Kevin Bremner (RFC v Plymouth 21.12.85)

[grey_squirrel]

After seeing the great mans name numerous times in the Top 10 thread and not recalling a previous thread in his name, I thought for the oldies amongst us a reminiscence of him wouldn't go amiss.

Short lived Royal, but exceptional in his die hard, never give up approach. Typical of Branfoot's "unattractive" team of the day, a-la Hurlock, Chalky, Scotty, Hicks et al.

Playing second fiddle to Senior/Horrix mostly, he often created havoc when coming on, the Plymouth game being his utopia.

My recollections of that great day being

Clear at the top by a long way going into Xmas.
8,000 festive fans at EP (a good 2,000+ from Plymouth)
3-0 down at half time. Plymouth hit the post 5 minutes into second half with a belter.
Plymouth fans singing "Jingle bells..." continuously
Senior and Horrix score, Bremner comes on and for the final 20 minutes it is total continuous mayhem in the Plymouth box.
Bremner scores and Senior nets the winner.
Absolute chaos ensues in the Southbank. The whole (unheard of in those days) of the right side of the South Bank in euphorium chanting "you're not singing any more!", including a very elderly gent, in his 70's maybe, wielding his walking stick in the Plymouth fans direction and severly in danger of decapitating those around him.
I think we went 21 points clear of Plymouth (2nd place) at least temporarily before New Year and it was pretty much job done from there (despite the horrific 6-0 reverse at Walsall a few weeks later) for promotion.

Oft has been spoken of Friday's one man show against Tranmere, but Bremner was the man that day.

A pint per player in tribute after the game resulted in several ejections from the Thatchers that evening; skint; oxf*rded; but delirious!

If memory serves he reluctantly left us to go to Brighton the next season(?) for only a few extra quid a week, but was dtill the only player willing to run the gauntlet of pitch-invading Ipswich fans pelting us with coins after the final game of that season at Portman Road (1-1).

Top man. And a shame the Club chose baldy Armstrong (who lasted only a month?) as Marketing Manager ahead of Kev a few years later.

Any other recollections anyone?

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

My first memory of him was that Arsenal FA Cup game we lost 3-1. Jerry Williams and SKB were both immense that day. I thought he was brilliant and was gutted when he went to Brighton, especially as he got quite a few goals for em down there.

[Gordons Cumming]

I think it was 0-2 at the break, then Plymouth scored their 3rd shortly after half time.

Amazing game. One of the greats.

[RoyalBlue]

Scored the second (think he came on as sub again?) in our 2-0 win at Newport which gave us the league record for most consecutive wins from the start of a season. Somewhere I have the newspaper picture of the 2 Bs (Beavon and Bremner), who scored the goals that day, celebrating after the game.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Absolute class player, believe he left because this stupid club wouldn't offer him a longer term deal.

Also recalls another largely forgotten player of around this time, Andy Rogers. Wonder what he's dong now....

[Royal With Cheese]

Also recalls another largely forgotten player of around this time, Andy Rogers. Wonder what he's dong now....

NSFW?

[Isaac Hunt]

Great player - wish he'd stayed longer at RFC.

I recall Match magazine giving him a 10 rating for his performance for that game against Plymouth. Players very rarely were awarded a 10 in Match, let alone Reading players. It was a proud moment.

Still rates are as one of my favourite games, if not favourite game, ever.

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

Absolute class player, believe he left because this stupid club wouldn't offer him a longer term deal.

Also recalls another largely forgotten player of around this time, Andy Rogers. Wonder what he's dong now....

Wasn't he the one that swallowed his tongue and was saved by the physio?

[Royal With Cheese]

Great player - wish he'd stayed longer at RFC.

I recall Match magazine giving him a 10 rating for his performance for that game against Plymouth. Players very rarely were awarded a 10 in Match, let alone Reading players. It was a proud moment.

Still rates are as one of my favourite games, if not favourite game, ever.

Defo number 1 on my list.

[RoyalBlue]

Absolute class player, believe he left because this stupid club wouldn't offer him a longer term deal.

Also recalls another largely forgotten player of around this time, Andy Rogers. Wonder what he's dong now....

Wasn't he the one that swallowed his tongue and was saved by the physio?

Yes

[Rob-Royal]

Absolute class player, believe he left because this stupid club wouldn't offer him a longer term deal.

Also recalls another largely forgotten player of around this time, Andy Rogers. Wonder what he's dong now....

Wasn't he the one that swallowed his tongue and was saved by the physio?

Remember it well, was at The Vetch Field and pitch was frozen solid, would never be played today. Game was stopped for about 15-20 mins I think and was touch & go and could tell it was a serious situation.

Re Plymouth game, still stands out for me, amazing scenes on the Southbank. Bremner always gave 100% and was gutted when he left.....

[RoyalBlue]

So what was the name of the hero physio?


Am I right in thinking Glenn Hunter?

Left of picture with Andy Rogers to Branfoot's immediate right.

[stev1485]

Probably my favourite game of all time. I remember Bremner placing the ball on the spot after he came on, and the look on his face then. I suddenly thought we could still get a result here.

At one stage he seemed to crawl a couple of yards in the penalty box to knee the ball towards the goal. Kevin Bremner will always be in my top ten of players as a result of that game. The look said it all. God didn't do too badly either.

The following year IIRC the Plymouth game was during the festival - we walked back there with a group of Plymouth fans and were chatting about this game, which they still couldn't believe had ended up that way.

[Royal Lady]

Yeah it was Glenn Turner who saved Andy Rogers' life - when he left RFC (Turner) he went to RBH as a physio - dunno where he is now.

IIRC it was Kevin Bremner whose brother was killed in the Piper Alpha Oil Field disaster.

[6 Million Dollar Man]

Great memories of a class act

However, I'm sure he was in some way related to Des Bremner...or did he have multiple brothers?

[Ark Royal]

Mad Max scoring the equalizer against Wolves in 85. And yes, that is Floyd Streete on the left.

[Ark Royal]

...and Mad Max scoring the second at Newport.

[bobbybottler]

Absolute class player, believe he left because this stupid club wouldn't offer him a longer term deal.

Also recalls another largely forgotten player of around this time, Andy Rogers. Wonder what he's doing now....

OK, I might have dreamed this but....

wasn't Andy Rogers playing for Plymouth that day, and signed for us shortly afterwards....?

No problems if that's wrong, but that's how I remember it.

[Ark Royal]

Great memories of a class act

However, I'm sure he was in some way related to Des Bremner...or did he have multiple brothers?

Yes, brothers. Des won a League Championship medal with Villa in 81 and a European Cup winners' medal in 82.

[grey_squirrel]

...and Mad Max scoring the second at Newport.

Just look at the crowd for a Newport County home game! No wonder Reading was deserted that day!

Another game never to be forgotten.