Club legend.

[West F]

Noel is nowhere near legendary status. Legendary status means that your legacy stands up against and then beyond others. On the playing side of things, names such as Ronnie Blackman were spoken about by my Father, who scored 158 goals in 218 games for Reading. In more modern terms, players such as Robin Friday and Martin Hicks. Phil Parkinson and Graeme Murty. Trevor Senior and Jimmy Quinn, all deserve differing levels of legendary status.

Off the pitch, the names that immediately spring to mind are, Roy Tranter and Roger Smee, who were instrumental in preserving the club and preventing it being lost to us forever. Trants was also a real gentleman and a pleasure to know. Also Frank Orton, who was club president, who even in his late eighties could outpace supporters in his enthusiasm to get to away games. From a management, coaching and administration point of view, I would say that the most important names are: Alan Pardew, Steve Coppell, Brian McDermott, John Stephenson, Nick Hammond, Brendan Rodgers, and of course Sir John Madejski. They took what Roy Tranter and Roger Smee saved, and built it into something we love enough to defend, hammer keyboards about, laugh and cry about. But very much part of us.

Brendan Rodgers ?

Yes, Brendan Rodgers.

[Orion1871]

Noel is nowhere near legendary status. Legendary status means that your legacy stands up against and then beyond others. On the playing side of things, names such as Ronnie Blackman were spoken about by my Father, who scored 158 goals in 218 games for Reading. In more modern terms, players such as Robin Friday and Martin Hicks. Phil Parkinson and Graeme Murty. Trevor Senior and Jimmy Quinn, all deserve differing levels of legendary status.

Off the pitch, the names that immediately spring to mind are, Roy Tranter and Roger Smee, who were instrumental in preserving the club and preventing it being lost to us forever. Trants was also a real gentleman and a pleasure to know. Also Frank Orton, who was club president, who even in his late eighties could outpace supporters in his enthusiasm to get to away games. From a management, coaching and administration point of view, I would say that the most important names are: Alan Pardew, Steve Coppell, Brian McDermott, John Stephenson, Nick Hammond, Brendan Rodgers, and of course Sir John Madejski. They took what Roy Tranter and Roger Smee saved, and built it into something we love enough to defend, hammer keyboards about, laugh and cry about. But very much part of us.

Brendan Rodgers ?

Yes, Brendan Rodgers.

I don't know who this guy is, but he's good value for a laugh.

[linkenholtroyal]

It's a completely subjective term; one man's "legend" is another man's "donkey".

If every Reading fan could only choose 5 people as "legends", then find out who the top five names were, those would be club legends.

And of course, those nominated would only be within the living lifetimes of current fans, so no Maurice Edelstone or indeed, very few for Maurice Evans.

My 5 (in no particular order):

Robin Friday
Trevor Senior
Jamie Cureton
Steve Coppell
Sir John Madjeski

oxf*rd, 5 is HARD.

Coppell
Friday
Death
Madejski
Parkinson

And two of those I never saw for us.

For players I have seen and managers in the time I have been a fan. I could narrow down 10.

Coppell
McDermott
Cureton
Murty
Shorey
Gunnarson
Mcanuff
Stephen Hunt
Ingimarsson
Eamonn Dolan

These players or managers all gave such special moments for the club and all for individual reasons.
Harper, Forster, Little, Sonko, Hahneman, Doyle, Noel Hunt, Sidwell, Leigertwood, Ali al Habsi and the list goes on also need a special mention for what they brought to the club and I am sure there are more. But there isn’t any other players in the last 10 years I can think of that have accomplished the same feeling or excitement that these players/managers did. I started to be a supporter in 2000 when I was a youngster after a friend brought me to a game. I was lucky that I saw some great players in those early years so I can not comment before.

[traff]

1. No. Hunt scored 7 goals in the championship season under Brian and only one which was crucial in the run in (at West Ham) so hardly played a key role. Roberts was the catalyst that season.

2. Legends are either players like Friday (someone iconic) or played the best part of their career at the club (Death, Hicks, Gilkes, Parky as examples in my time) or broke records (Senior). Probably also Cureton for that goal at Brentford.

I think he is a great guy, maybe a level below “legend,” whatever that would be (club favourite, icon, cult hero?). He’s been excellent and has always shown great passion for the club.

That said, IIRC he once apologised for scoring to the West Ham fans by crossing his arms in the Irons symbol, which I wasn’t keen on given his real supposed connection is with Reading.

I think it’s far too early to start digging him out, but I admit his popularity may eventually buy him a little more time than others might get if there isn’t some obvious progression sooner rather than later.

[Sebastian the Red]

Off the field someone like Ron Grant is well in with a shout.

[Crusader Royal]

We have a club hall of fame.
Gives a pretty set of people who could be considered legends. Covers the whole history of the club and isn’t restricted to players. Even includes some non males ! It will never be definitive but it did come out of a lot of hard work and consideration.
I’m fairly sure Noel isn’t in it (yet)

[MR. CYNICAL]

Plus I'd include Mick Gooding, Maurice Evans and Eamon Dolan.

I'm afraid Maurice Evans, IMO, lost legendary status for me when he sat on the fence during the Oxford merger fiasco.

Bit harsh on Mo, especially as eye brows could've been his potential boss.

Exactly

[West F]

Brendan Rodgers ?

Yes, Brendan Rodgers.

I don't know who this guy is, but he's good value for a laugh.

Which guy? Me or Brendan?

[Carnabyswhiskers]

28 posts already and not one of you philistines has mentioned the great Bryan Carnaby. The living antithesis of the professional footballer, the George of George and Mildred. My others: Gylfi, Friday, Super Si, Olise: players with artistry and imagination.

[Royal Ginger]

Kaspars Gorkss. That is all.

[Sutekh]

Kevin Bremner.

[blythspartan]

I think Charlie Hurley should get a mention. He loved a great attacking style of football and in 1975/76 he got us our first promotion in decades.

I remember my dad and uncles celebrating and I saw most of the home games that season, but not the Tranmere one. Also, he was oxf*rd stitched up by lack of investment the following season.

[Sutekh]

I think Charlie Hurley should get a mention. He loved a great attacking style of football and in 1975/76 he got us our first promotion in decades.

I remember my dad and uncles celebrating and I saw most of the home games that season, but not the Tranmere one. Also, he was oxf*rd stitched up by lack of investment the following season.

This. Very underrated and did a brilliant job given the totally ambitionless Waller and his board of cronies. If only JM had arrived in 1970 rather than 1990 the club might have achieved something. Thankfully football didn’t suffer from the overreach at every level that it does today back then so no-one seemed to get particularly depressed about the club’s moneyless direction.

It was a disgrace that no one in the local media appeared to reach out to Charlie, when the club got to the PL, to see if he’d talk about his time in Reading.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yes, Brendan Rodgers.

I don't know who this guy is, but he's good value for a laugh.

Which guy? Me or Brendan?

Either or.

Is the F short for Flash and West for West Stand by any chance?

[Winston Biscuit]

I find the rewriting of Phil Parkinson's career with us somewhat bewildering

[MR. CYNICAL]

The Wagstaff brothers, Steve Hetzke, Gordon Cumming, Stuart Beavon, the list could go on.

[Forbury Lion]

1. Would you class Noel as a club legend

As a player - No
As a manager - Too early to call.

2. Who would you class a a club legend?

Robin Friday
Trevor Senior
Steve Death

The 106 team are history makers, so will become legends in time.... If a younger person wants to call them legends then that's fine because it's a perspective thing.

Some other history makers - Mikelle Leidgerwood scoring the goal that got us promoted, Grant Brebner scoring the first goal at the Madejki stadium

There are legends about Bobby Mikhalof and his wig, Mark Reily who got homesick, Adie Williams wearing every shirt number, James Harper forgetting we scored a goal and not celebrating a win.

[Snowflake Royal]

I find the rewriting of Phil Parkinson's career with us somewhat bewildering

How's it being re-written?

Parkinson's never been rated for being an incredible talent, but for being a longserving blood and thunder, 100% committed player who played in one of our most successful sides, and as that side broke up and declined gave the remnants some backbone and fighting spirit, always lifting the crowd.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Maurice Evans RIP - definite club legend - died 25 years ago today....and nice the club have remembered today.

Like the post above re Charlie Hurley managed the club during a time of zero ambition at board level and the 1978/79 season I remember with a lot of fondness still.

Longest serving RFC manager in my life time and one club player as well.

[West F]

Off the field someone like Ron Grant is well in with a shout.

Yep +1