Never seen 'Elm Park'

[Gordons Cumming]

When I created a painting for the competition run by the club before we left Elm Park I was allowed entry to the ground and took lots of photos as I walked around on my tod.

It was a truly poignant memory.

[Huntley & Palmer]

I only live two roads down from the site of EP now. There is a small sign at the Tilehurst Road entrance of the housing estate that mentions the ground. I walked through there to get home on NYE and threw up as close to where I thought the centre spot was as possible. It was great

[EPR]

There is a plaque near where the Tilehurst Road entrance was, commemorating the fact that once upon a time RFC played there, and I understood that there is a garden at the location of what was the centre spot.

Last time I went back was the night we secured promotion; felt the right thing to do somehow.

There was supposed to be plaque and garden where the centre spot was - and indeed their inclusion was a planning condition, at least in the copy that I have - but they never materialised.

I while back I cross referenced the original Elm Park plans with the new development plans to work out where the exact site of centre spot is today. Check the following Google Map link - the location is almost exactly on the tip of the green marker (assuming the link works)....

http://local.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 4&t=k&om=1

[oldelmparky]

Last time I went back was the night we secured promotion; felt the right thing to do somehow.

Poignant or what?

[Frustrated_Royal]

A group of us always wanted to break into Elm Park, it didn't look that difficult. In the summer we wanted to do it in the middle of the night and have a kickabout. Never did. Should have done. Pity.

[Daff]

Thanks for the reminders, my old house was in that picture, oh what times and grew up not far from the old place to.

[Mr Angry]

Last time I went back was the night we secured promotion; felt the right thing to do somehow.

Poignant or what?

The Spread Eagle got more and more filled with Reading fans back from Leicester as the evening wore on, and yeah, it was.

[Dangerous]

Last time I went back was the night we secured promotion; felt the right thing to do somehow.

Poignant or what?

The Spread Eagle got more and more filled with Reading fans back from Leicester as the evening wore on, and yeah, it was.

I think that it would have been too much for me to go back there after that game! I was bad enough at Leicester!!

Does sound perfect though. I find myself struggling to look across at EP on the rare occasion I go past it, and even then it's from the main road across the top, I haven't ventured down towards the Spread since the ground was there now.

[Stranded]

Poignant or what?

The Spread Eagle got more and more filled with Reading fans back from Leicester as the evening wore on, and yeah, it was.

I think that it would have been too much for me to go back there after that game! I was bad enough at Leicester!!

Does sound perfect though. I find myself struggling to look across at EP on the rare occasion I go past it, and even then it's from the main road across the top, I haven't ventured down towards the Spread since the ground was there now.

I can remember the phone call now.

Yeah, we've done it. Yeah, get in.

[papereyes]

A group of us always wanted to break into Elm Park, it didn't look that difficult. In the summer we wanted to do it in the middle of the night and have a kickabout. Never did. Should have done. Pity.

I know friends (and brothers of HNA?ers?) that did

[mx]

I went over the fence after a game late on in the last season.
Sat on the Southbank alone for 20 mins. Very strange feeling.

It was harder getting out than getting in I seem to remember.

And then there was the jumpers for goalposts game late one evening after another match, and a few pints in the rendezvous.......

[Stooper]

Snuck in a few days after the Norwich game and just stood on the South Bank remebering old times.

[LoyalRoyal13]

My first game @ EP was against Crystal Palace when we lost 6-1! As a little kid though I thought it was amazing there and have never looked back since! Even though I can remember being stuck behind a pillar 1 game!

Stumbled accross this pics of EP on the footballgroundguide.co.uk site and they flooded back memories!!

Were there any old "season review" videos or anything ever released from the Elm Park days?

[SpaceCruiser]

Were there any old "season review" videos or anything ever released from the Elm Park days?

Yes, "Year of the Royals" (1993-4) and "Record-Breaking Royals" (1994-5).

[Stooper]

Were there any old "season review" videos or anything ever released from the Elm Park days?

Yes, "Year of the Royals" (1993-4) and "Record-Breaking Royals" (1994-5).

You forgot Royals Seasons Greetings

[SpaceCruiser]

Were there any old "season review" videos or anything ever released from the Elm Park days?

Yes, "Year of the Royals" (1993-4) and "Record-Breaking Royals" (1994-5).

You forgot Royals Seasons Greetings

That's half a season!

[LoyalRoyal13]

Yes, "Year of the Royals" (1993-4) and "Record-Breaking Royals" (1994-5).[/quote]

And how hard is it to get hold of 1 or both of these?

Thanks

[SpaceCruiser]

I have no idea. Try e-bay?

[Skin]

THE GOOD OLD DAYS?

All from EP, mainly Swansea w@nkers, there is one goal in this lot somewhere. honest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k_JFY-e ... ed&search=


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B_5th3e ... ed&search=


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luBBcnUa ... ed&search=

[size 12]

I ran along Tilehurst Rd during the half marathon last year, and I remember thinking at the time that it was a journey I used to make regularly, but had not done so for many years. Felt very odd passing all those streets and houses that were so much a part of the match day experience