative deal in place for us to use Loftus Road. If we had gone up, that season may well have been a disaster.

[Sutekh]

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

Little did we know how patched up our team was that day with a number of players turning out who were way off being 100% fit.
I remember reading something Archie said some time later that he put the penalty to a different side than normal because he assumed that the Bolton keeper had watched videos of his earlier penalties-the keeper hadn't!!

We were a long way off being ready for top level football off the pitch but with a wealthy owner (who at the time was willing to spend money) we might well have done a Bournemouth and survived on gates of 11,000 or so.

What disappointed me was in the next season Jim and Mick broke up the Archie/ Nogan partnership (we were ahead of our time in having two small strikers) to bring in Quinny's mate Trevor Morley and we became a long-ball side relying far too much on Morley falling over to get free-kicks.

The biggest issue IIRC, was that we wouldn't have been allowed to play at Elm Park in the PL. Am sure there was a tentative deal in place for us to use Loftus Road. If we had gone up, that season may well have been a disaster.

Not sure Elm Park being "banned" by the PL was ever very likely though there may have been some speculation at the time and JM may have looked at QPR to see if more money could be made from playing there rather than at EP but again don't think that would have ever been likely either.

[Stranded]

Little did we know how patched up our team was that day with a number of players turning out who were way off being 100% fit.
I remember reading something Archie said some time later that he put the penalty to a different side than normal because he assumed that the Bolton keeper had watched videos of his earlier penalties-the keeper hadn't!!

We were a long way off being ready for top level football off the pitch but with a wealthy owner (who at the time was willing to spend money) we might well have done a Bournemouth and survived on gates of 11,000 or so.

What disappointed me was in the next season Jim and Mick broke up the Archie/ Nogan partnership (we were ahead of our time in having two small strikers) to bring in Quinny's mate Trevor Morley and we became a long-ball side relying far too much on Morley falling over to get free-kicks.

The biggest issue IIRC, was that we wouldn't have been allowed to play at Elm Park in the PL. Am sure there was a tentative deal in place for us to use Loftus Road. If we had gone up, that season may well have been a disaster.

Not sure Elm Park being "banned" by the PL was ever very likely though there may have been some speculation at the time and JM may have looked at QPR to see if more money could be made from playing there rather than at EP but again don't think that would have ever been likely either.

You may be right but I am sure I recall interviews with JM at the time where he was clear we wouldn't be able to play there. Long time ago though, so may well be misremembering or joining dots incorrectly.

[KC Royal]

The biggest issue IIRC, was that we wouldn't have been allowed to play at Elm Park in the PL. Am sure there was a tentative deal in place for us to use Loftus Road. If we had gone up, that season may well have been a disaster.

Not sure Elm Park being "banned" by the PL was ever very likely though there may have been some speculation at the time and JM may have looked at QPR to see if more money could be made from playing there rather than at EP but again don't think that would have ever been likely either.

You may be right but I am sure I recall interviews with JM at the time where he was clear we wouldn't be able to play there. Long time ago though, so may well be misremembering or joining dots incorrectly.

Remember at the time a friend saying to me that he thought we wouldn't be able to play at EP if we went up. Always thought it was just pure speculation - he wasn't a Reading fan (AFAIK) and I didn't know where he'd got the info from. But looking back now I think he was onto something, it's been mentioned on here various times over the years. I think Stamford Bridge was also mentioned? Though IIRC they were redeveloping the ground the following season so not sure that would have been feasible.

[Sutekh]

Not sure Elm Park being "banned" by the PL was ever very likely though there may have been some speculation at the time and JM may have looked at QPR to see if more money could be made from playing there rather than at EP but again don't think that would have ever been likely either.

You may be right but I am sure I recall interviews with JM at the time where he was clear we wouldn't be able to play there. Long time ago though, so may well be misremembering or joining dots incorrectly.

Remember at the time a friend saying to me that he thought we wouldn't be able to play at EP if we went up. Always thought it was just pure speculation - he wasn't a Reading fan (AFAIK) and I didn't know where he'd got the info from. But looking back now I think he was onto something, it's been mentioned on here various times over the years. I think Stamford Bridge was also mentioned? Though IIRC they were redeveloping the ground the following season so not sure that would have been feasible.

Might have been something JM was saying rather than the PL. Possibly along the lines that EP officially at the time only held 11k meaning it might possibly have been more profitable to “share” at the fakes for a season (or perhaps even just the “big” games). All didn’t matter in the end of course (and might have been one of the reasons JM didn’t want to do any more than budget to stay up for the following seasons).

[stealthpapes]

Getting on for a quarter of a century ago. Only Reading fans well into their 30s will have any memory of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4Erxrsqs - let's pretend the rest of the day didn't happen.

The biggest heartbreak in all of my years as a fan. I was devastated. I really thought that our chance of reaching the top level had been and gone.

The picture of Dariusz and Archie in tears in the EP made me feel even worse. I videoed the game, but never watched it.

Got home late after the Leicester game. Watched it then.

Also heard the stuff about no Elm Park. My understanding was more to do with facilities than absolute capacity.

[Zip]

Bolton, Walsall, Swansea and Huddersfield.
Been to all 4
At least I saw us win in the Simod Cup against Luton though! yea!

Been to four of the five including The Simod Cup Final and also the Arsenal semi final. The one I missed was Bolton as I didn’t fancy going on my own. I’ve had mates or family attend since. So I watched it on ITV. When Bolton pulled it back to 2-1 I couldn’t bear to watch it any longer. I went for a drive in my car with the radio off. Once I knew the 90 minutes were up I put the car radio on hoping we had clung on for the win. It was at that point I realised it had gone to extra time. The first words I heard were those of Jimmy Armfield saying “It’s all Bolton now”

Without doubt my worst day as a Reading fan. It took me months to accept the defeat.