by RoyalBlue »
06 Nov 2010 13:30
Brick through the coach window a row in front of me when leaving Gillingham (late 70s?).
Grabbed on the train at Bournemouth Station in the early 80s - had been given a police escort to the station but they decided to leave us to it when the Bournemouth lads turned up! Fortunately the train started to pull out and they decided they didn't want to join us back in Reading so hopped off quick!
Had to dodge loads of flying bricks at Barry Town when the Cardiff boyos decided to turn up to help their cousins!
Narrow escape in a pub at Darlington when their lads turned up and decided to join us inside - got up and walked out through the gathering mob outside, trying to look like a confident localand hoping no one would talk to me and spot my strange accent!
At the same game, things were starting to look nasty in the ground until Kirbs and the Jolly Porter Crew turned up just before kick off and the local 'lads' scarpered!
With the boot on the other foot, I can remember an evening cup tie at Southampton when their supporters decided to ambush the Reading fans on their way back to the station. They clearly hadn't realised that the club had chartered a fairly large football special. It was quite comical seeing them launch their 'attack' , suddenly realise just how many Reading supporters there were and stop dead in their tracks before turning and scattering as fast as they could!
Ian Herring Tony Le Mesmer The Cap Sound lad Kirbs. He once told me the story about how Sheff U's firm came up to him and a couple of lads, outside the Monk's, and asked where our firm were.
Quick as a flash Steve told 'em to "go to the end of the road, turn left and down on the right find 'em in the Wynford Arms." For those of you who don't know the Wynford was always known for it's gay clientelle, so they've all steamed off like a good 'un, and Kirbs and the lads have fallen around the floor laughing. Priceless.
I never spoke to the guy, but i remember him in the 90s when he used to take a diabled fan to every game and both were in the Rendezvous afterwards. Speaks volumes. Oh and i belive he was the one who samashed home that last minute "equaliser" at Dean Court in 94. Tremendous scenes!
The disabled fella was our old mate Bry, alas, no more as Kirbs (R.I.P both). Kirbs spent a couple of years or more helping Bry, and we all got to know him much better during those years, often travelling to away games in Bry's 'Spaswagon' as we called it, for much mirth and hilarity. I remember Kirbs slotting home the winner at Bournemouth that night. Outstanding. The 'wagon' rolled into Bournemouth at about 11am for the night kick-off. What a day that was. Kirbs was a rough diamond for sure, the business when things were on the off, but he had a side to him that was very touching and loyal, a mark of the gentleman about him. The turn out at his funeral was the mark of the man, that was for sure. Happy memories of both fellas, who are both missed still by those he knew and had the privilege to know them both.
Never realised it was him that scored that equaliser - the sod! Everyone surged forward as we mounted that last minute attack and I lost sight of the ball and players. Next thing I knew, ball was in the back of the net and everyone was celebrating. I just couldn't work out why the ref disallowed our 'goal' and called him every name under the sun! Left the ground very disgruntled and not living in Reading at the time, and without the coverage now available through the web, didn't find out why we'd been denied the goal until the next season!!!
Well I could hardly offer him out could I
