It's a generational thing

[Ark Royal]

I'm 4th generation.

Great grandfather started going when we joined the football league in 1920.

Grandpa (living in Caversham) started going pre-war, about 1930ish from memory.

Dad's first game in 1950

My first game in October 1990 (a 2-1 defeat at home to Leyton Orient where I was mascot, coincidentally my grandpa's last game, he died not long afterwards)

Nephews and nieces are RFC fans as well, they started about 03-04 I think.

5 generations spanning our family.

Well done Brum Royal, if there was a cup for this event your hand would be reaching for it.
Nostalgia aside, all these stories give off a sort of collective warmth rather than the antiseptic chill of modern day commercialism.
And (slightly off topic) even a shared association of a name of a former player that moved to another club can work a small miracle of magic that can bridge old animosities. I'm thinking of Cardiff and Reading here.
One day in the early '80's waiting for the last Intercity 125 back from Cardiff to Reading I got mixed up with some handy characters in a boozer near the station (the one that had a reputation for professional ladies - can't remember its name now). It was about to get a tad nasty when at the last minute someone mentioned Cardiff FC and in one of those lightbulb moments I mentioned Robin Friday. Suddenly I was their friend for life and another round of drinks appeared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Thanks Robin - you probably saved me some expensive surgery! More nostalgia..................

The Jolly Porter? I remember seeing some guy being chased by Millwall nutters in one door and out of the other. Five minutes later, the chase went the other way through the bar.

[nicktamarensis]

That rings a bell.
I remember the walls were painted brown - a choice colour for a shit pub. The beer was good though - they served a surprisingly good 'skull attack' otherwise known as Brains SA. I assume it was demolished years ago............

[AthleticoSpizz]

Good thread!

Late Mum and Dad both being a combination of Spurs and Shots fans (no Frimmers connection), I am the first (since first game circa 1972)

Both son and daughter are purely Reading fans...no big-time club love from them.

I would expect their children to follow suit...the families future is blue and white

[Mid Sussex Royal]

First generation - parents from Hants so Southampton fans but moved up to Reading early 1960's.

In fairness though, dad took us quite often to Reading games early 1970's until we were old enough to go on our own so its carried on since then.

[Arnie_Pie]

Non footballing family though my Dad used to watch West Ham occasionally.

I used to support Liverpool as a kid till about the age of 16 until I started getting free tickets for Reading at Elm Park as a mates brother used to be the physio. Plus I was brought up in Goring so it made sense.

[nicktamarensis]

Having two daughters supporting RFC seems quite a rare thing as far as I can tell from the responses!
My youngest was also part of the Reading Royal Ladies run by Doug (can't remember his surname) from Twyford in the late 1980's/ early 1990's. On occasions the team used to have half of the pitch at half time 'turned round' as it were and play little competitions and shoot-outs to keep everybody amused. I was always threatened never to take photographic evidence of any of this - little did she know I was there with my first camcorder!

[RoyalBlue]

My first Reading game was v Gillingham in 1967 (won 3-1) when my pestering of my dad - who wasn't into football - finally paid off. I think his next Reading game was when he took my then young son into the seats for the last league game at Elm Park so that I could enjoy the atmosphere of the Southbank for one last time.

Both my son and my daughter are now die hard Royals fans, despite never having never lived in, or really near, Reading. I suspect future generations will also be Reading fans.

Having two daughters supporting RFC seems quite a rare thing as far as I can tell from the responses!
My youngest was also part of the Reading Royal Ladies run by Doug (can't remember his surname) from Twyford in the late 1980's/ early 1990's. On occasions the team used to have half of the pitch at half time 'turned round' as it were and play little competitions and shoot-outs to keep everybody amused. I was always threatened never to take photographic evidence of any of this - little did she know I was there with my first camcorder!

I can only claim one daughter but she has been lucky enough to play for Reading under floodlights on the Mad Stad pitch.

[harry]

My father is from Ireland so naturally supports Man Ure. My mother & her parents had no interest in footy. My great grandfather was an Arsenal fan. I could have easily ended up a QPR fan from where I grew up before the family moved to Reading in 72. Fortunately my first game was in 73. Colchester I think, a midweek game, pretty forgettable, but I was hooked. That was one of the few games my dad went to. After that I went with a friend from down the road and his dad and older brother & sister. Used to stand in the South Bank. In the mid/late 90s I started standing between the South Bank and the Tilehurst End.

I took my daughter until she was old enough to make her own decisions at which point she gave up her season ticket. I took my step-son to a few games but failed to infect him and he moved away for uni then work. My wife came to a few games over the years without seeming that interested. So it was all looking like it would begin and end with me.

Then suddenly she caught the bug a couple of seasons ago. I got her a half season ticket for Christmas (had to move seats as well) which clearly inspired the incredible promotion-winning run under McD and she has been a STH since.

Maybe one of the kids will show a real interest later. I can dream.

[bobby m's syrup]

My first Reading game was watched with my father way back in Dec 1965. We beat Brentford 5-0 in FAC2. He was an Aldershot fan and only took me because my brother was off to a treat somewhere else and he wanted to be fair to me, (bless him).

I was hooked from that day, despite the odd flirtation with Milan when I lived there during the 70s

I used to stand 'under the clock'. Back then a few of us tried to make as much noise as possible, although even teams like (then) Orient and Gillingham would often out-sing us. That for sure is not a generational thing

Sadly, my daughter is a Wednesday fan as all of her mother's family are from Sheffield.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

Parents moved to East Berks from North London. My father, grandparents, uncle cousins etc a mixture of CheLOLsea and mainly Arsenal fans.

Went to my first Reading game in the early 70's with a mate standing on the town end at EP, kinda hooked me.

Grandparents still took me to Stamford Bridge as my dad took me to Arsenal but for some god forsaken reason the lure of Elm Park and its idiosyncrasies bought me back. Family didn't really get supporting a lower league team

Been a regular since the 70's and a ST holder since Mad Stad arose from the ashes

Son now a ST holder. Suppose the generational thing started with me.

[tmesis]

1st generation fan.

Started going as a 16 year old in 1986 out of curiosity, wondering what 3rd division football would be like. I'd fancied going before, but never knew where Elm Park was.

None of my immediate family had any interest in football at all (or any sport for that matter) although I did find out much later that my Granddad played for Mexborough Town in his youth, playing real-life Barnstoneworth Uniteds in the Yorkshire Premier League.

[Scarface]

First went with my old man back in the Dean Horrix era, sat on the wall down the front of the south bank, then joined the south bank proper in my teens. Back then you couldn't even see a Reading kit at school, no internet, no goals on sky, nothing! I just enjoyed going to football with my old man.

Times have massively changed, the club has moved on, but watching back then was more enjoyable, much better atmosphere and proper songs.

Still go with him now, took my son for the first time this year and I will do everything in my power to ensure he supports his home town club and not one of the money bags PL clubs.

[Winchester Royal]

My dad was sent by his parents to Reading School, following an upbringing in colonial Nigeria. He started attending the football in 1967 with a friend and then moved away from Reading a few years later. In 1996 the family moved to Reading and he started taking me to Elm Park in its last ever season, closing an almost 30 year absence.

Aside from having a season ticket one year, I don't think he was ever as enthused by the whole experience as I was, so he'll attend a few times a year now, providing it's not raining. My sister attends when she's in the country.

[West Stand Flash]

As a kid I always supported Liverpool, couldn't imagine supporting little old Reading.
My Dad started taking me to the odd Reading home game from 1990. My first full season was 1993 & I've been a season ticket holder since 2001.

Couldn't imagine it any other way! Reading til I die!!

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ hurrah for the cigar peddler

[Hong Kong Phooey]

First generation for me although I have managed to convert my mother into a season ticket holder for the last 10 years. My first game was early eighties with my old man and his brother. Midweek game, against Luton I think, I can remember the smell of burgers, the bright green of the pitch under floodlights and there was crowd trouble in the corner between the South Bank and away end. Immediately hooked.

Now as a season ticket holder of 30 years I've managed to hook my nephew and my own lad. He had is first shirt at one day old. Take a photo early on wearing the hoops and there's no other option! Now it's in his blood as well as his 'old man'.

[LUX]

Welcome Hong Kong Phooey.

My HNA memory tells me you are not really new and that you are part of AE folklore.

[Royal Lady]

Welcome Hong Kong Phooey.

My HNA memory tells me you are not really new and that you are part of AE folklore.

This!!!

Not seen you in aaaages m8!

[Platypuss]

THE Hong Kong Phooey? WB!

[old woman]

My Mum's family were all supporters in the 1940's and several great aunts and uncles went to Elm Park.The club was even mentioned in the vicar's speech at my Grandad's funeral.
Mum started taking me and my brothers in the 60's.
Daughter and I attend games when we can (now live up North)
Mum still going....