| Phil Whitehead
|
| Squad number |
1 |
| Position |
Goalkeeper |
| Signed from |
West Brom, October 1999, £250,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Halifax, Barnsley, Scunthorpe (Loan), Bradford (Loan),
Oxford, West Brom |
| More info |
Whitehead was a popular keeper at West Brom and lost his place in the
first team when a new keeper was signed. His luck at Reading didn't last
long after picking up a long term injury and losing his place in the first
team to Scott Howie. Howie picked up his form and forced Whitehead out until
the end of the 1999-2000 season when Phil was given a chance back in the
side. Whitehead and Howie could have quite a battle between them for the
place, but it's Whitehead that seems most likely to win. |
| John Polston |
| Squad number |
2 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Norwich City, May 1998, Free |
| Previous clubs |
Tottenham, Norwich |
| More info |
Polston is on the point of retiring from playing after picking up injury
after injury after signing for Reading from Norwich in 1998. He hasn't managed
to keep up a regular run in the side and it seems unlikely he has many playing
days left. |
| Matt Robinson |
| Squad number |
3 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Portsmouth, January 2000, £150,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Southampton, Portsmouth |
| More info |
Matt Robinson arrived at the same time the "Royal Revival" began
last season. Martin "Mad Dog" Allen recommended we get Robinson
in after working with him at Portsmouth, and after he signed we seen to
win, win, and win some more. Quality full back who looks set to stay a popular
first team regular. |
| Keith Jones |
| Squad number |
4 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Charlton, July 2000, Free |
| Previous clubs |
Chelsea, Brentford, Southend, Colchester (Loan), Charlton |
| More info |
Although getting well on in the second half of his playing career Jones
has still been a very valuable player for Charlton and has loads and loads
of experience - with over 450 league games on his record. A hard tackling
midfielder, he looks set to fill straight in Grant's (who left for Bournemouth)
place. |
| Ade Viveash |
| Squad number |
5 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Walsall, July 2000, Free |
| Previous clubs |
Swindon, Reading (Loan), Barnsley (Loan), Walsall |
| More info |
Viveash seemed to set to eventually sign for the Royals after spending
two loan periods at Reading in 1993 and 1995. Viveash made over 200 appearances
for Walsall after signing for them from Swindon. |
| Barry Hunter |
| Squad number |
6 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Wrexham, July 1996, £400,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Crusaders, Wrexham, Southend (Loan while at Reading) |
| More info |
Barry Hunter had a nightmare start to the 1999-2000 season after returning
from a massive two year lay-off through injury. He was only given a one
year contract and really had to prove himself - instead he made loads of
mistakes and it seemed his days were numbered. He promptly added to his
troubles by getting done for drink-driving and lost his club captaincy.
And then he really got his act together and put in a string of superb performances
in the centre of defence to more than earn his place back in the first team
- and an extended contract offer from Allen Pardew. Could be a vital player
again. |
| Graeme Murty |
| Squad number |
7 |
| Position |
Defender/Midfielder |
| Signed from |
York, July 1998, £700,000 |
| Previous clubs |
York |
| More info |
Murty was signed for a huge wad of dosh from York as a pacey winger. Once
again though Burns had signed a player suffering from injury, and it was
ages before we got a chance to see the mystery man of Reading FC. When we
did see him we weren't disappointed by the size of his sideburns. And when
we saw him leg to down the wing there was even more to get excited about.
Murty got injured again and then returned as a full back / wing back, where
he still continues to play. Great going forward, but sometimes shakey at
the back. |
| Darren Caskey |
| Squad number |
8 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Tottenham, February 1996, £700,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Tottenham, Watford (Loan) |
| More info |
Last season's (1999-2000) player of the year. Caskey already has a fair
bit of Premiership experience after his four year spell at Spurs where he
started at a trainee in 1992. He'll definately return to the Premiership
soon (hopefully with the Royals). Some people love to get on his back, but
others will argue that he's just too good for Division Two - or Division
One for that matter. There's no doubt that Caskey is one of the best players
in the side. On his day his diagonal passes across the pitch win us games.
Sometimes the passes go astray - but it could be argued his team mates aren't
getting into the right place at the right time. And we haven't mentioned
all those goals - Caskey was last season's top scorer for the Royals. Quality
player with a massive future. |
| Martin Butler |
| Squad number |
9 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Cambridge, February 2000, £750,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Walsall, Cambridge |
| More info |
Martin scored four goals for the Royals last season (1999-2000) after
signing from Cambridge in February when he was the Division's leading goalscorer.
However, he made up for the lack of goals by setting up plenty and starting
off a potentially lethal combination up front with Nicky Forster. Should
start sticking in loads for the Royals. |
| Nicky Forster |
| Squad number |
10 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Birmingham City, June 1999, £650,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Hythe, Gillingham, Brentford, Birmingham |
| More info |
Brilliant player worth every penny of the 650,000 quid. Not only
a natural goal-scorer but a really talented player who loves to go
on his own little runs past players. Great at winning the ball and
great at keeping it. There's nothing like watching Forster cut in
from the wing. Signs are that he's just going to get better and better.
Unfortunately with such a promising future ahead of him Forster was
ruled out for the entire 2000/2001 season after suffering a cruciate
ligament injury in his right knee during a pre-season game against
Charlton at the Madejski Stadium. |
| Lee Hodges |
| Squad number |
11 |
| Position |
Midfielder/Forward |
| Signed from |
Barnet, August 1997, £250,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Tottenham, Plymouth (Loan), Wycombe (Loan), Barnet |
| More info |
Hodges is another player who suffered from injury during the 1999-2000
season, but had a good few games after returning to the action. Capable
of putting over some good crosses which is always useful with a player like
Butler in the middle. |
| Jamie Cureton |
| Squad number |
12 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Bristol Rovers, 21 August 2000, £250,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Norwich, Bournemouth (Loan), Bristol Rovers |
| More info |
Reading signed the highly rated striker Jamie Cureton from Bristol
Rovers just into the 2000/2001 season in a bargain £250,000 deal.
The clubs agreed the fee after Cureton had expressed a interest in
moving after failing to pledge his future to the West Country club.
After an unhappy close season spell Cureton was keen to move on and
saw Reading as a perfect opportunity to further his career. With Nicky
Forster out all season the news could not have been better for Reading
fans who will remember Cureton as the player who hit four past Reading
in January 1999 at the Madejski Stadium when Bristol Rovers won 0-6.
Cureton, born in Bristol, had a fantastic strike rate for Rovers after
signing for 200,000 quid in October 1996 from Norwich City - and was
expected to have a far larger price tag. In 200 games for Rovers,
Cureton hit 78 goals. |
| Keith Scott |
| Squad number |
13 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Wycombe, March 1999, £250,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Leicester City, Lincoln City, Wycombe, Swindon, Stoke
City, Norwich, Bournemouth (Loan), Watford (Loan), Wycombe |
| More info |
Keith Scott seems to have played for every club in the lower divisions.
A traditional big centre forward who can create loads of problems for defences
just because he's so big and awkward. Reading fans weren't too impressed
with the idea of signing him from Wycombe - especially when the club covered
up the transfer fee. The word donkey seem to be used more than a bit. However
he soon shut up a lot of the critics with a couple of great games, and goals,
shortly after signing. Since then though he's faded out again and is starting
to look a bit slow and old. Rumour has it we tried to sell him back to Wycombe
but they wouldn't have him. Great bloke who is probably going in the direction
of a coaching career now. |
| Sammy Igoe |
| Squad number |
14 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Portsmouth, March 2000, £100,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Portsmouth |
| More info |
Sammy made over 100 league appearances for Portmouth after joining as
a trainee in 1994. Martin Allen tipped off Pardew and Reading picked him
up for a potentially bargain sum of £100,000. Sammy hasn't had a real
run in the first team yet with just a handful of games during last season
(1999-2000) for the Royals. Expected to be a regular this season - if only
when coming on from the bench. |
| Sean Evers |
| Squad number |
15 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Luton Town, March 1999, £500,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Luton |
| More info |
Evers got brilliant reports about his performances for Luton - but he's
yet to show why after failing to look worth the half a million quid we paid.
He's definately not a bad player - but there must be more to come. If he
doesn't start looking a bit more special he'll find it hard to sustain a
place in the team. |
| Phil Parkinson
|
| Squad number |
16 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Bury, July 1992, £37,500 |
| Previous clubs |
Southampton, Bury |
| More info |
Player of the season during both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 season's - but
not looking quite so good after a long period injured during the 1999-2000
season. Parky is Reading FC through and through and bleeds blue and white
hooped blood for the club he loves. Parky is always tackling hard, chasing
every ball, and has been a perfect club captain. Parky is one of the longest
serving player's left at the club - and we all hope he's still got enough
left in him for a few more successful seasons. |
| Neil Smith |
| Squad number |
17 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Fulham, August 1999, £100,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Tottenham, Gillingham, Fulham |
| More info |
Neil Smith played nearly 250 games for Gillingham before a two season
spell at Fulham. He's definately not in the same league as Darren Caskey,
but he's still good at winning the ball and laying it off. A decent enough
player for Division Two. |
| Andy Gurney |
| Squad number |
18 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Torquay, January 1999, £100,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Bristol Rovers, Torquay |
| More info |
Gurney has had some great games for Reading - but he's also had some very
average ones. Gurney's a full back but sometimes lacks the pace to catch
up with his man. Against an average Division Two winger Gurney does the
job and does it well, however against a decent player all his weaknesses
are displayed as they seem to beat him every time. |
| Jimmy Crawford
|
| Squad number |
19 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Dundee United, March 1998, £50,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Dublin, Newcastle, Rotherham, Dundee United |
| More info |
A Tommy Burns signing with seemingly no future at the club. He was another
one of those signed on transfer deadline in March 1998 as Burns attempted
unsuccessfully to save Reading from relegation to Division Two. Since the
arrival of Alan Pardew Crawford hasn't had a look in and doesn't look likely
to get one. He'll be keen to move on in order to kick start his football
career. |
| Chris Casper |
| Squad number |
20 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Man Utd, November 1998, £300,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Manchester United, Bournemouth (Loan), Swindon (Loan) |
| More info |
Chris Casper looked to be a player in a million when he arrived on loan
from Manchester United in September 1998. In his months loan spell he impressed
with every kick off the ball - a superb tackler who won everything played
towards the centre of defence and then did something with it. Premiership
quality in a very young player. In a poll during October 1998 on Hob
Nob Anyone?, 98% of voters said they wanted Reading to sign Casper -
and everyone was overjoyed when he signed for a bargain 300,000 quid in
November of that year. Casper continued to look brilliant in a five man
defence but started to lose his initial shine by making more than a few
mistakes in a four man defence. He went through a long period out of form
in 1999, and just when he was starting to regain his confidence he broke
his leg leaving him side-lined long term. He'll still be a great asset to
the club when he fully recovers. |
| Scott Howie |
| Squad number |
21 |
| Position |
Goalkeeper |
| Signed from |
Motherwell, March 1998, £30,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Ferguslie, Clyde, Norwich, Motherwell, Coventry (Loan) |
| More info |
Scott Howie is definately a talented keeper, and a superb shot stopper.
Unfortunately he doesn't seem to have a full set of skills yet - his kicking
is all over the place, he's weak on crosses, and is liable to making the
odd fatal mistake. But Howie always tries his best and is determined to
succeed. He's also good to recover from set-backs. It's no suprise that
Scott Howie was voted biggest improvement of the season during both 1998-99
and 1999-2000 seasons. He is improving all the time. Last season he lost
his place to Whitehead after a series of poor performances led to him being
substituted at half time away at Wycombe. When Whitehead then got injured
Howie was back - and put in a series of superb performances to bounce back
in style. He'll fight hard to become the number one keeper at Reading. |
| Jim McIntyre |
| Squad number |
22 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Kilmarnock, March 1998, £440,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Bristol City, Exeter (Loan), Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock |
| More info |
Reading fans just can't decide what to think of Jim McIntyre. One moment
he's as popular as anything, the next minute he's subject of massive abuse
from his own fans and then the same again. He's probably unpopular because
he was signed by Burns for a lot of money which he's probably not worth.
It wasn't made much better when a few weeks after signing he declared that
he wasn't very good at scoring goals. But to Jim's credit he's well capable
of causing a bit of trouble up front and good at supplying the ball to his
striking partner. Not likely to get a look in if Butler and Forster don't
get injured. |
| John Mackie |
| Squad number |
23 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Sutton United, October 1999, Free |
| Previous clubs |
Crawley Town, Sutton United |
| More info |
At time of writing John is a mystery player who signed for Reading in
October 1999 and then promptly returned to Sutton United on loan as if nothing
had happened. After picking up an injury we're yet to see what he's capable
of doing on the pitch. |
| Darius Henderson |
| Squad number |
24 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
A big striker who had a few games towards the end of the 1999-2000 season,
but failed to make much of an impression after looking a bit slow. Plenty
of time for him to get a bit of experience behind him though and sharpen
up his game. |
| Ricky Newman |
| Squad number |
25 |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Signed from |
Millwall, 27 July 2000, Free |
| Previous clubs |
Crystal Palace, Maidstone (Loan), Millwall, Reading
(Loan) |
| More info |
Newman had always been expected to sign after ending last season on loan
to the Royals. Millwall paid 500,000 quid for the midfielder in July
1995 when they signed him from Crystal Palace, and he went on to make
150 league appearances for Millwall. Newman made seven appearances
for Reading while on loan at the end of last season, scoring one goal.
|
| Stuart Gray |
| Squad number |
26 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Celtic, March 1998, £100,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Giffnock North, Celtic, Morton (Loan) |
| More info |
Stuart Gray was signed from Celtic by Tommy Burns for the standard Burns
price of 100,000 quid. There's been plenty of times when he's looked worth
more than that with a solid run as a full back in the first team last season.
However Gray always looks scared coming forward for some reason, and just
hasn't got enough to put him above players like Murty or Robinson. |
| Nathan Tyson |
| Squad number |
27 |
| Position |
Striker |
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
Tyson made one substiture appearance last season and looks to be a nippy
young player who could run rings round Division Two defenders. Tyson banged
in plenty of goals for the youth side and looks certain to make an impression. |
| Chris Smith |
| Squad number |
28 |
| Position |
|
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
Player who has graduated from the Royals academy to become
a squad member. Yet to break into the first team. |
| Adie Williams |
| Squad number |
29
|
| Position |
Defender |
| Signed from |
Wolves, July 2000, Free |
| Previous clubs |
Reading, Wolves |
| More info |
Popular central defender who'll fit in again perfectly in a side modeled
on passion and the will to win. Adie is 100% a Reading player after spending
most of his career with the Royals after originally signing for Reading
way back in 1989 as a trainee. Williams spent seven years at Reading as
a regular first team player before moving to Wolves to follow McGhee for
750,000 quid in 1996. After failing to get the success at Wolves that he
previously enjoyed at Reading - mainly due to injury - Adie came back to
the Royals on loan in February 2000 and stayed until the end of the season.
With his contract up at Wolves, and Reading fans desperate for his return,
he was more than happy to return to Reading in the summer of 2000. Adie
keeps the number 29 shirt at his request following his successful loan spell
when he wore that number in the hoops. |
| Alex Haddow
|
| Squad number |
30 |
| Position |
|
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
Player who has graduated from the Royals academy to become
a squad member. Yet to break into the first team. |
| Jamie Ashdown |
| Squad number |
31 |
| Position |
|
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
Player who has graduated from the Royals academy to become
a squad member. Yet to break into the first team. |
| Ricky Allaway |
| Squad number |
32 |
| Position |
|
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
Player who has graduated from the Royals academy to become
a squad member. Yet to break into the first team. Ricky has been under plenty
of media attention after his brother Shaun signed for Leeds in 2000 in a
big money deal. Ricky is rumoured to be set to follow the same path and
move to a Premiership side - most likely Leeds. |
| Adam Lockwood |
| Squad number |
33 |
| Position |
|
| Signed from |
Trainee |
| Previous clubs |
- |
| More info |
Player who has graduated from the Royals academy to become
a squad member. Yet to break into the first team. |
| Tony Rougier
|
| Squad number |
37 |
| Position |
Forward |
| Signed from |
Port Vale, 11 August 2000, £325,000 |
| Previous clubs |
Raith, Hibernian, Port Vale |
| More info |
Rougier was signed at the start of the 2000/2001
season as replacement for Nicky Forster who was ruled out for the
whole season due to a knee injury sustained in a pre-season friendly
against Charlton. Rougier, who made his debut against Millwall on
the first day of the 2000/20001 season, had scored 21 goals from 169
senior appearances before joining the Royals. |
Team
Management
| Alan Pardew |
| Position |
Team Manager |
| Previous clubs |
As a player: Yeovil, Crystal Palace, Charlton,
Tottenham, Barnet
As a manager: None |
| More info |
Alan Pardew became Reading FC manager on 13 October 1999,
replacing Tommy Burns. Pardew had also been Reading manager before - as
caretaker manager in March 1998 when Bullivant was booted out. Pardew managed
one game as caretaker manager, a defeat, before Burns arrived. Pardew, who's
previous management experience had been managing the Reading reserve side,
has already put together a better record for himself than either Bullivant
or Burns could manage in their short stays in charge. |
| Martin Allen |
| Position |
Assistant Manager |
| Previous clubs |
As a player: QPR, West Ham, Portsmouth
As a manager: None |
| More info |
Martin Allen - known as "Mad Dog" arrived at
the beginning of 2000 after coaching at Portsmouth, and has played a massive
part in turning the fortunes of Reading Football Club around. Working closely
with Pardew we've made some sensible signings and are playing like a side
capable of getting out of Division Two. Martin Allen is a complete nutter,
make no mistake - winning is the only option, whatever it takes. As a player
he'd always be the most determined player on the pitch - West Ham paid £670,000
quid for Allen's will to win way back in 1989. Allen, born in Reading, has
always been a Reading fan and expects every player to share his love of
the club. |
|
