Great pre-season friendlies of the past

[SpaceCruiser]

FC Zwolle 1998 (a)

The game when Reading discovered the talent of Elroy Kromheer

Isn't that when Mass Sarr first showed off his silky skills to the Reading faithful? I wasn't there, but I do remember somebody writing a report and was calling Mass Sarr a GOD!

[earley_royals]

Didcot Town, last summer: Bit battered to be honest, Lubomir Blaha's finest hour from what little I remember.

Knowing me, Knowing you...

That and Staines were good last year. Even met the Staines Massive.

[Harold]

V Chelsea at Elm Park - brlnt.

[handbags_harris]

Reading 1 Southampton 0, pre-season 97/98. Bullivant in charge, Meaker lobs the keeper from 20 yards. Remember this game for being a bit pants actually, but the South Bank was constantly taking the p1ss as this was the 3rd time in 3 occasions we'd beaten Saints. Also remember it for one twat standing near the South Bank constantly shouting "heyyy! Mark McGhee!" The South Bank turned to him as 1 and shouted "fcuk off"!! Always remember that!!

[Alan Titchmarsh]

Real Sociedad in about 1994 at EP (won 1-0), Daley Thompson played for about 10 minutes I think.

Also Sheff Wed at EP in July 1998, one of the last ever games there. Won 3-0 against a then Premiership team and all thought Burns was working along the right lines....!

[pooandwee]

Didn't we take a 1-0 lead in the Genoa game with a Tom Jones screamer. I might have got my games mixed up though??

[Tilehurst Road]

Staines away last season

[3 veesinarow]

Reading v Tottenham 1988 - Gazza's debut for Spurs after signing from Newcastle - Luther Blissett guested for us and scored one of the greatest goals ever seen at EP...finished 2-1 to us, I think...?

[Chicken Balti Pie]

FC Zwolle 1998 (a)

The game when Reading discovered the talent of Elroy Kromheer

Isn't that when Mass Sarr first showed off his silky skills to the Reading faithful? I wasn't there, but I do remember somebody writing a report and was calling Mass Sarr a GOD!

No Mass Sarr played in the first game of the tour against a representative side put together from a couple of local teams.

He scored 4 that day. Not sure what the fuss was about

[Stranded]

Reading v Tottenham 1988 - Gazza's debut for Spurs after signing from Newcastle - Luther Blissett guested for us and scored one of the greatest goals ever seen at EP...finished 2-1 to us, I think...?

Wasn't that also Martin Hicks' testimonial?

Pretty sure we won 2-1 and Gazza also scored for Spurs. Celebrated by giving the Southbank a V sign under his shirt.

[SpaceCruiser]

Reading v Tottenham 1988 - Gazza's debut for Spurs after signing from Newcastle - Luther Blissett guested for us and scored one of the greatest goals ever seen at EP...finished 2-1 to us, I think...?

Wasn't that also Martin Hicks' testimonial?

Pretty sure we won 2-1 and Gazza also scored for Spurs. Celebrated by giving the Southbank a V sign under his shirt.

I was there too, I was so stunned by Gazza's goal that I found myself clapping an opposition goal for the only time in my life.

By the way, I didn't think this counted as a pre-season friendly?

[Ark Royal]

7/8/1991 - Reading 2 Dnepropetrovsk 4

The Ukrainian club had been Soviet League champions only four years previously. I can recall us being 2-1 at half-time including a headed goal by fat useless David Leworthy, but they moved up about ten gears in the second half and were applauded off at the end, and rightly so, they were the best team seen at EP for several years – it was a joy to watch.

....a friendly against Man Utd at Elm Park in the early nineties.. We lost 1-0 and remember having to go in the away end as I went with a couple of Man Utd supporters.

I always thought that we drew 1-1.

You might be right there MOI, It was some time ago now.

Indeed it was 1-1. John Clayton (on loan) was the scorer for us.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

FC Zwolle 1998 (a)

The game when Reading discovered the talent of Elroy Kromheer

Isn't that when Mass Sarr first showed off his silky skills to the Reading faithful? I wasn't there, but I do remember somebody writing a report and was calling Mass Sarr a GOD!

No Mass Sarr played in the first game of the tour against a representative side put together from a couple of local teams.

He scored 4 that day. Not sure what the fuss was about

it wasn't mass sarr who got 4, it was robert fleck and stuart gray(!)

[AthleticoSpizz]

Also Sheff Wed at EP in July 1998, one of the last ever games there. Won 3-0 against a then Premiership team and all thought Burns was working along the right lines....!

yes I was sat right behind the dug-outs c/w heavily pregnant wife and 8 year old daughter. Unfortunately, Readings winning ways lasted not much longer than my wifes pregnancy...................Sheff W suffered the same fate ............the rape of the goals and pitch (by the "hards" of the era) was a downer tho'

Not a friendly, but still pre-season.................

Shortly afterwards Gilksies testemonial was quality.

Nearly 5k watched the 94/95 team spank all of Tommy Burns acquisitions (which included an excellent penalty save from Simon Sheppard).........the rest is history.

[bobbybottler]

Nearly 5k watched the 94/95 team spank all of Tommy Burns acquisitions (which included an excellent penalty save from Simon Sheppard).........the rest is history.

I'd quite forgotten that

[PEARCEY]

Forest Green July 2008....Siggy and Jem played in midfield....Royals won 2-0 Kebe and Jem scored. My little lad and i got to have a chat with Copps. It was a good evening.

[RobRoyal]

Also Sheff Wed at EP in July 1998, one of the last ever games there. Won 3-0 against a then Premiership team and all thought Burns was working along the right lines....!

Indeed. Linvoy Primus got 2!

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

Also Sheff Wed at EP in July 1998, one of the last ever games there. Won 3-0 against a then Premiership team and all thought Burns was working along the right lines....!

Indeed. Linvoy Primus got 2!

Definately good memories of my last time at Elm Park watching Sheff W, given that the Norwich match was such a downer.I also enjoyed the pre-season game in July 93 against newly promoted WBA, i remember it being quite a game for a friendly and a 2-1 win though the Baggies 'were going up were going up, your not your not' chants were very irritating. Bromley away with Federici upfront and scoring the winner was another good day!

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Dont really do pre season friendlies, but had a great laugh at Millwall in our first Prem season!

[Jackson Corner]

I remember many years ago early 80's we played WBA at Elm Park when they had Regis, Cunningham, Robson and were a top first division side. We won 4-2 and looked superb. We ended the season relegated and Albion finished in the top 5.