The high's and lows of being a Reading fan......

[JakeTheRoyal]

The 09/10 has been my favourite team, the cup run, Gylfi, Bertrand, a young Jem and Longy, Brynar. Oh it was so good

[Isaac Hunt]

The highs:

1985-86. Being 20 points clear at Christmas and actually having some sort of national profile, even if it was only for 5 minutes. It was kind of a precursor for 2005-06 only with shitter football.

Simod Cup 1988. a trip to Wembley was a big thing for a club like Reading, and we actually played decent football against a team who would win the League Cup a couple of weeks later, all without the "big money" signings who were all cup tied

2005-2007. Going into every game expecting, rather than hoping to win in 2005-6, and then carrying that spirit and form into the Premiership and looking like we belonged there.

Lows

The whole Porterfield era. 2 years of utter, utter shit and a club that was dying. 2 words sum up that era - Mark Whitlock. Unspeakably dire and you think it's bad now?

Relegation in 1998. We just imploded. 3 months of gutless football carried forward into a wholly insipid, and at times utterly inept 1998/99.

Relegation in 2008. We should have been good enough

Relegation in 2013. We were nowhere near good enough

Pretty much covers it for me too. I'd add in one more high. The 94/95 season, right up to when Gilkesy was tripped in the box at Wembley.

[floyd__streete]

As for the Madstad, I am not quite as suicidal as Floyd, but times change.

They do. And good luck to anyone who genuinely looks forward to an afternoon or evening at the Madejski. I can't think of a single positive to in any way commend the matchday experience at Reading.

Certainly not 'suicidal' about it though (I am always like this). Attended Yorkshire cricket at Scarborough Monday. Got chatting with a Leeds fan. Typical Leeds fan really, passive aggressive but very knowledgeable and dedicated. When I told him I wasn't renewing my season ticket he told me proudly how he'd attended every single game for 3 years when he lived in Maidstone. I joked that football fanaticism was a 'silly illness', he grinned, seemed to agree but said he was proud to be that way and would never change. I guess football clubs rely on such blind, hopeless faith.

Nothwithstanding the entirely awful experience at the Madj, the club currently being owned by an unscrupulous finance company ahead of a shady-looking takeover by someone we have never heard of whom we can never really expect to know too much about.....well, that is the last straw. I have 10 more grounds of the 92 to 'complete the set' and I will also enjoy non league football free from expensive, pre-booked tickets and not having to sit amongst face-painted rumblestick-banging drones. Never fear though, I will no doubt fancy a few away trips to see for myself just how bad Reading will be next season

[Royal Lady]

And yet, Floyd, when I stopped going last season, all I got was abuse!! Needless to say, I've been forced into it again this season, but I shall jolly well be saying my piece if we don't at least try and play some attractive football and give it a go this season, whoever we have playing for us and however old they may be.

[liamobey]

......and now i know who Floyd is......

[Royal Lady]

......and now i know who Floyd is......

I thought EVERYONE knew who he was!

[From Despair To Where?]

Certainly not 'suicidal' about it though (I am always like this). Attended Yorkshire cricket at Scarborough Monday. Got chatting with a Leeds fan. Typical Leeds fan really, passive aggressive but very knowledgeable and dedicated. When I told him I wasn't renewing my season ticket he told me proudly how he'd attended every single game for 3 years when he lived in Maidstone. I joked that football fanaticism was a 'silly illness', he grinned, seemed to agree but said he was proud to be that way and would never change. I guess football clubs rely on such blind, hopeless faith.

I kind of miss having that unflinching enthusiasm for the club, that sense that, no matter what happened, the most important thing was being there, to be counted. The last 7 years has kind of left me jaded, I still care, but with nowhere near the same fervour of old. It used to bug me intensely if I missed a game, now it's no big deal. Games are something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

[Royal Lady]

Yep got to agree with Despair to Where - I missed games because it was too cold/wet or whatever - previous years I've been out in all weathers - including the Bury at home game at Elm Park that got abandoned when they were beating us - but maybe it's my age, I just cannot get excited about anything to do with the game anymore - even the World Cup was a bit "meh" for me too.

[Gordons Cumming]

45 years for me too.

September 1969

Simod obviously. Can't beat a winning game at Wembley.

On the other hand losing at Wembley ain't much fun.

To be fair, and I do apologise sometimes for being a Reading Fan.................life sentence et, etc................but I feel quite happy about it really.

I could have easily been an Aldershot fan.........or even Bracknell Town.

Some have it so much worse.

[percy_freeman]

I moved to Yateley from Lightwater in 1967, thought that was the end of the world, Yateley, where the f is that! Met some local lads and they said come with us on Saturday. We go and watch.....Aldershot. So I did for about half a season then I met some other lads, who I still see to this day, some of them, who said, f that. We go to Reading. 1968 the walk from Yateley to Sandhurst station, the train to Reading then the walk to Elm Park I haven't been an ever present over all the years but even when I moved to Spain, I still managed at least two games for the two years I lived there, and now I'm back, I do try. Thing is , I am really passionate about my football, and I love to sing and let everyone know about it. Back in the day, it was good to be that way, nowadays, some people look at you as if you are not normal...I am.......

[blythspartan]

Beating Wolves 1-0 (Pat Earles) many years a go was a real high point for me.

Also, winning 3-0 at Port Vale when we won the division 4 title.

Now, I am seriously thinking this will be my last season of buying a season ticket. I will probably start watching Maidenhead next season.

I can't stand the attitude of many of the players any more, so many of them are jumped up little sh*ts. This is mainly aimed at the Premiership clubs.

I never thought this would happen but I have lost my passion for football....

[grey_squirrel]

HIgh: Regaining our traditional hoops and WHITE shorts in 1992

Low: Yet again looking like a second rate Rugby League team this season with BLUE shorts.

[ruprecht]

I kind of miss having that unflinching enthusiasm for the club, that sense that, no matter what happened, the most important thing was being there, to be counted. The last 7 years has kind of left me jaded, I still care, but with nowhere near the same fervour of old. It used to bug me intensely if I missed a game, now it's no big deal. Games are something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

This pretty much sums up where I stand with it all. Didn't go to the madejski once last year - I just find the matchday experience tedious these days.

[frimmers3]

Agree with most of what is written to date.Saturation coverage and the loss of mystique has dulled the experience for a good many.Time was I believed I would stand in the shelf at the 'lane until drawing my last breathes..the advent of Sky,the Premiership and Champions league football helped put paid to that."All ticket match"? N ever in my day...it just meant the excitement was accentuated and needed an earlier train to get in the queue...and yeah...."cheap day returns" and "specials":football could be followed for pocket money back in the day.Give me non-league any day:something still special about being in a theatre where the crowd get abuse from visiting players,and the home players are held to account by terrace experts, a faction that is a fixture at every club at every level.

[Martin41]

Not been going as long as some of you, just 25 years for me.
Highs, obvious I suppose, promotion to premier league and competing the 1st time.
Bering west ham on numerous occasions,
Seeing some of the academy players coming through and making it.

Lows, if I'm honest not too much. Yes relegation is dissapointing, but it happens to lots and lots of teams.
Also slight uncertain future at the moment. Saying that at the moment, we are still in a better position than so many other teams.

And another low.......reading some of the crap some people post on this site!!!!! Yes we all have different opinions, but some should just be kept to yourself.

And I will always go and watch my team play. No matter how they play or which division they play. For me once at a younger age you find a team you stick with them through no matter what.
So onwards to the new season, none of us know what is in store, so many doom mongers.......the younger players , might , just might surprise us all!!!

[From Despair To Where?]

I think the whole experience has been sullied by getting to the Premiership. Before 2006, it was always the dream, that leap into the unknown and it was exciting to chase the dream.

From once we got there, there was the slow realisation that for all but the top 6 or 7 clubs, the Premiership isn't that great a place to be, 13 clubs scrapping against relegation. You get relegated but the ambition and expectation is to get back up there again, but you know the prize at the end of it is a poisoned chalice, caught between jeapardising the clubs financial future by gambling big or being destined to struggle to compete.

It's the money and overbearing sense of self importance that has ruined it. The influx of money has ruined the game and the more Sky tell me "This is Important" or "This is the Big One", the more I realise well, actually, it's not, it's just 22 blokes kicking a ball.

[lewesroyal]

I think the whole experience has been sullied by getting to the Premiership. Before 2006, it was always the dream, that leap into the unknown and it was exciting to chase the dream.

From once we got there, there was the slow realisation that for all but the top 6 or 7 clubs, the Premiership isn't that great a place to be, 13 clubs scrapping against relegation. You get relegated but the ambition and expectation is to get back up there again, but you know the prize at the end of it is a poisoned chalice, caught between jeapardising the clubs financial future by gambling big or being destined to struggle to compete.

It's the money and overbearing sense of self importance that has ruined it. The influx of money has ruined the game and the more Sky tell me "This is Important" or "This is the Big One", the more I realise well, actually, it's not, it's just 22 blokes kicking a ball.

This sums a lot of it up for me. I've never been a matchday regular due to work/living away etc but have always got there when i can. I don't just think it's the prem that's made things a bit "meh", but football as a whole. My first ever game was the Simod Final, and that whole sense of wonder as a 10 year old will stick with me for life. Now it all seems a little too manufactured and commercial with a new shirt every year costing a small fortune and having to think twice about taking my 7 year old because of the cost for the 2 of us.

[LUX]

I think 99%* of football fans in England prefer away games, so the Madstad criticism is perhaps overblown. I almost only go away these days, preferably up north (where I have family to stay with). Discovering pubs and curry houses is often the highlight tbh.

I also started in 1969. Highlights I suppose are the 75-76 Robin Friday season (3rd place and promoted to the old Div 3), plus Leicester away 2006 in the arms of Papes.

Worst was being releg8ed at home to Rotherham 0-3 in 76-77 (?) or at home to Wrexham, despite winning 2-0.



* made up number

[BR2]

I share quite a few of those highs and lows.
First high was seeing us put 4 past Norwich in Div 3 South and thinking that this was how it was going to be every week-actually over the years at all levels we have generally been quite good at home so going to a game the feeling was usually positive.

Some really good highs, some already stated:-
Simod Cup final ,Reading at Wembley and how good were we that day against that year's League Cup winners?
Fulham away when we were Div 3 and they were at the top level (Bobby Robson, George Cohen et al) in the League Cup and we won 3-0
The Tranmere away play-off game-have probably never seen us play better in such a key game.
Wolves away when we lost 1-0 in our first Championship game-we should have won and realised that we did actually have a team that could go places (young Robbie Keane playing for them, old Jimmy Quinn for us).
Middlesboro away later that season winning 1-0 when they were destined to win the league.
Middlesboro again-that first game and we had arrived at the top level.
Man UTd 1 Reading 1 with half of our reserve squad playing and IIRC they had to get both Rooney and Ronaldo on the pitch to get a draw.

Lows:
Relegations at all levels , the worst being the first Premier one where I felt we did so little to try to avoid the drop.
Losing at home to Middlesboro in the League Cup at Elm Park when, despite Gazza and Merson, I thought we were as good as them.
Just before Christmas away at Pompey knowing that McGhee would be leaving.

I'm with some of the others (maybe because of our ages?) in not being that enamoured with the Mad Stad and the "matchday experience" for a number of reasons not least of which is having so little affinity with the players and the feeling that this is no longer Reading FC but a South of England soulless, characterless franchise in a plastic stadium on a trading estate which could be anywhere.
In some ways it feels as though we are going to the ball game rather than a football match when the announcer screams out "Back the boys and make some noise" as an instruction rather than a request summing up for me the gap that exists between fans and club.
One other low:-
Losing at home to Villa a few years ago in the FA Cup quarter-final after leading-it was a real chance to get to Wembley for a proper cup final.

[Elm Park Kid]

Despite growing up around elm park and going to the odd game as a teenager, i'm a relative new comer as a full fledge fan. This season will only be my 5th as a season ticket holder.

So for me the highs were definitely around winning the league in 2012. The last game of the season against brum was probably the best experience as a football fan.

I was at Wembley in 1995 as a 12 year old, so that was bad. But my biggest low was definitely mcdermott getting fired. I was gutted and still am.