RIP Percy

[strap]

https://savethemightyimps.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/rip-percy-freeman-imp-reading-west-bromwich-albion-legend/?

[Ark Royal]

RIP Big Man. Subtle he was not. A real beast of a No. 9 with a cannon of a shot and a firm fan favourite. I remember him hitting the junction of the post and crossbar so hard that the ball rebounded over the Norfolk Road stand roof.

Here he is scoring against Bradford City in February 1973.

[North Somerset Royal]

Sorry to hear that news. Always good value and when Percy and Robin Friday played up front they were a force to be reckoned with. I remember one occasion when an opposition goalie was so intimidated by the pair of them bearing down on him that he completely ignored the ball which went in the net. Also when a newspaper set out to find the player with the fastest (or hardest ?) shot they thought that Percy was probably the fastest shot at Reading but unfortunately despite many attempts he never managed to hit the target! Not a great footballer but always gave 100% and was the sort of character that added immensely to fans enjoyment. RIP Big Perce.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Very sad news. Very clearly remember standing at our usual spot in the Town End watching Big Perce, almost directly in front of us, bury that header in the pic above.

The phrase "legs like tree trunks" was written for Percy.

[percy_freeman]

RIP Percy, always remembered here for his goals straight from the kick off. There was a great photo of him on the Norfolk Rd, boots in one hand, Fag in the other but I can't find it.

[AthleticoSpizz]

RIP.....another slice of youthful history passes on.

Legendary goals from great distances and possibly the only bloke called Percy that I have ever encountered.

[Lenny The Tramp]

Like that linked article Strap.

Did Lincoln really have 5,000 fans at Elm Park for that game? That's some following for such a long trip.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Like that linked article Strap.

Did Lincoln really have 5,000 fans at Elm Park for that game? That's some following for such a long trip.

Yeah, great read, Strap.

Lenny - are you resurrected from under Cow Lane bridge? It seemed like 5k Imps at EP, place was bulging, but 3.5k may be nearer the mark. Think that was Easter Saturday and then we played Aldersh*t on the Monday and absolutely tonked them, 4-0 or 4-1...... Happy days!

[Gunny Fishcake]

Hear hear , great player who's name matched the man RIP Percy

[quickwingerswife]

A joy to watch. So strong he just shrugged off challenges. Brilliant servant to the club. Liked his pint in the Sread Eagle. RIP Big Man.

[teignmouth hoops]

RIP Big Percy.
True old fashioned centre forward, none of this poncing about like Sa or Pogrebnyak , only similar player to him nowadays is Andy Carroll

[grey_squirrel]

Like that linked article Strap.

Did Lincoln really have 5,000 fans at Elm Park for that game? That's some following for such a long trip.

Ian Branfoot was playing for Lincoln that day.

[Lenny The Tramp]

Hello Dick H,

Yep, just waiting for them to redevelop Cow Lane and gentrify my humble abode.

Squirrel, I saw Branfoot at recent evening with Paul Canoville. Looks exactly the same as when he managed us.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Like that linked article Strap.

Did Lincoln really have 5,000 fans at Elm Park for that game? That's some following for such a long trip.

Yeah, great read, Strap.

Lenny - are you resurrected from under Cow Lane bridge? It seemed like 5k Imps at EP, place was bulging, but 3.5k may be nearer the mark. Think that was Easter Saturday and then we played Aldersh*t on the Monday and absolutely tonked them, 4-0 or 4-1...... Happy days!

The 4-0 Aldershot game on Easter Monday was 1978-79; the Lincoln game was 1975-76. In those days we played on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday and I am fairly sure they did in the top league too.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

The 4-0 Aldershot game on Easter Monday was 1978-79; the Lincoln game was 1975-76. In those days we played on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday and I am fairly sure they did in the top league too.

Same, same..... ah, see, it was a *very* long time ago.... (and CBA to check Soccerbase or whatever it's called..... )

[Gordons Cumming]

A small part of me died when I heard this news.

A very fond memory of my early days watching Reading. Percy ploughing through the deep mud, driving rain and unleashing powerful shot "towards" goal.

Great entertainer.

[STAR Liaison]

RIP Percy, always remembered here for his goals straight from the kick off. There was a great photo of him on the Norfolk Rd, boots in one hand, Fag in the other but I can't find it.

Reading programme 20 Aug 1994. If only I knew how to post pics on here (it's too big).

[STAR Liaison]

Like that linked article Strap.

Did Lincoln really have 5,000 fans at Elm Park for that game? That's some following for such a long trip.

Ian Branfoot was playing for Lincoln that day.

I didn't notice them. It was the biggest gate of the season (15,800?) but we had other gates of 12,000+ (and the 200,000 v Tranmere of course) so I doubt there was more than 3,000.

[Green]

Misread this as PEARCEY.

Dead to the board this last few years, if not in real life.

[RoyalBlue]

One of my real heroes from that era. Used to plough through the mud and defenders at Elm Park like an unstoppable tank.

I used to love it when he took freekicks - can't remember him scoring that often but lots of memories of players in the wall left lying in crumpled heaps after his shot hit them full on!