19 years ago today

[Gandalf Presley]

Albeit for the 'old skool', surely it is worth remembering the Simod Cup win. Main memories were the sea of blue and white at Reading station before the game and wondering where the f*ck they had all come from.

What seems to be forgotten was how poorly RFC started the game - they barely got a touch in the first couple of minutes - and that we were behind early on. Then, it just changed Neil Smillie probably had his finest game for Reading (yet barely played for them again after falling out with Branfoot). I think he set up both Gilkesy and Micky Tait for their goals - Tait also smacked the woodwork in the first half. Was also a good touch by Branfoot to give Gary Peters and Jerry Williams a run-out a sub. Probably helped that we were 4-1 up...

Like everyone, we were destined to stay up yet nearly suffered two consectutive relegations (would have done hadn't it been for Lee Payne - what ever happened to him- up at Chesterfield).

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Doesn't seem that long ago! Bloody hell.

Memories: The Globe at Baker Street packed with hundreds of Reading fans, the old Wembley with terraces, and me breaking out in chicken pox spots the next day. Apologies to the thousands I might have infected that day.

[RFCMod]

Albeit for the 'old skool', surely it is worth remembering the Simod Cup win. Main memories were the sea of blue and white at Reading station before the game and wondering where the f*ck they had all come from.

What seems to be forgotten was how poorly RFC started the game - they barely got a touch in the first couple of minutes - and that we were behind early on. Then, it just changed Neil Smillie probably had his finest game for Reading (yet barely played for them again after falling out with Branfoot). I think he set up both Gilkesy and Micky Tait for their goals - Tait also smacked the woodwork in the first half. Was also a good touch by Branfoot to give Gary Peters and Jerry Williams a run-out a sub. Probably helped that we were 4-1 up...

Like everyone, we were destined to stay up yet nearly suffered two consectutive relegations (would have done hadn't it been for Lee Payne - what ever happened to him- up at Chesterfield).

Still remember Mick Taits header
I don't think I've seen a crossbar move so much after the force of Tait's header

[AbovetheI]

Gilksey.

[SWLR]

It was, my then Fiances, birthday treat - ever the romantic!

Even today, when I handed over the card/ present and said we were going out tonight, there was a sacastic comment about the New Wembley. Let it lie woman.

[floyd__streete]

Smashing day out for me with my dad and a coachload of his colleagues from Lex Brooklands. I felt like one of the lads. I was 8 .

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnUzwWX3S5w

[Magnus]

19 years! Scary. Where does the time go?

[Maguire]

My first ever football match.

[readingbedding]

I think it was a lot of people's first Reading match.

[Skin]

Great watching that vid.
LOL if that was now all the cu*ters would be doing the 'Easy' chant and we'd have a poll on whether Wembley should let us play Tom Hark after we scored.

[When Hicks went up...]

Smashing day out for me with my dad and a coachload of his colleagues from Lex Brooklands. I felt like one of the lads. I was 8 .

Random! I was on that coach...and was also 8 years old!

Are you me in disguise?

[Sharpy]

i was 2

[Arthur Pint]

Happy Days indeed. Not quite my first Reading game but one of my first few.

Still remember my Dad lifting me up when we scored the 4th goal, and going on the coach organised by his work.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Great memories. I was still at school and made my mum queue up all afternoon for tickets!

Surely Gilkesy broke the land speed record on more than one occasion that day.

I think its difficult for our younger fans to appreciate just how big a day that was for Reading. In 1988 the only way you club got to Wembley was in a Cup Final. No Wembley play offs then.

[Fred Sharpe's Nose]

It DOES seem 19 years ago. Just look at those shorts.

The game was so easy for Reading, I suspected Luton had deliberately thrown it - weren't they in the League Cup Final v. Arsenal as well?

I remember people saying "Huh! 40,000 Reading fans! Where did they all come from?!" Well, now we know. There are apparently 45,000 Member card holders today. This thing could grow and grow.

[Jackson Corner]

They won the league cup that year and reached the FA cup semis where they lost to Wimbledon. They beat Swindon in the semis of the Simod. Imagine what the m4 would have been like that day if they had got through.........

[M Brook]

I remember coming off the M4 onto the North Circular and getting to the first set of traffic lights behind a coach follow of Reading fans. A dozen got out and started to pee up the side of the coach. At the same time the lights changed to green leaving a row of blokes with their best mates in their hands not quite sure what to do!

What a crackin day.

[1871 Royal]

i was 2

I was minus 3

[No Hoops]

40 years ago yesterday I was born





But Just like the mighty Royals I'm still going strong