50 Not Out

[Dirk Gently]

Wigan po semi, 1-0 down with less than 5 minutes left then 2-1 up when the whistle finally blew. So exciting there was a pitch invasion - by mounted police

I tore a muscle in my left side celebrating the winning goal that night.

I don't believe there's been a better atmosphere at the Madstad

And that was the night that the MadStad properly became ours - previously it'd just been the new ground, but that night Royals fans took emotional ownership of it.

[Crusader Royal]

Being going since about 1968.
Obviously most of the games mentioned I’d include too
First big one I remember was Arsenal in 1972 when we gave their side full of stars a real run for their money.
The three big scoring games v Arsenal, Pompey and Spurs will not v e forgotten even if they were all defeats.
Boro in the cup at EP when the Butcher of Bootle knocked us out with one of the most bizarre refereeing decisions ever.
Sheff Utd away when we were 3-0 down and drew 3-3 with Paul Cannoville in full flow.
Newport away to set the record for wins from the start of the season
The FA cup run that took us to Wembley - went to all the games with my brother and our boys
QPR away in the Simod Cup - not many of us went to every game in that run. The semi was incredible and went on so long it almost ran into the next day.
The various iterations of Beard Day, although don’t recall the football.
Chesterfield away last game of the season when we were 2-0 down at half time and relegated. Came back to win 4-2 and stayed up.
Seeing Tom Holmes and Tom Mc make their debuts and then captain the team
Taking each of my boys to their first games
Seeing each of my boys run out as mascots.
Running the Internet Royals and playing games against lots of other fan teams

Probably a bit more a list of personal memories than ‘best’ anything but over 55 years of following the club there are loads of these.

[royals6719]

Brings back memories!!

My first game 73/74 season, aged 7,verses Southport or Stockport. Think won 5-1 with Mr Friday getting three.

Was at Tranmere 5-0 but cannot remember that goal although standing at front of South Bank towards Tilehurst End and probably in line with him. But do remember Minty Murray's two penalties towards Town End.

Do Remember Earles goal vs Wolves and was at Southampton too!! - Think it was far too early for Keegan being there then.

Best team I ever saw at EP was Swansea under Toshack with Latchford, Robbie James, Jimmy Rimmer etc. Ripped us apart. Think year after was our 78/79 Championship season.

In the 13 wins start saw Blackpool, Plymouth (Senior's bum goal in pouring rain), Bolton and Lincoln (Senior's bum again!!) all games were actually bad but Branfoot's teams carved out a win.Think best football at EP was under McGhee.

Enjoy Simod Cup run although only saw Coventry and Luton games!!

Still have nightmares after Bolton P/O final game.

Middlesborough 3-2 was probably best atmosphere in Mad Stad once Shorey made that run at 2-0 down onwards

Just a footnote - my son's first game was 3-1 win vs Gillingham where Kitson scored hattrick including two pens in first 10 minutes or so, so wonder if my family hold some sort of record where father and son both saw Reading hat tricks during first game.

[Sutekh]

Being going since about 1968.
Obviously most of the games mentioned I’d include too
First big one I remember was Arsenal in 1972 when we gave their side full of stars a real run for their money.
The three big scoring games v Arsenal, Pompey and Spurs will not v e forgotten even if they were all defeats.
Boro in the cup at EP when the Butcher of Bootle knocked us out with one of the most bizarre refereeing decisions ever.
Sheff Utd away when we were 3-0 down and drew 3-3 with Paul Cannoville in full flow.
Newport away to set the record for wins from the start of the season
The FA cup run that took us to Wembley - went to all the games with my brother and our boys
QPR away in the Simod Cup - not many of us went to every game in that run. The semi was incredible and went on so long it almost ran into the next day.
The various iterations of Beard Day, although don’t recall the football.
Chesterfield away last game of the season when we were 2-0 down at half time and relegated. Came back to win 4-2 and stayed up.
Seeing Tom Holmes and Tom Mc make their debuts and then captain the team
Taking each of my boys to their first games
Seeing each of my boys run out as mascots.
Running the Internet Royals and playing games against lots of other fan teams

Probably a bit more a list of personal memories than ‘best’ anything but over 55 years of following the club there are loads of these.

I was at Loftus Road for the Simod run, mate was a QPR fan, but liked Reading too, and got lumped into the home “end”. Amazing thing was the it was the best views I’ve ever had at “the Road”. Won 3-1 and had a feeling we might get a bit of a cup run in it. Bit confusing as was the first time I’d seen Reading play a team who also wore blue and white hoops

[Sutekh]

Brings back memories!!

My first game 73/74 season, aged 7,verses Southport or Stockport. Think won 5-1 with Mr Friday getting three.

Was at Tranmere 5-0 but cannot remember that goal although standing at front of South Bank towards Tilehurst End and probably in line with him. But do remember Minty Murray's two penalties towards Town End.

Do Remember Earles goal vs Wolves and was at Southampton too!! - Think it was far too early for Keegan being there then.

Best team I ever saw at EP was Swansea under Toshack with Latchford, Robbie James, Jimmy Rimmer etc. Ripped us apart. Think year after was our 78/79 Championship season.

In the 13 wins start saw Blackpool, Plymouth (Senior's bum goal in pouring rain), Bolton and Lincoln (Senior's bum again!!) all games were actually bad but Branfoot's teams carved out a win.Think best football at EP was under McGhee.

Enjoy Simod Cup run although only saw Coventry and Luton games!!

Still have nightmares after Bolton P/O final game.

Middlesborough 3-2 was probably best atmosphere in Mad Stad once Shorey made that run at 2-0 down onwards

Just a footnote - my son's first game was 3-1 win vs Gillingham where Kitson scored hattrick including two pens in first 10 minutes or so, so wonder if my family hold some sort of record where father and son both saw Reading hat tricks during first game.

24th March 1978 Reading 1-4 Swansea City, Toshack had only been appointed Swansea boss about 20 days earlier. Then he was the youngest manager in the FL at 29 (he’d just had his 29th birthday a couple of days before the game). The former manager of Swansea was Harry Griffiths who had stepped down to an assistant role to allow Tosh to take over. Tragically Griffiths died from a heart attack just a month later, just before Swansea played Scunthorpe at the Vetch. Hard to believe then that Toshack (now 76) would go on to manage Real Madrid twice!

[themwasthedays]

All the games previously mentioned were very special & I would also add a couple of earlier ones which stand out in my memory .
League game at home to Gillingham in 1966 winning 2-1, due to the Dennis Allen (or was it Mick Travers) screamer.
League game home to Swindon in the same season, who had Don Rogers on the wing. Won 2-1 with two headers by Pat Terry
League Cup v WBA in front of almost 19000 with George Harris playing a blinder (& scoring 2 - I think)
Also the FA Cup 3rd round match v Sheffield Wednesday in fro nnt of over 23,000. They had players like Megson, Fantham, Eustace, McCalliog & Dobson. Not surprising we lost but, only by the odd goal 2-3.
There are many more others, most of which have already been covered.

[bcubed]

This thread is turning into an obituary for the club!

[Sutekh]

This thread is turning into an obituary for the club!

All the best to be prepared.

[The Faith Healer]

Also memories of Jack Mansell's 69/70 side - scored goals for fun, conceded almost as many! I remember us putting 6 past Barnsley and Barrow. Finally, in the last home game when we were getting nervous about scoring enough to qualify for the pre season Watney Cup....we edged past Southport 8-0!!
Happy days! (Relegated the next year of course!)

[stealthpapes]

This thread is turning into an obituary for the club!

If the club does go under, I would whole-heartedly support getting as many of these memories and comments collected and hosted/printed somewhere. I might still have the Elm Park Memories fanzine.