Robin Friday

[higher]

When THAT goal was scored there was a noticeable stunned silence before the inevitable eruption.A magical moment of collective disbelief.Applauded by the ref Clive Thomas and hand shaken by the Tranmere players.
As mentioned earlier Robin wasnt a showboating premadona although he would tease opposition defenders by juggling the ball and coaxing them to get it off him at times.He simply loved playing football and was completely unshackled by orthodox ways of doing things.
There were times when he was clearly not in the mood and was subbed quite early on occasions.Other times if the game was getting bogged down in our defence he would run from his position up front doing one of his aforementioned hook slide tackles to retrieve the ball and riding all manner of hacks and lunges get the ball up the other end.
Gazza was a saint in comparison when it comes to cheek.Crapping in Lawros kit bag was a masterstroke by the great man.

[AthleticoSpizz]

and at the time....I rated John "Minty" Murray as the highest form of footballer.

He scored more goals.




Remember George Duck turning up for Wealdstone in an FA cup game at EP




.........an even cooler name than Robins


I was there when he kissed the copper....good fun.....................but wasted in those days



you weren't there

[B16]

Can anyone who saw THAT goal, describe it to us less fortunate people who were not able to witness it?

[Joe 90]

I was fortunate to have seem Robin Friday play many times. It wasn't just about the Tranmere goal although that was the best ever. He tackled extremely well and with an amazing "hooking" technique that I had not seen before or since. He wore his heart on his sleeve and for his time with Reading that mean that he gave loads for the club on the pitch. I've seen him kicked all over the place and yet he got up and played on. He didn't dive either.

He was impulsive, yes, but he was such a character, he'd have the ground laughing with him. When he played, the atmosphere in the ground was electric, no one knew what he would do next. Yes, he'd make it into the Reading team today, I'd play him behind Doyle or Kitson without hesitation.

We loved him because he was one of us, he was ours, and he lived our dreams for 90 minutes on most weekends. Imagine the energy of James Harper, the tackling of Steve Sidwell, the dribbling skills of Stephen Hunt and the strike rate of Kitson/Doyle all in one player.

That was Robin Friday

I'm not so sure that's the best analogy for dribbling skills. Glen Little would have been a better choice I think!

Agreed!

[RIP ELM Park]

Can anyone who saw THAT goal, describe it to us less fortunate people who were not able to witness it?

That will be interesting I've heard it described by four or five people who all saw it and all descibed it as the best goal they'd ever seen. However from there descriptions you'd think they where all talking about differnt goals, One from the halfway line, one from the middle 35 yards out, another 35 yarder but this time from the touchline. One was a volley another a half volley, on one occasion the ball came from over his shoulder on another he flicked it up and hit it on the turn.

[Bluey]

Robin Friday was not only a first class footballer, he was a first class bloke, he'd be in the dressing sheds after the game with cuts, bruises and lumps on his legs from defenders ' trying ' to bring him down.
In today's game, he would have scored 83 goals from his 135 games for Reading instead of the 53 he did score, and let me tell you a lot those were Goerge Best style, Ron Blackman with 167 goals from 240 games would be one fo the few to keep him out of the first XI.
He played in an era where men played the game, not Lamborghini driving prima donna's diving around the park like a lot of todays nancy boys. It was only the drink that prevented him from going to the highest level and I don't think it bothered him one bit, he enjoyed his football like he enjoyed his life.
He was red carded once for kicking Mark Lawrenson in the face, this was after he was hacked down for the umpteenth time, anyhow he apparently shit in Lawro's kit bag before the final whistle.
You'll see words like Brilliant, Charasmatic, Flawed Genius attached to his name, even a song, 'The Man Don't Give a F#*% ! ',
That was Robin Friday, first class footballer, first class bloke

[Royal Rother]

AthleticoSpizz, you are harder to understand than Frimmers sometimes.

[Man Friday]

If you didn't see him you can't really comment or compare. He was worth the entrance fee alone. Watch the "Robin Friday documentary" produced earlier this year by a media studies student and you'll start to get an appreciation as to what it was like watching him.

[Royal Rother]

Lee Trundle has always looked a class apart in the lower leagues.

[Joe 90]

If you didn't see him you can't really comment or compare. He was worth the entrance fee alone. Watch the "Robin Friday documentary" produced earlier this year by a media studies student and you'll start to get an appreciation as to what it was like watching him.

Is that available on the open market and have you seen it?

[AthleticoSpizz]

AthleticoSpizz, you are harder to understand than Frimmers sometimes.

I know, I try hard


my point is.....during the halcyonic RF days, there were actually supporting roles that were equally (if not more so) significant.


John Minty Murray was one of them

The whiskey breath that they shared pre-match in the seventies was part of the fun

[higher]

Anyone know where to view that Robin friday video.Is any of it on you tube or any such place?

[Man Friday]

Yes I've seen it. It's not available on the open market but there's a chance that the guy that made it would sell some copies. Trouble is, I don't know how to put you in touch with him for privacy/security reasons. I'm sure there's a few other people on here who have seen the DVD and who may be able to recommend how to contact him. Failing that, hopefully the guy who produced is still in touch with this forum and can see the posts and make contact with you. I think he studies at Execter University so you may be able to contact the university who may be bale to help. Worth the effort for ardent Royals Fans.

[Royal Rother]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oid855fLKM

This shows Robin Friday in action for a few seconds and even scoring a goal.

[Man Friday]

Brilliant. Thanks for this. the fact that people are still talking about Robin Friday after all this time and after he only played for us for two and a half seasons says it all. In the YouTube show the interviewee has it wrong - it was 5-0 against Tranmere, not 5-1, and the wonder goal and kissing the pliceman weren't connected - they were separate matches.

[strap]

So you have read a book about a player that you never saw play written by someone who also never saw him play, based on that book and the fact that robin friday only played Div 4 football you feel qualified to judge him the best reading player ever.
He would not even get in the ground now never mind the team.

Bless!!

(pillock )

[Hemenbruff Royal]

Can anyone who saw THAT goal, describe it to us less fortunate people who were not able to witness it?

That will be interesting I've heard it described by four or five people who all saw it and all descibed it as the best goal they'd ever seen. However from there descriptions you'd think they where all talking about differnt goals, One from the halfway line, one from the middle 35 yards out, another 35 yarder but this time from the touchline. One was a volley another a half volley, on one occasion the ball came from over his shoulder on another he flicked it up and hit it on the turn.

Fair comment. I was at the match and saw him score 'that goal' but I have never since heard/seen a description that matches my recollection of what I saw (I'm convinced he received the ball from a throw in and then flicked it over his shoulder and volleyed it in. Distance wise it gets further with every passing year - I now think he was somewhere near M&S in Broad Street when he hit it)

Friday was the most exciting player I have ever seen in a Reading shirt in terms of skill, charisma and most of all entertainment. Would he get in todays Reading team? Its a bit like asking if George Best would get in the current Man Utd side. He would certainly be skilful enough its just a case a whether his ill discipline and lack of fitness (he smoked, he drank, he took drugs) would leave him him too off the pace for todays style of football.

I do know he would be the first name on my all time Reading eleven since I've been watching them (circa 1970).

[MadStadLad]

Mentioned often around these boards, and by the looks rightly so. A legend at Reading.

Being one who is more young than old, I wasn't lucky enough to see him in action or know how he played. Just wondering, what did actually make THE Robin Friday so special? Is he comparable to the current Reading forwards? How?

He was simply amazing! Always with socks down by his ankles and his notable long straight hair, you never know what magic he would conjure up next. Particularly remember a stunning volley in a 5-0 demolition of Stockport! When I moved to Ealing in '86 I discovered a tree planted in Walpole Park in his memory by his sisters. For me he will always be my favourite Reading player!

[Muskrat]

Can somebody please explain to me how that Super Furry's is supposed to be about Robin Friday?

[AthleticoSpizz]

Can somebody please explain to me how that Super Furry's is supposed to be about Robin Friday?

the chorus line

and the cover of the single