RIP - Gordon Neate

[El Diablo]

Just seen on Twitter that Gordon ' Fred' Neate has sadly passed away.

Not old enough to have seen him wear the hoops, but was our Groundsman for many many years, & do remember him working on the pitches and both EP & Madstad.

Condolences to his Family - A true RFC legend.

[Ark Royal]

Very sad news. A very loyal Biscuitman and Royal. RIP Fred.

[Oilroyal]

He was very much part of the matchday experience especially at Elm Park where everything and everyone seemed so much closer. I don’t mind admitting this pitcure of him saying goodbye actually brought a tear to my eye



RIP Gordon

[Focher]

one of the good guys, RIP.

[SCIAG]

Few people have given as much to this club as Gordon. Deserves a blue plaque next to Maurice Evans and Roy Tranter.

[Snowflake Royal]

Club legend without a doubt. Thanks Gordon. RIP.

[From Despair To Where?]

R.I.P. Gordon, a true club legend.

Far too young to see him play but a fixture at Elm Park, marching around the pitch at half time, fork in hand.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Definite club legend - RIP Gordon.

Was he the guy that put neat weedkiller on the pitch just before the start of the season (can't remember year) but the pitch was dreadful for months

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yup, that was him....long since forgiven.

True Readinger in every sense of the word.

[Regular John]

Genuinely sorry to hear this.

[Sutekh]

Very sad, always will have a picture of him in my mind of him forking the EP pitch regularly at half time.

Did wonderful things as a groundsman after his career was cut short through injury, I bet that’s something that will never happen again - a player becoming a groundsman.

Such a shame there’s no game for a minutes applause/silence for him. He really would have been someone who deserves it.

RIP Fred

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2019/m ... 1941-2019/

[sandman]

Very sad news. R.I.P.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Anybody else from here, there for Freds testimonial at EP?

[nailseabiscuitman]

Very sad news, condolences to his family. Saw him on many occasions, he would have been the first to admit finesse was not his forte but on a slick pitch his sliding tackles were something to behold. 100% effort was a given, a true hoop if ever there was one.

[Henley Royal 1]

RIP Gordon a lovely fella.

[WoodleyRoyal]

Should call something at the group after him. Not a stand but maybe the bar in the south west corner or something.

[percy_freeman]

Really sad news. An ex player and a true servant to Reading FC. RIP Gordon and my thoughts and prayers go out to your family. A part of Reading FC has passed but will never be forgotten.

[Needle]

+1 for the blue plaque

RIP

[mikey0406]

The guy personified the club, use to sit in the north stand and always noticed his efforts half time replacing the divots in the goal mouth, my friends dad would often have a chat as he could remember him as a player.

Club 1871, step up and name the bar in the stand ‘I’ll have mine Neate’.

Legend

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Very sad news and condolences to his family.

Fred forking the pitch at EP at h/t, Jimmy Wallbanks running on the with the magic sponge and the chap whose name I forget now - short, always wore a bobble hat and traipsed around the cinder before game selling Golden Gamble - are three endearing and enduring memories of EP.