So. Farewell then Andre Bikey - a tribute

[floyd__streete]

My favourite Berkshire-based mentalist with the possible exception of Peter Sutcliffe, Stephane Andre Bikey's career at Reading almost ended before it even started after he headbutted a swede - that famously truculent race of people - in a pre-season friendly. Signed from Lokomotiv Moscow where he was taunted for looking like a member of Aswad, Bikey has played sparingly for us between suspensions and injuries.

You always gave the impression that playing in our modest team bored you; dribbling your way past onrushing strikers as if it were Pro Evolution Soccer on amateur mode. In fact when you backheeled your way out of trouble on the touchline at Doncaster last season perfectly into the path of a teamate I actually slightly soiled myself in excitement. Your best moment has to be two towering headed goals against Birmingham in a relegation six-pointer, but thank you for providing possibly the only enjoyable moment in this dismal calendar year of following RFC with your shirt-ripping histrionics upon dismissal at Turf Moor. Pure theatre.

Cheers Andre. You were the last of the truly great players we signed during the glory years. These days we shop at Lidl and Mothercare.

[readingbedding]

Thought Wolves' own goal was funnier.

[SteveRoyal]

My favourite Berkshire-based mentalist with the possible exception of Peter Sutcliffe, Stephane Andre Bikey's career at Reading almost ended before it even started after he headbutted a swede - that famously truculent race of people - in a pre-season friendly. Signed from Lokomotiv Moscow where he was taunted for looking like a member of Aswad, Bikey has played sparingly for us between suspensions and injuries.

You always gave the impression that playing in our modest team bored you; dribbling your way past onrushing strikers as if it were Pro Evolution Soccer on amateur mode. In fact when you backheeled your way out of trouble on the touchline at Doncaster last season perfectly into the path of a teamate I actually slightly soiled myself in excitement. Your best moment has to be two towering headed goals against Birmingham in a relegation six-pointer, but thank you for providing possibly the only enjoyable moment in this dismal calendar year of following RFC with your shirt-ripping histrionics upon dismissal at Turf Moor. Pure theatre.

LOL & +1

[roberto_11]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJP7b60h2ck

[cmonurz]

One of my favoruite ever Reading players, below his level in the Championship, a shame we couldn't hold on to him, I've little doubt he'll be at a top half Premier League side in the next couple of seasons. Good luck Andre.

[prostak]

I'm pleased I got to see him in a Reading shirt this (pre)season, and flying 3 or 4 metres headfirst in pursuit of a ball he'd never reach, nearly decapitating a Chelsea forward, is how I'd like to remember him.

Also saw him walking into lower West last Tuesday about 60 mins in, I knew he was big but jesus... definitely a man you allow to go first. Godspeed, SAB, you deserve better than Burnley.

EDIT - I nearly forgot the beauty of his 50m passes, delivered with the apparent fecklessness of a Conference player masking a frightening degree of accuracy.

[rg6royal]

Legend, All that needs to be said.

[Royal With Cheese]

A touch of madness and a spark of genius all rolled up into a man mountain of a player. I, for one, will miss him. Good luck big lad - although I do think he deserves better than Burnley.

[Arch]

Goal against Chelsea with his first touch of the ball was my favourite Bikey moment. He's contributed significantly less, but leaves with more goodwill than Stephen Hunt. As they say in my adopted homeland, go figure. (Actually, they seem to say it everywhere now.)

[Compo's Hat]

My favourite Berkshire-based mentalist with the possible exception of Peter Sutcliffe, Stephane Andre Bikey's career at Reading almost ended before it even started after he headbutted a swede - that famously truculent race of people - in a pre-season friendly. Signed from Lokomotiv Moscow where he was taunted for looking like a member of Aswad, Bikey has played sparingly for us between suspensions and injuries.

You always gave the impression that playing in our modest team bored you; dribbling your way past onrushing strikers as if it were Pro Evolution Soccer on amateur mode. In fact when you backheeled your way out of trouble on the touchline at Doncaster last season perfectly into the path of a teamate I actually slightly soiled myself in excitement. Your best moment has to be two towering headed goals against Birmingham in a relegation six-pointer, but thank you for providing possibly the only enjoyable moment in this dismal calendar year of following RFC with your shirt-ripping histrionics upon dismissal at Turf Moor. Pure theatre.

Cheers Andre. You were the last of the truly great players we signed during the glory years. These days we shop at Lidl and Mothercare.

There's no point trying to add to this thread after that

[urzmikep]

floyd__streete wrote:
My favourite Berkshire-based mentalist with the possible exception of Peter Sutcliffe, Stephane Andre Bikey's career at Reading almost ended before it even started after he headbutted a swede - that famously truculent race of people - in a pre-season friendly. Signed from Lokomotiv Moscow where he was taunted for looking like a member of Aswad, Bikey has played sparingly for us between suspensions and injuries.

You always gave the impression that playing in our modest team bored you; dribbling your way past onrushing strikers as if it were Pro Evolution Soccer on amateur mode. In fact when you backheeled your way out of trouble on the touchline at Doncaster last season perfectly into the path of a teamate I actually slightly soiled myself in excitement. Your best moment has to be two towering headed goals against Birmingham in a relegation six-pointer, but thank you for providing possibly the only enjoyable moment in this dismal calendar year of following RFC with your shirt-ripping histrionics upon dismissal at Turf Moor. Pure theatre.

Cheers Andre. You were the last of the truly great players we signed during the glory years. These days we shop at Lidl and Mothercare.

There's no point trying to add to this thread after that

Spot on post - apart from the inaccuracy in the last sentence - lidl & Mothercare are too expensive, I'm sure I saw Mr Mad & Nicky Hammond in the £1 shop yesterday searching for a new striker etc......

[Agent Balti]

Oh Andre...what can we all say about the enigma that is Stephane Andre Bikey. I'll miss you ten times more than I miss SHunt. That's all I need to say.

[Winchester Royal]

Footballer with all the dignity of a toddler, yet still managed to delight on a regular basis. Agreed, he could do better than Burnley.

[Magicman]

A right proper nutter, spot on for the Berkshire massive, oh and he was a bad footballer either.

I will his madness and silky skills around the park.

Good luck your going to need it...

[Archies Volley II]

A touch of madness and a spark of genius all rolled up into a man mountain of a player. I, for one, will miss him. Good luck big lad - although I do think he deserves better than Burnley.

Goal against Chelsea with his first touch of the ball was my favourite Bikey moment. He's contributed significantly less, but leaves with more goodwill than Stephen Hunt. As they say in my adopted homeland, go figure. (Actually, they seem to say it everywhere now.)

I think these 2 posts sum up my thoughts far better than I could!

Cheers Andre.

[RobRoyal]

Cheers Andre, always good value and I appreciated your committment to the cause.

Under the right manager, he'll be a formidable Premiership player one day (Owen Coyle is probably not that, but Bikey has an exciting future none the less).

[Royal Lady]

That's the Floyd I know and love!

Nothing more to add to Floyd's post.

[Royal Rother]

To think that Sonko and Duberry were selected in front of him time and again makes me feel a bit sad.

Massively under-used by Coppell in the last 3 years in my opinion.

Whatever his foibles we had a real star on our books but never really gave it a chance to shine.

[Schards#2]

To think that Sonko and Duberry were selected in front of him time and again makes me feel a bit sad.

Massively under-used by Coppell in the last 3 years in my opinion.

Whatever his foibles we had a real star on our books but never really gave it a chance to shine.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Bikey has the ability to be a world class player, I hope he realises it.

[Northern Git]

One of the few players left at Reading that I could actually get excited about watching. Mad, unpredictable but a highly skilful, hugely entertaining footballer.

The big fella taking the p*ss out the Doncaster team back end of last season still brings a smile to my face .

Good luck you nutter.