Reading Town FC

[Stuffed Crust Pizza]

Firstly I'd like to say I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to the Lane this saturday. I arrived just in time to see the two teams take to the pitch for the start of the game, having shared a few pints with my party of four in the Nag's Head before the game. Despite receiving a few curious looks from a band of regulars that was a bit intimidating, we found a space to stand on the half-way line. My intial impression of Scours Lane was that there is plenty of scope to improve the facilities in the future, with plenty of land to utilise. Do the club actually own the site, or is it rented from the council or a private landlord?

I was pleased to see that the ground is generally kept to a tidy standard and the seated stand and covered standing area particularly impressed me. The changing rooms and player's facilties looked to be spacious and adequate, however I would say that the dugouts looked very scruffy and need a bit of TLC. I enjoyed a beer in the club house at half-time and felt most welcome, I even bought a scarf to help me blend in!

On to the match I was rather dissapointed with the standard of play of both sides, especially Town as they have promotion aspirations. However I'm sure this was largely due to the pitch looking heavy and bumpy after the heavy downfalls, certainly not conducive to good football. I'm sure Town try to better football than this most weeks, however I must say I thought the Highworth back-line looked strong and well rehearsed. Town will be dissapointed to have conceed a goal from a set piece and must feel hard done by having had what appeared a blatant penalty, turned down by the ref.

I will certainly be back soon to cheer on Town and would urge others to get down there if they find themselves a spare saturday.

[Big Foot]

W&E play in the league below Reading Town

I think that AS was referring to Windsor & Eton, Big Foot. Wokingham & Emmbrook are even more mickey mouse than RTFC, don't even start me on Wokingham & Emmbrook.

AS - I am absolutely no football snob, but I just think that RTFC is an unfriendly club to visit and the ground is shabby and devoid of absolutely any character. I regularly watch football at Maidenhead United, a ground and a club with loads of history and a small but loyal fanbase. To me - and for the forseeable future - they are the alternative to RFC away games.

Fair do's Floyd, I haven't ever been to York Road, maybe I should one day. RTFC to me, is nice and local, very cheap (my lad gets in for free), and apart from my past two visits...........goals-a- plenty .

As for the W&E...........yes it was the Royalists that I was referring to, not the Manderins or whatever they are known as....even Michael Meaker is still above that level!!!!
That rapscallion JB is a little WUM

Only going on what 3 of W&E's players have told me, including the player in question

Doesn't matter anyway as he doesn't want to leave them

[Four Of Clubs]

Only going on what 3 of W&E's players have told me, including the player in question

Doesn't matter anyway as he doesn't want to leave them

... I wouldn't be surprised to hear RTFC have started sniffing around local clubs currently doing well, for other strikers - their own stand-out forward (Graeme Lewis) might be out for some time - if you can believe anything you read in the Post. Big bit in today's edition about the Highworth game and Lewis's injury.

... on the few occasions I've seen them (haven't yet ventured down there this season) Lewis has been the difference. He makes lots of things happen up front - big, strong and pacy - as well as being skipper - think he previously played at a much higher level - i.e. Lincoln City & Northwich Vics - they will miss him badly if he is out for any lengthy period.

PS On a vaguely related note, I watched former RTFC 'legend' - Ray Spence last night @ his current club Hartley Wintney [W4-1 vs Westfield]
... he scored one and more or less set up the other three - one of which was notched by Neville Roach.
Ray (Razor - slightly unfortunate nick-name ) was dynamite - though as is so often the case nearly got himself sent off - when he wants to play like that he is definitely good enough for RTFC's level if not higher - trouble is he appears to carry a certain amount of 'personal baggage'.
Ugly scenes near the end of the game - which he may or may not have fuelled. I also think part of it could be that opposition players know he has such a short-fuse and try to exploit that.

[Stuffed Crust Pizza]

Town are once again at home on Saturday. Visiting the Lane are Witney United who find themselves 6th in the table, some 18 points behind leaders Town. The chasing pack will be looking to gain further ground on a Town side on poor form following two consecutive home defeats. Almondsbury Town play away to Fairford Town, while Wantage Town play hosts to Shortwood United. The league now appears to be a fours horse race between the Almonds, Wantage and Shortwood. So this weekends results will be very interesting.

With RFC playing at home Town's attendance will probably be down on last weekend's encouraging 93. However I will be in attendance a week on Saturday when they take on Shrivenham. So if you find yourself a loose end on the eve of our historic match against Villa, get down the Lane!

[Stuffed Crust Pizza]

Town got back to winning ways yesterday, beating Witney United 1-0. The word certainly seems to be spreading as they enjoyed their second highest attendance of the season, the highest being last weeks 93. Of the chasing pack, Almondsbury were the only team to gain three points as Wantage and Shortwood saw their match postoned due to the weather.

So Town still find themselves at the top of the league, four points clear of Almondsbury, but the Almonds have three game in hand. Both teams are due to play one another in the last two fixtures of Town's season. Its looking sure to be an interesting run in for the Hellenic Premier League title.

I'll be in attendance this Saturday as Town take on Shrivenham. So if your Saturday is free and you looking for a football on the eve of our FA Cup fixture, get down the Lane!

[Compo's Hat]

As Maidenhead are away i may well pop down to this with floyd.

May have a little one with me too to boost the attendance.

[Stuffed Crust Pizza]

Town got back to winning ways at Ardley on Tuesday night. A 4-1 thumping of United was adequate revenge on a side that inflicted defeat on Town in the reverse fixture last month. Almondsbury also won by the same score line, however Wantage and Shortwood game was cancelled due to poor conditions so they fall even further behind in both points and games played. The chasing pack are sure to be facing a fixture pile-up in the coming months that could prove detrimental to their promotion bid. For me its a two horse race now between Town against Almondsbury. Its looks to be an interesting run-in as both teams are yet to play each this season, and the ties are due for Town's last two fixtures this season!

Town are at home against an out of form Shrivenham side, who have only won once in their last nine attempts. With Almondsbury not in league action due to cup commitments, this present Town an opportunity to take another step towards promotion.

[Four Of Clubs]

Town got back to winning ways at Ardley on Tuesday night. A 4-1 thumping of United was adequate revenge on a side that inflicted defeat on Town in the reverse fixture last month. Almondsbury also won by the same score line, however Wantage and Shortwood game was cancelled due to poor conditions ....

... this Tuesday (2nd) Shortwood lost 1-3 H v Highworth - Wantage were surprisingly held 0-0 by Flackwell Heath - so better than postponements really?

Town are at home against an out of form Shrivenham side, who have only won once in their last nine attempts. With Almondsbury not in league action due to cup commitments, this present Town an opportunity to take another step towards promotion.

.... might need to keep a watch on this fixture - as reported elsewhere it seems as if Highmoor/Ibis have hi-jacked Scours for a Reading Senior Cup Tie H v Flackwell Heath KO 14:00h this Saturday

I am seeking confirmation - I can't quite see how this competitiion could 'bounce' an Hellenic Premier match!

[Hoop Blah]

Surely that's been reported wrong, or at least mis-read the meaning.

Don't forget that IBIS/Highmore play at IBIS, which funnily enough is also down Scours Lane.

I can't imagine they've kicked Reading Town off of their own pitch!

[Four Of Clubs]

Surely that's been reported wrong, or at least mis-read the meaning.

Don't forget that IBIS/Highmore play at IBIS, which funnily enough is also down Scours Lane.

I can't imagine they've kicked Reading Town off of their own pitch!

... could be right there - it was taken directly from the Flackwell Heath site - then re-quoted (hence maybe mis-interpreted) on the NL Forum.

... however - I was a bit perturbed by the fact that the 'next fixture' bit on the Shrivenham site now does NOT show the game on Saturday v RTFC @ Scours - so maybe several sources adding two plus two and getting four-and-a-half?

Also more than likely Shrivvy just haven't updated their site recently - though they are showing the reserve and A team games?

[Hoop Blah]

I doubt a lot of the sites at that level are kept up to date to be honest.

I can't see any reason to suspect that the games have been switched, especially when the pitch at IBIS (Scours Lane) is much better than the one at Reading Town!

[Compo's Hat]

Well it's on the league website so i'm guessing there won't be a problem.

http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/results/premier.html

[Compo's Hat]

Nags pre match anyone?

[AthleticoSpizz]

maybe (yet) another trip down the Scours tomorrow.

Only £3 for me (the RFC ST holder)...the lad always gets in for free

This could be a two or three pinter at the bar.

[Stuffed Crust Pizza]

maybe (yet) another trip down the Scours tomorrow.

Only £3 for me (the RFC ST holder)...the lad always gets in for free

This could be a two or three pinter at the bar.

Have you been many times?

[AthleticoSpizz]

maybe (yet) another trip down the Scours tomorrow.

Only £3 for me (the RFC ST holder)...the lad always gets in for free

This could be a two or three pinter at the bar.

Have you been many times?

abowt a dozen or two over the past two seasons

[AthleticoSpizz]

Found this somewhere tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPO9yoz8LHU

7 points clear now, but Almondsbury have 4 games in hand.

A great fun game.....the lol entertainment being the Shrivenham GK chasing and chastising the linesman for allowing a 50/50 goaline descision (he had already let in 3...and displayed the kicking prowess of a blind Marcus Hahnemann).

Top swearing from the Shrivvey #8 (Sproule)....incessant and abusive to his "mates"


a bargain £3 (free programme) 90 minutes

decent couple of £2.80 pints too

[floyd__streete]

I went today.

Positives: Reading Town were clearly superior to the opposition and won deservedly by a 5 goal margin, playing some (comparatively) decent football.

Negatives: sort your tannoy system out if you have the cheek to charge people between £3 - 6 to get in. Furthermore, the fellas who subjected a village team from Shrivenham to tireless BANT throughout - one of whom was of adult adult age - take a good look at yourselves, you were a total embarassment. In the club house at half time the television showed.....Bargain Hunt .

[Stuffed Crust Pizza]

Yesterday was my second visit to the Lane. A much more enjoyable game, Town's quality really shone through and Shrivenham never really troubled them. I don't actually remember 'keeper Chris Grace making a save, and he rarely touched the ball. Both of Town's wing-backs saw plenty of the ball and pinned back their opponents. A goal bonanza and a fantastic result will boost confidence no end, all without top goal scorer Graeme Lewis. Was slightly dissapointed with a crowd of 75, although that is still considered a decent turnout at this level.

Town now hit the road for three consecutive away matches at Pegasus Juniors, Oxford City Nomads and Marlow United. Town then find themselved back at the Lane for a double header against their well supported local rivals from Binfield. The first tie is in the "AM Print & Copy Floodlit Cup Semi-final 1st leg" on Thurday 18th March, and two days later the two sides repeat the tie in a league fixture. I will be attending both. I'm getting quite hooked on it now!

[ankeny]

I wonder what would be the biggest crowd would there have been for a local non league match.I went to Prospect Park in the mid seventies to see Rabsons Rovers v West Reading and the crowd were several deep around the pitch,must have been three hundred there.I saw my then, local team Peppard(What happened to them )play at Wokinghams old ground about the same time and they must have had the same.