by JmSG » 07 Aug 2020 11:07
by fartdad » 18 May 2021 00:29
by Royal Rother » 18 May 2021 07:14
by Four Of Clubs » 18 May 2021 19:15
Royal Rother My recollection is that he played mainly as a winger for us.
Wherever he played he wasn’t very good.
by Mid Sussex Royal » 18 May 2021 19:48
Four Of ClubsRoyal Rother My recollection is that he played mainly as a winger for us.
Wherever he played he wasn’t very good.
...2nd part is a tad harsh - he certainly went on to three very prolific spells after he left us, racking up a total of 80+ goals in three seasons with Burnley, PNE & Fulham.
I recall him as a player you wouldn't necessarily notice. We used him as a support striker, not an out and out winger - he was a bit tall and not particularly quick for that.
On the face of it he had a comparatively poor return of less than 10 league goals (7) in about 2 and a bit seasons when looking at his post-Royals career.
The middle season here was probably already marking the end of his time, as we were using Steve Moran in his preferred role.
- needless to say his time with us, would have been massively overshadowed by the presence of the veritable deity that was, one T.Senior.![]()
...but much like 'big' Mick Kearney a decade before - I was always more than happy with him in the team and he usually put in a good shift .....probably would have scored high on assists, back in the day when such things weren't really the factor that they are now?
Kearney acquired semi-legendary status by his closer association with the club off the field, as well as actually being leading scorer, in his own right in 79-80. He pipped Kearns and Earles to the accolade - scoring 12. There were four double-figure scorers in that league campaign that season, with Ritchie Bowman getting 11.
Got a vague recollection that in this, his 2nd spell with us, he often operated as an emergency CB too. Was always a bit of a monster in the air.
by Royal Rother » 18 May 2021 22:42
Four Of ClubsRoyal Rother My recollection is that he played mainly as a winger for us.
Wherever he played he wasn’t very good.
...2nd part is a tad harsh - he certainly had three very prolific spells after he left us, racking up a total of 80+ goals in three seasons with Burnley, PNE & Fulham respectively.
He had a comparatively poor return of only 7 league goals in 2 and a bit seasons he was with us.
I recall him as a player you wouldn't necessarily notice. I thought we used him more often as a support striker, not an out and out winger - he was a bit tall and not particularly quick for that.
The middle season probably marked the end of his time here, as we were using Steve Moran in his preferred role.
- needless to say his time with us, would have been massively overshadowed by the presence of the veritable deity that was, one T.Senior.![]()
...but much like with 'big' Mick Kearney a decade before -personally I was more than happy with him in the team and he usually put in a good shift .....probably would have scored high on assists, back in the day when such things weren't really the factor that they are now?
Kearney acquired semi-legendary status by his closer association with the club off the field, as well as actually being leading scorer, in his own right in 79-80. He pipped Kearns and Earles to the accolade - scoring 12. There were four double-figure scorers in that league campaign that season, with Ritchie Bowman getting 11.
Got a vague recollection that in this, his 2nd spell with us, he often operated as an emergency CB too. Was always a bit of a monster in the air.
by Mr Optimist » 19 May 2021 08:22
by Stranded » 19 May 2021 09:45
Mr Optimist You are definitely thinking of David Crown, who left to go to Cambridge and had a new lease of life as a forward instead of on the right wing where he played for us. I thought he was pretty decent for us during his time here.
Going back to Mike Conroy, I may have tried to blot this from my memory as it wasn’t a great period in our history, but didn’t he play about 20 games at centre back for us in the late 80s under Branfoot at one stage? Might account for his goal return from 80 games....
by Mid Sussex Royal » 19 May 2021 09:56
Mr Optimist You are definitely thinking of David Crown, who left to go to Cambridge and had a new lease of life as a forward instead of on the right wing where he played for us. I thought he was pretty decent for us during his time here.
Going back to Mike Conroy, I may have tried to blot this from my memory as it wasn’t a great period in our history, but didn’t he play about 20 games at centre back for us in the late 80s under Branfoot at one stage? Might account for his goal return from 80 games....
by Fox Talbot » 19 May 2021 15:57
by Royal Rother » 19 May 2021 16:59
Mid Sussex RoyalMr Optimist You are definitely thinking of David Crown, who left to go to Cambridge and had a new lease of life as a forward instead of on the right wing where he played for us. I thought he was pretty decent for us during his time here.
Going back to Mike Conroy, I may have tried to blot this from my memory as it wasn’t a great period in our history, but didn’t he play about 20 games at centre back for us in the late 80s under Branfoot at one stage? Might account for his goal return from 80 games....
Think he was after Branfoot's time, think Porterfield signed him?
by Sutekh » 20 May 2021 14:11
by Mid Sussex Royal » 21 May 2021 18:28
Sutekh Mike Conroy arrived in 1988 while Ian Branfoot was manager. Ian didn't leave his position as manager until October 1989 (despite, as I recall, Reading being on an unbeaten run that included the 6-1 at Swansea).
He was a stiker but he usually got played anywhere but and it certainly wasn't uncommon to see him in the back line. Think fans were generally underwhelmed by him until he finally got more run outs in attack where he gave his all and looked a decent player, certainly his last sasom (90-91) was probably his best.
Not sure why he got lumped out of position but then again Trevor Senior was at the club and Mike wasn't the same sort of player as the likes of Maskell, Leworthy and Moran which the managers at the time seemed to feel would be the better partner for Trevor.
by Stranded » 21 May 2021 19:00
Mid Sussex RoyalSutekh Mike Conroy arrived in 1988 while Ian Branfoot was manager. Ian didn't leave his position as manager until October 1989 (despite, as I recall, Reading being on an unbeaten run that included the 6-1 at Swansea).
He was a stiker but he usually got played anywhere but and it certainly wasn't uncommon to see him in the back line. Think fans were generally underwhelmed by him until he finally got more run outs in attack where he gave his all and looked a decent player, certainly his last sasom (90-91) was probably his best.
Not sure why he got lumped out of position but then again Trevor Senior was at the club and Mike wasn't the same sort of player as the likes of Maskell, Leworthy and Moran which the managers at the time seemed to feel would be the better partner for Trevor.
I may be wrong as its decades ago but I'm sure Branfoot was sacked following a 4-1 defeat at Orient ( I was there) when we were abysmal
by oldebiscuit » 21 May 2021 22:06
JmSG Greetings, one question, Mike Conroy played for Reading in the late 80's. He was a center forward, right?
by Franchise FC » 22 May 2021 11:46
oldebiscuitJmSG Greetings, one question, Mike Conroy played for Reading in the late 80's. He was a center forward, right?
I’m not usually one of those tedious pedants with such an empty life that I have to point out spelling mistakes, but, in this case, I feel the need. Unless you originate from the USA, It’s CENTRE not center.
And as for Mike Conroy, just a typical ‘Branfoot I’m out of my depth signing’ to add to an already shocking team. Even if he was any good, he wouldn’t have been able to to perform in that shower of shite.
by Royal Rother » 22 May 2021 14:41
by Mid Sussex Royal » 22 May 2021 14:43
Franchise FColdebiscuitJmSG Greetings, one question, Mike Conroy played for Reading in the late 80's. He was a center forward, right?
I’m not usually one of those tedious pedants with such an empty life that I have to point out spelling mistakes, but, in this case, I feel the need. Unless you originate from the USA, It’s CENTRE not center.
And as for Mike Conroy, just a typical ‘Branfoot I’m out of my depth signing’ to add to an already shocking team. Even if he was any good, he wouldn’t have been able to to perform in that shower of shite.
You know the 13 wins at the start of the season was under Branfoot
You know that the Division 3 title was under Branfoot
He may have been dour but effective and I don't think 'out of his depth' could be levelled so easily at him
Did he lose the plot ? probably
Was he always shite ? absolutely not
by oldebiscuit » 22 May 2021 22:18
Franchise FColdebiscuitJmSG Greetings, one question, Mike Conroy played for Reading in the late 80's. He was a center forward, right?
I’m not usually one of those tedious pedants with such an empty life that I have to point out spelling mistakes, but, in this case, I feel the need. Unless you originate from the USA, It’s CENTRE not center.
And as for Mike Conroy, just a typical ‘Branfoot I’m out of my depth signing’ to add to an already shocking team. Even if he was any good, he wouldn’t have been able to to perform in that shower of shite.
You know the 13 wins at the start of the season was under Branfoot
You know that the Division 3 title was under Branfoot
He may have been dour but effective and I don't think 'out of his depth' could be levelled so easily at him
Did he lose the plot ? probably
Was he always shite ? absolutely not
by Royal Rother » 22 May 2021 22:53
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