Beard days were brilliant. I often wonder if any other clubs have anything quite so surreal. Fun goings on at theR&T, crazy v bus journey to the ground Entrance always nicely timed to be after kick,off and cause maximum ‘what the hell’ reaction Beard Band Foootball it’s self almost irrelevant, ...

Gianfranco Zola in pre-season friendly at EP .... absolute joy to watch.

SWLR Richie Bowman

Yup - a real James Milner type. *cough* Tidy, nothing fancy, kept the team ticking - week in, week out.

Steve Blatherwick has to be the worst defender I've ever seen in a Reading shirt Ooo, that's a good call. Thinking about it, Colgan would be my GK. He was utterly inept - like so bad my ninety year od mother with her Weinstein-esque walker would be more mobile and kick further - on that fateful 'Ta...

Bit harsh on Shepherd.... he was majestic at Lecicester away in the reunion with the FSB. For that I will ever be thankful. Malcolm Swain... absolute pony. Brayson obvs has to be on the list. The young chap who FSB brought on at Bradford away and subbed him off after 15 minutes. Giacommetti or summa...

LUX Wow, great photos. I can see Bruce Stuckey and Gary Peters I reckon.

RIP Ray, a hero of mine.

Ha, just said to myself: "There's Bruce Stuckey and Tommy Youlden...." but I think you're right, Lux, it may be Gary Peters.

Another sad day. I remember seeing Ray Hiron in many of the RFC home games. He was often the 'out' ball for mad Robin.

Surpised he 'only' played 114 games in the Hoops and notched 14 goals. My senility suggests that he scored more than that.

RIP Ray.

For me no prior connection to the club whatsoever, only locality and the principle of "support your local team" which I have done since my first game aged 6, Fred May's testimonial on 2 October 1974, which I still remember vividly - the smells (bovril, cigars, liniment), the floodlights, ...

You're a season before me, Ark.... 14th February, 1968 was my first game at EP. A 0-0 against Northampton but it was Valentine's day and my unrequited love was sealed. I was born in Gosport and my grandparents and mother were STHs at Fratton Park (my grandpa was an honourary life president) and so t...

Yup, saw this yesterday. Very sad.

Don't forget he was actually stand in manager for a number of games, too.

I'd like to see Ejaria look up more, as Swift is doing. His dribbles are so intricate that I think they tax his short-term memory to the point he ends up in a blind maze, so in the end it's pot luck whether he comes out with the ball or disappears up his own arse. I love watching him, though--prope...

First half. Absolutely shocking. All of them, except Olise. Second half. Did what we had to do and looked quite bright on the counter, although we should have kept the ball better in the last 15 minutes rather than panic and hoof. Plus points: Swift second half, Olise, Rino and Richards, but really ...

Definitely better than Wednesday and spot on to close them out for a win and no goals conceded.

Full credit to Puscas for a well taken goal .... *and* he managed to get off the ground for a couple of headers .... *and* his first touch wasn't nearly as bad as Meite's for a change.

I've had nearly 48 hours to calm down after the complete fustercluck of a 'performance' ... which was inevitable given the complete nonsense of the team selection. It's easy to write it off as a bad day at the office. A *bad* day at the office? That was bordering on administration. Right from the of...

Oh the joy of watching a team defending from the front and hunting in packs. Shame it wasn't us Pele the standout again. That man can mount me any time he wants. Also thought Yaidom did ok coming back in, and Meite put in a good shift. Swift and Ejaria can sit on the bench for a bit. And take Pusca...

RoyalBlue One season there was loads of Pompey fans in the block of seats nearest the Town End. As the teams came on, they all ran across the pitch to attack Reading fans in the South Bank.

Errr, wasn't that Brizzol City... again?

Yup, like Ark, Forester, Spizz and, no doubt, a few others, I started watching (often with SWLR) in the Town End in '68. Fulham midweek in the league cup was a bit 'special' :shock: and obvs your Pompeys, Pox, Aldersh*t (who are still the one and only 'derby') and Brizzol Cities (which was probably ...

Walker - He was poor. God I hope Southwood is better. We need someone to fill the space between now and Coniah Boyce-Clarke leading us to the Prem. Howe - First half I thought he looked good, second not so much. Made an important challenge but looks better at going forward than defending. Miazga - ...

Old man Adam was pure class for the first 45. Didn't need to run and his awareness of players was simply first class. Every Hollywood pass to feet except when Gunter thought it was coming too quickly, took a couple of steps back, and it pinged two yards off his first touch.... Moore was immense in t...

Franchise FC Has anyone mentioned the 4-0 defeat at Swindon in the late 70'/early 80's ?

Cold, wet, lost, seriously concerned outside the ground afterwards.

Yup, that one certainly sticks in the memory ... and I sincerely wish it wouldn't.