Best RFC goalie of all time?

[0-7]

and here it is again.......

has it really been a whole week since we had this topic?

[Maquisard]

Shaka for sheer gorgeous hotness (I like my men tall ), Steve Death for having a weird name and being in the record books and being a part of Reading's history for as long as I've been aware of the club, Jimmy Quinn (also tall ) for epitomising everything that makes Reading the only club worth supporting.

[facaldaqui]

My favourite was Death, a real legend. But he could sulk: I remember one game where we were being thrashed, he let one goal in without trying to save it because he was so fed up with the defence. Shaka was probably the best, followed by Hahnemann. I just about remember Dixon being solid too.

One name I'd like to add: Phil Whitehead. Are we under-rating this very solid and dependable keeper?

[readingbedding]

He wasn't the best, but he did try his best!

[Wide and Wonderful]

Shaka was rubbish when he first started for us. How he got in the team over Francis, I will never know. He took about a year to learn how to take a goal kick properly. (Anyone remember how he used to kick the ball almost directly up in the air so it came down just outside the area) I cursed his name on the teamsheet at first.

However, over the following seasons, he developed into an amazing goalkeeper, who was responsible for us winning games we sometimes had no right to. I was glad to be proven wrong.

Our defence developed massive confidence in his ability allowing for our attacking forward play to blossom, and by the end of the championship winning season, I believed he was unbeatable in goal (teenage niavety!). The best Reading Goalkeeper I've seen in 25 years of support, and a rapport with fans not seen again until the emergence of Murty as captain.

Hahneman was an excellent keeper too, but for some reason, perhaps because of a lack of flamboyance, didn't offer up the same feelings of support in me.

[Mr Optimist]

For me, over my time as a supporter ('79 onwards) it is Shaka. Some of the games in 94/95 stand out in particular, like Sunderland and M'Boro away where we won 1-0 but only thanks to his brilliance at one end.

Can anyone remember which game it was that Gary Westwood got injured in when he collided with a post? I don't think he was ever as good afterwards!

Honourable mention should go to Jim Leighton's loan period. In a time just before the PL starting it is the equivalent of van Der Sar getting the wobbles and going out on loan to Southend for two months!! The guy took the humbling of dropping two divisions and proved he had genuine class in the brief period he was here.

I think we have been blessed with some brilliant goalkeepers over the years.

[glass half full]

Best: Shaka

Favourite: The late Mike Dixon, a real gentleman.

[AthleticoSpizz]

In my time...........whilst Steve Francis (and even Gary Westwood) won my admiration when it most mattered, it has be

1. Steve Death

2. Marcus

3. Shaka


in that order

[Ark Royal]

Has to be Shaka.

Two saves at Sheff Utd and Grimsby in 94 stick in the memory and defied belief. Met him at Sonning when Minor Counties played the Windies (he's mates with Brian Lara) and a genuinely nice guy; and one big fu ck-off unit.

[Muskrat]

Has to be Shaka.

Two saves at Sheff Utd and Grimsby in 94 stick in the memory and defied belief. Met him at Sonning when Minor Counties played the Windies (he's mates with Brian Lara) and a genuinely nice guy; and one big fu ck-off unit.

Really??

And for the record:

Gary Westwood;
Alan Judge.

[bobbybottler]

Has to be Shaka.

Two saves at Sheff Utd and Grimsby in 94 stick in the memory and defied belief. Met him at Sonning when Minor Counties played the Windies (he's mates with Brian Lara) and a genuinely nice guy; and one big fu ck-off unit.

I went up and said hello to him that day as well, he very kindly consented to having his picture taken with me, which I then sent in to Heaven 11 but the mofos didn't print it and wouldn't return it to me.

[Maquisard]

So... I'll admit my ignorance ... and this seems as good a thread as any to do it... How is "Death" pronounced (when it follows "Steve")?

[Wide and Wonderful]

So... I'll admit my ignorance ... and this seems as good a thread as any to do it... How is "Death" pronounced (when it follows "Steve")?

Depends on what part of teyn you hail from. In Toyle'urst we says "Steve Deff"

[Maquisard]

So... I'll admit my ignorance ... and this seems as good a thread as any to do it... How is "Death" pronounced (when it follows "Steve")?

Depends on what part of teyn you hail from. In Toyle'urst we says "Steve Deff"

[Royalee]

Shaka, end of.

[Royalee]

In my time...........whilst Steve Francis (and even Gary Westwood) won my admiration when it most mattered, it has be

1. Steve Death

2. Marcus

3. Shaka


in that order

Shaka >>>>>>>>>>>>>Hahnemann

[Franchise FC]

1. Tommy Wright
2. Jim Leighton
3. Jimmy Quinn

You've missed Trevor Senior
2 appearances - 2 clean sheets

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

So... I'll admit my ignorance ... and this seems as good a thread as any to do it... How is "Death" pronounced (when it follows "Steve")?

I've never heard it said any other way than "Death" from people at the club or older fans.

I've heard one or two others insist it was "De Ath", due to pretentious oxf*rd with that name often pronouncing it that way.

[Maquisard]

So... I'll admit my ignorance ... and this seems as good a thread as any to do it... How is "Death" pronounced (when it follows "Steve")?

I've never heard it said any other way than "Death" from people at the club or older fans.

I've heard one or two others insist it was "De Ath", due to pretentious oxf*rd with that name often pronouncing it that way.

Thanks, and to WandW... I've been saying it the death way (because of course I talk about him all the time), but have found out there are other ways of pronouncing it (including 'deeth' or 'dath'... bit to Vader-esque for me).

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Has to be Shaka over Death in view if levels played at - most of Death's career was in Div 4.

I just wonder how many more years Death would have carried on though if he hadn't fallen out with the club as he was only 30 odd when he left.

I've never been totally sure what happened - did the club sell the flat he was living in or something?