Rowan Liburd

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Pepe the Horseman
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Rowan Liburd

by Pepe the Horseman » 22 Jul 2015 16:11

22 year-old striker signed to our development squad.

The Royals are very pleased to have today signed striker Rowan Liburd into our development group.

The 22-year-old frontman signed a two-year contract with Co-Chairman Sir John Madejski today, and arrives from Isthmian Premier League side Billericay, for whom he scored 22 goals between November and April of last season.

6’4” with a turn of pace and an eye for goal, Rowan spent four years in America on a football scholarship and made a name for himself at Georgia’s Thomas University. He won a host of awards, including the Sun Conference Player of the Year, which covers Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Returning to the UK last summer, he set about making his way in the English game, and having caught the eye of our scouts, he now gets his chance at Reading in our development group. He has already scored twice for our Under 21s, helping them to a 7-0 friendly win over Beaconsfield a week ago, and the aim is for him to now keep progressing here at Madejski Stadium.

Director of Football Nick Hammond said, "I’d like to welcome Rowan to the Club, he is a boy we hope can really develop here, and we wish him every success.

"The challenge now is for him to fulfil his undoubted potential, and we have already seen that he has an excellent work ethic and a willingness to learn. Those attributes are absolutely vital to any player who wants to make the most of themselves."

Chief Executive Nigel Howe added, "Bringing in players like Rowan is very important to Reading, and in the past few years it has been an exceptionally successful strategy for us.

"We have had excellent reports on Rowan’s ability, and just as importantly on his character. We like to create an environment in which players can reach their maximum potential, and I’d like to wish him the best of luck here."
Read more at http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... dQEo53K.99

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scumbag
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Re: Rowan Liburd

by scumbag » 22 Jul 2015 16:17

It's about time we made another strange signing.



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tidus_mi2
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Re: Rowan Liburd

by tidus_mi2 » 22 Jul 2015 16:19

To be fair he's very raw but it sounds like he has a real eye for goal, either he'll step up or he won't, it's a very low risk signing.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Pepe the Horseman » 22 Jul 2015 16:20

Two year contract suggests they see a bit more in him than they did Cedders.

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Rowan Liburd

by strap » 22 Jul 2015 16:25

http://www.billericaytownfc.co.uk/news/2553-rowan-becomes-a-royal?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27NJMQQV9ak

22 yr old forward by all accounts. Doubt he'll be pushing for a 1st team spot yet awhile.


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Re: Rowan Liburd

by YateleyRoyal » 22 Jul 2015 16:47


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GH Royal
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Re: Rowan Liburd

by GH Royal » 22 Jul 2015 17:06

At 22 years old he's not really a youngster, being 6 ft 4" and apparently has a bit of pace you wouldn't say he'd struggle physically, just a case of experience. Pleased with this.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Steve_Upper_West » 22 Jul 2015 17:29

What exactly is the 'development group' :?

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by No Fixed Abode » 22 Jul 2015 18:25

Is he the son of former Bradford player Richard Liburd?

Sure looks like him.



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Re: Rowan Liburd

by No Fixed Abode » 22 Jul 2015 18:31

Must be as they both have a Billericay connection innit.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Royal Ginger » 22 Jul 2015 18:38

Ah, the signing that forms the excuse/solution when we don't manage to sign any more strikers.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by SCIAG » 22 Jul 2015 19:05

Steve_Upper_West What exactly is the 'development group' :?

It means they expect him to spend most of the season in the U21s. They can't stay he's in the U21s because he's not under 21 and that would be ridiculous, but they're allowed to field three overage players.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by RoyalBlue » 22 Jul 2015 21:25

I have watched a reasonable amount of male US College Soccer and the standard is pretty high. I am told quite a few go onto play for MLS teams. There are also quite a lot of young Brits and Europeans playing over there on soccer scholarships and I think some of them have just slipped through the professional net in the UK or haven't been signed up because they aren't quite the right size or similar reasons.

From what I have seen, we can be pretty certain of one thing; physically this guy will be very strong and fit. US college teams seem to put a lot of focus on that.

I reckon that US College Soccer could be quite a good recruiting ground, so it would be a good move by the club if they have/get people keeping an eye on it for them.
Last edited by RoyalBlue on 22 Jul 2015 21:51, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Norfolk Royal » 22 Jul 2015 21:35

Fantastic if this signing works out. The lad looks to have great potential.

Song?

'Has everybody heard, about Liburd, Liburd, burd, burd, b.b.b burd.'

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Stevie G » 22 Jul 2015 22:46

'Buh, buh, buh, bird, bird, bird, Liburds the word', Peter Griffin style, with hands.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Norfolk Royal » 23 Jul 2015 09:13

Stevie G 'Buh, buh, buh, bird, bird, bird, Liburds the word', Peter Griffin style, with hands.


This^

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by GH Royal » 23 Jul 2015 09:15

Saw a lot of people on Twitter last night complaining that he had already blocked them before they tried to follow him, which would imply he's searched the Reading FC hashtag and blocked the fans that have come up :lol:

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by Coppelled_Streets » 23 Jul 2015 09:39

Very happy with this. At 22 we must have some confidence he can push the first team once he's settled in. He's tall, strong and quick; and he certainly knows where the goal is. It's a no lose signing. Good luck to the lad. I've missed these signings.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by From Despair To Where? » 23 Jul 2015 11:36

GH Royal Saw a lot of people on Twitter last night complaining that he had already blocked them before they tried to follow him, which would imply he's searched the Reading FC hashtag and blocked the fans that have come up :lol:


Clearly an intelligent bloke then.

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Re: Rowan Liburd

by No Fixed Abode » 23 Jul 2015 12:32

Nobody remember Richard Liburd? No surprises really, he was around before 2005.

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