Reading's Hard Men

[Sport Economist]

Ricky Newman came on in a game against Norwich once where we had been bullied by Iwan Roberts and others and started putting a few choice tackles in - we still lost but the atmosphere changed and led to a change of fortunes on the pitch. Martin Allen coming in as assistant to Pardew led to a stiffening of resolve all round the pitch and Adie Williams was one who really knew how to stand up to a big striker in his second spell with the club - I remember him getting the best of Jason Roberts in a 2-0 win over Brizzle Rovers, laying to rest the memory of that legendary 6-0 reverse. While I mention it, Roberts was a real hard nut when playing against us too.

McDonough's book, Red Card Roy, has some good tales amid a lot of drinking and unrconstructed sexism. I don't recall seeing him play but probably must have done. I think today's rules make it harder for real hard men to survive.

[From Despair To Where?]

McDonough spent most of his career at Colchester and Southend. He might have played against us for Colchester when they knocked us out of the cup as a non league team in the early 90s. The bloke was an indiscriminate thug on the pitch and a bully off it. A thoroughly unpleasant man.

[bcroyal]

Showing my age here, but Pat Terry could handle himself!

[Muskrat]

So could Wayne W@nklyn apparently...