The phoenix club thread

[MartinRdg]

Simply getting behind Reading City might not be the worst option. Established club, with a ground. An influx of support would potentially let them rise rapidly up the leagues and they may not be averse to becoming the home of former Royals, although they might hate the idea . To be honest it would be really easy to take over an existing club and simply rebadge it, probably easier than starting from scratch. Ethically it might not be great unless it’s an agreed takeover.

Nah f*ck those guys.

It's interesting - not sure I would change affiliation - have nothing against Reading City. Would probably also follow a local club instead - in my case probably Truro City just because of location.

[Snowflake Royal]

Simply getting behind Reading City might not be the worst option. Established club, with a ground. An influx of support would potentially let them rise rapidly up the leagues and they may not be averse to becoming the home of former Royals, although they might hate the idea . To be honest it would be really easy to take over an existing club and simply rebadge it, probably easier than starting from scratch. Ethically it might not be great unless it’s an agreed takeover.

Nah f*ck those guys.

It's interesting - not sure I would change affiliation - have nothing against Reading City. Would probably also follow a local club instead - in my case probably Truro City just because of location.

Was thinking would I go local. And the idea of supporting Cambridge through shit and shitter, or going to Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich or Norwich is pretty nauseating.

[bcubed]

Nah f*ck those guys.

It's interesting - not sure I would change affiliation - have nothing against Reading City. Would probably also follow a local club instead - in my case probably Truro City just because of location.

Was thinking would I go local. And the idea of supporting Cambridge through shit and shitter, or going to Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich or Norwich is pretty nauseating.

You could go non league
Peterbrough Sports are decent

[Crusader Royal]

Nah f*ck those guys.

It's interesting - not sure I would change affiliation - have nothing against Reading City. Would probably also follow a local club instead - in my case probably Truro City just because of location.

Was thinking would I go local. And the idea of supporting Cambridge through shit and shitter, or going to Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich or Norwich is pretty nauseating.

Changing to another FL team is probably not going to be for many, but once you get into non league it is a real breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’d ever go back to the hype and over serious football in the top tiers.

[Hendo]

It's interesting - not sure I would change affiliation - have nothing against Reading City. Would probably also follow a local club instead - in my case probably Truro City just because of location.

Was thinking would I go local. And the idea of supporting Cambridge through shit and shitter, or going to Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich or Norwich is pretty nauseating.

Changing to another FL team is probably not going to be for many, but once you get into non league it is a real breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’d ever go back to the hype and over serious football in the top tiers.

Yeah, I'd think I'd go to supporting Leatherhead or Dorking.

[Snowflake Royal]

It's interesting - not sure I would change affiliation - have nothing against Reading City. Would probably also follow a local club instead - in my case probably Truro City just because of location.

Was thinking would I go local. And the idea of supporting Cambridge through shit and shitter, or going to Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich or Norwich is pretty nauseating.

Changing to another FL team is probably not going to be for many, but once you get into non league it is a real breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’d ever go back to the hype and over serious football in the top tiers.

Good lord no. Sod that.

[Crusader Royal]

Was thinking would I go local. And the idea of supporting Cambridge through shit and shitter, or going to Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich or Norwich is pretty nauseating.

Changing to another FL team is probably not going to be for many, but once you get into non league it is a real breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’d ever go back to the hype and over serious football in the top tiers.

Good lord no. Sod that.

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

[Snowflake Royal]

Changing to another FL team is probably not going to be for many, but once you get into non league it is a real breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’d ever go back to the hype and over serious football in the top tiers.

Good lord no. Sod that.

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

[Orion1871]

Simply getting behind Reading City might not be the worst option. Established club, with a ground. An influx of support would potentially let them rise rapidly up the leagues and they may not be averse to becoming the home of former Royals, although they might hate the idea . To be honest it would be really easy to take over an existing club and simply rebadge it, probably easier than starting from scratch. Ethically it might not be great unless it’s an agreed takeover.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Good lord no. Sod that.

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

Jamie Curetons Cambridge City maybe?

[Sutekh]

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

Jamie Curetons Cambridge City maybe?

Player manager there. Isthmian League North Division (step 4). He’ll be 50 in August

[AthleticoSpizz]

Simply getting behind Reading City might not be the worst option. Established club, with a ground. An influx of support would potentially let them rise rapidly up the leagues and they may not be averse to becoming the home of former Royals, although they might hate the idea . To be honest it would be really easy to take over an existing club and simply rebadge it, probably easier than starting from scratch. Ethically it might not be great unless it’s an agreed takeover.

not really ‘getting’ the problem that some folk here have with RC
Seem to have a decent set-up for the kids and yoofs game.
Took in a game last season and was pleasantly surprised with the pace and enthusiasm (if not the quality), it’s a charmless ground admittedly.
Decent locally brewed beer, enjoyed whilst watching the game…sooooo….it’s not all bad

[tmesis]

not really ‘getting’ the problem that some folk here have with RC
Seem to have a decent set-up for the kids and yoofs game.
Took in a game last season and was pleasantly surprised with the pace and enthusiasm (if not the quality), it’s a charmless ground admittedly.
Decent locally brewed beer, enjoyed whilst watching the game…sooooo….it’s not all bad

I can imagine if Reading FC ceased to exist, with no phoenix club set up, then some would watch Reading City, but they'd be people who just want to watch a game.

It wouldn't be a continuation of Reading, and would have a fraction of the appeal.

[Crusader Royal]

Good lord no. Sod that.

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

Let’s be honest here - you are just rather blinkered.
If your driving force was quality you’d have swapped your Royals TV pass for a Real Madrid TV subscription.

[AthleticoSpizz]

not really ‘getting’ the problem that some folk here have with RC
Seem to have a decent set-up for the kids and yoofs game.
Took in a game last season and was pleasantly surprised with the pace and enthusiasm (if not the quality), it’s a charmless ground admittedly.
Decent locally brewed beer, enjoyed whilst watching the game…sooooo….it’s not all bad

I can imagine if Reading FC ceased to exist, with no phoenix club set up, then some would watch Reading City, but they'd be people who just want to watch a game.

It wouldn't be a continuation of Reading, and would have a fraction of the appeal.

it’s football, it’s Reading, and (as you say) in the absence of a phoenix club, then it might have to appeal.
Anyways, my original point being, why do some on here have such a problem with a set-up that is (and has never been) any kind of threat to our beloved Royals? Roly’s long gone chaps

[Snowflake Royal]

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

Jamie Curetons Cambridge City maybe?

Utd are shit, and City are their ugly younger step goblin.

[Snowflake Royal]

Fair enough, bit too sociable for you I would imagine, and not easily available on tv….

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

Let’s be honest here - you are just rather blinkered.
If your driving force was quality you’d have swapped your Royals TV pass for a Real Madrid TV subscription.

Bore off back to NL.

[AthleticoSpizz]

I like quality, I appreciate it's not for everyone though.

Jamie Curetons Cambridge City maybe?

Utd are shit, and City are their ugly younger step goblin.

new ground @ City too?

[Father Flipper]

Not exactly an apples for apples comparison, but when AFC Wimbledon started up, they had the initial meeting (am sure stuff took place behind the scenes) on 30 May 2002, had their first trials on 13 June 2002, and their first friendly on 10 July 2002. They started their league season in August 2002.

Most league AGM's at non-league level don't take place until early/mid June when they ratify their structures for the season. Usually it's done on a trickle-down basis (ie, National League first, then Trident Leagues - Isthmian, Southern, Northern - then feeder leagues, then county leagues). These usually get delayed due to some club or another being demoted / going bust etc. So, working on worst case scenario, of the EFL letting the club limp on until the end of the season, there would still be time to get something together (barring the already stated caveats of "where do we play?" etc).

I remember at the time, AFC applied to join the Isthmian League, and the board of the league voted the proposal down (if I remember rightly, Harrow Borough were one of the clubs who voted against). The Combined Counties League were delighted to take them in - the publicity, attendance and finance boost, and booze sales in the bar for all clubs were utterly massive. A lot of clubs that first season - CCL Division One - had their highest ever home gate that season. Southall moved their game to Chalfont's ground, and had about six tents dishing out curry, which they'd included in the cost of the ticket.

Now, 23 years later, regulations and procedures have no doubt been updated, so the club / phoenix club might not find it as easy as just asking nicely if they can join a league (the CCL Div One is now technically a tier lower, following the formation of National League North / South in 2004). However, I personally doubt that we would be placed as high as NL/NLS, unless somebody in either of those divisions went bust themselves / took a voluntary demotion (I don't think I've heard of too many clubs at those levels being on life support this season). The FA however do prefer to reprieve clubs in those situations, rather than promote an additional club from a lower level. I do think that if we were to apply for the Isthmian / Southern League, that we would be accepted - I would like to think that they wouldn't repeat the same mistake from 2002.

In terms of venue, Wycombe or Aldershot probably. I just think Slough and Maidenhead would be too small. Reading have a larger fanbase than AFCW had, when they reformed, they were constantly filling out Kingsmeadow which was about 3000ish. Even allowing for some fans giving up on football / watching another side, then I don't think a leagueish sized ground would be unrealistic (though again AFCW got "lucky" in the fact that Kingsmeadow's host club, Kingstonian, had a prototype Dai in charge at the time, and he let AFCW essentially have the ground). Just please god not Farnborough - it's the nearest ground to my house, but I would violently resent giving Spencer Trethewy any money...

[tmesis]

In terms of venue, Wycombe or Aldershot probably. I just think Slough and Maidenhead would be too small. Reading have a larger fanbase than AFCW had, when they reformed, they were constantly filling out Kingsmeadow which was about 3000ish. Even allowing for some fans giving up on football / watching another side, then I don't think a leagueish sized ground would be unrealistic (though again AFCW got "lucky" in the fact that Kingsmeadow's host club, Kingstonian, had a prototype Dai in charge at the time, and he let AFCW essentially have the ground). Just please god not Farnborough - it's the nearest ground to my house, but I would violently resent giving Spencer Trethewy any money...

Wycombe is horrific to get to, especially by public transport. Playing at Aldershot, and getting better crowds than they do would be funny, but I think it would be regarded very negatively by Aldershot fans.

Maidenhead might be too small, but hopefully it'd only be temporary. I think the 'dream', if there is such a thing in this scenario, is maybe to return to the Madejski with a new owner, after a year away. The nightmare, apart from the obvious of not existing at all, is long-term exile out of the town.

In truth I do suspect we'll be taken over, even if it's right at the last minute, but the danger is Dai, because his debts are so stupidly large, would rather have nothing than be pushed into what he considers a bad deal.