Spotted - Paul Black

[Terminal Boardom]

Also spotted playing cricket for Falkland. Good bloke, great jacket and I think it is the second one I have seen him in. The first perished in the early 1980s.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Bradford away a few season ago - probably about 8 years ago maybe.

Is that a copy of Razzle in his pocket!!

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

oh and Bas wore a Team Burbs top at this game.

Did you know that the Yorkshire ripper found one of his victims in The Bradford Arms????

[westongeezer]

No i think you'll find they found the vic tims arms in Bradford

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Bradford away a few season ago - probably about 8 years ago maybe.

Bloomin' 'eck - I can name all three in that pic.... and the other two have a pretty impressive unbroken record, too.....

[buckingham royal]

So can I !!!!!!!

I have been car sharing with Simon for 15+ years from Buckingham/Milton Keynes

[MICKLEOVER ROYAL]

Played cricket with him at Falkland many years ago.

Think he won the national Rothmans Yearbook Quiz in the 80s. He definately was in the Reading Quiz team.

[Gunny Fishcake]

I know Blackie and have done for many years ...he's a legend and without doubt the most fanatical nutter of a fan you'll ever come across . There are some great stories about Blackie nearly ending his record of consecutive games the best being Brentford away ten years or so ago ....I don't know how long he's been going without missing a game but it's well over 20 years , that 's never ever missing a game home or away , ever .....he's as permanent as RFC and deserves Life Presidency ,but will never get it nor be too modest too accept , but , the really funny thing about Blackie , is ......he's a P*xford fan !!!! lololol

[GJ79]

He's plastic, from a well known spy he doesn't attend all readings friendlies, what a let down

[oldebiscuit]

I remember him in the Tilehurst end in the 70's. In those days he used to wear the scarf of the visiting team. Workington, Southport etc.


I guess he's abandoned that now?

For those that were not around in the earl/mid seventies, the taking of opposition scarves, as trophies of the fight was the done thing. To have your scarf taken by the 'other mob' was degrading to you as an individual, and embarrassing to your mob. The taken scarf was often burnt as further degradation, an invite to come and get it back if you fancied your chances. Blackie never 'won' a scarf in his life. He always had a 'brand new' away team scarf that he would wave around. In those days they were always the silk scarves.

[oldebiscuit]

In an echo of Athletico Spizz's post on this subject I had the pleasure of standing next to Paul Black on the terrace at Birmingham in 1990 whilst he was spouting his stupid pro IRA songs. As a seviceman myself at the time who had served in Northern Ireland, I found this particularly annoying and provocative but couldn't get away from him.

I think this is a common problem with a lot of people i know that have Irish parents or ancestry. Generally the parents are decent enough people thoroughly ashamed of the IRA and their activities, and have come to Britain as their own Country could not support them, but the next generation, well, its their way of saying 'look at me, i'm Irish". I think It's an identity problem thing.

[Mr Optimist]

In an echo of Athletico Spizz's post on this subject I had the pleasure of standing next to Paul Black on the terrace at Birmingham in 1990 whilst he was spouting his stupid pro IRA songs. As a seviceman myself at the time who had served in Northern Ireland, I found this particularly annoying and provocative but couldn't get away from him.

I think this is a common problem with a lot of people i know that have Irish parents or ancestry. Generally the parents are decent enough people thoroughly ashamed of the IRA and their activities, and have come to Britain as their own Country could not support them, but the next generation, well, its their way of saying 'look at me, i'm Irish". I think It's an identity problem thing.

I think there is some of that in relation to some of the young muslim "extremists" you see at things like the rememberance day parade protests etc, with their scarves around their faces.

[leon]

In an echo of Athletico Spizz's post on this subject I had the pleasure of standing next to Paul Black on the terrace at Birmingham in 1990 whilst he was spouting his stupid pro IRA songs. As a seviceman myself at the time who had served in Northern Ireland, I found this particularly annoying and provocative but couldn't get away from him.

I think this is a common problem with a lot of people i know that have Irish parents or ancestry. Generally the parents are decent enough people thoroughly ashamed of the IRA and their activities, and have come to Britain as their own Country could not support them, but the next generation, well, its their way of saying 'look at me, i'm Irish". I think It's an identity problem thing.

coupled with the inevitable "No Surrender to the IRA" type songs that were common at the time

[AthleticoSpizz]

coupled with the inevitable "No Surrender to the IRA" type songs that were common at the time

which were nothing to do with the "legend" that was "Blackie" at that time..............in fact, on the contrary

[leon]

yes - they were/are prevalent irrespective of Mr Black.

It was a point on the whole 2nd/3rd generation Irish watching English football in the 80s 90s.

[AthleticoSpizz]

yes - they were/are prevalent irrespective of Mr Black.

It was a point on the whole 2nd/3rd generation Irish watching English football in the 80s 90s.

the thread being about the much revered Mr Black, I can only speak as found...he (and his two lapdog mates) was very much an embarressment to Reading FC at Grimsby 1987. Fortunately, despite attending hundreds of games ..our paths haven't crossed since.

I'm sure we have all grown-up a bit and his aura that enchants you all is now justified.

[leon]

yes - they were/are prevalent irrespective of Mr Black.

It was a point on the whole 2nd/3rd generation Irish watching English football in the 80s 90s.

the thread being about the much revered Mr Black, I can only speak as found...he (and his two lapdog mates) was very much an embarressment to Reading FC at Grimsby 1987. Fortunately, despite attending hundreds of games ..our paths haven't crossed since.

I'm sure we have all grown-up a bit and his aura that enchants you all is now justified.

yes, I hope so as well.

[MICKLEOVER ROYAL]

Bradford away a few season ago - probably about 8 years ago maybe.

Bloomin' 'eck - I can name all three in that pic.... and the other two have a pretty impressive unbroken record, too.....

Not only did I play cricket with Blackie (as mentioned previously) , I played football with Chris Collinson (right)with Travellers 34 years ago.

[Royal Rebel]

I remember him gracing the South Bank when I was a mere lad myself back in the 70's. He used to wear a knee length checked coat I seem to recall ? So anti-fashion....kinda the Mark E Smith of Reading !

[RFCUK]

Anyone spot him today?