STAR Book - Reading ‘Til I Die’

[Forbury Lion]

Just spotted this on the Evening Post website:


http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2014/2 ... s_stories_

[quote="Reading Evening Post"]Share your Royals' stories
IF you think Reading Football Club runs your life then a group of fellow fanatics wants to hear from you.

STAR (Supporters’ Trust At Reading) is compiling a new book of stories written by and written for the Royals’ most ardent and hardcore fans.

Entitled ‘Reading ‘Til I Die’, the book will reflect the memories and experiences of the dedicated supporters who have followed the team through thick and – until very recently – thin.

STAR wants to hear from fans both young and old and hopes the book will capture the essence of what life is like for the true football nut.

STAR member Ian Maynard said: “Following Reading becomes a way of life for many of us. Whether we’re in the depths of Division Four or making the Premier League sit up and take note, we experience moments of elation or despair that become landmarks in our lives.

“And our story, and the lengths we go to in supporting our club, is part of the club’s success story too.

“Players and managers may come and go, but it is the dedicated fans who give the permanent character to a club like ours.

“And so, as a celebration of the fans, this book will reveal the funny, the absurd, the peculiar and unbelievable that is part and parcel of following Reading.â€

[CocoPops]

It's also featured on Page 3 of todays evening post.......

with a pic of me!!!

[Forbury Lion]

We want to meet our longest standing fan

You won't find him at the Mad Stad due to his refusal to sit down.

[Royal Lady]

We want to meet our longest standing fan

You won't find him at the Mad Stad due to his refusal to sit down.

[The 17 Bus]

Forbes will never catch you if you always make smillies at his posts.

[g]

We want to meet our longest standing fan

You won't find him at the Mad Stad due to his refusal to sit down.

that made me chuckle lol

[Gordons Cumming]

The book is launched at the Madejski Stadium on December 1st in the Megastore.

[Royal Lady]

The book is launched at the Madejski Stadium on December 1st in the Megastore.

With signings by various ex-players, including my friend.

[Dirk Gently]

From an e-mail I've received :

....signing will be going ahead at 12 noon with a current 1st team squad member as yet undeclared. 1pm will see 4 ex-Reading players (T.Senior, Colin Duncan, Bill Davies and Chris Palethorpe) take centre stage.

[Gordons Cumming]

The book is launched at the Madejski Stadium on December 1st in the Megastore.

With signings by various ex-players, including my friend.

Whose that then?

I'll be there for sure, but not under the name of Gordon obviously.

[Royal Lady]

I've already told him to look out for Paul the Royal, I'll text him that a grumpy old man might be there too then.

[RoyalBlue]

All I can say is that it appeared a rather strange 'launch'!

Would 'low key' be an unfair description?

[Royal Lady]

Cancelled due to Health and Safety issues. Allegedly. LOL

[Gordons Cumming]

All I can say is that it appeared a rather strange 'launch'!

Would 'low key' be an unfair description?

I think it was appalling.

It's seems that Star have got the same PR disease that Reading FC suffer from.

If they want to do a second book they must learn a few lessons from that fiasco.

Very disappointing to say the least.

[RoyalBlue]

All I can say is that it appeared a rather strange 'launch'!

Would 'low key' be an unfair description?

I think it was appalling.

It's seems that Star have got the same PR disease that Reading FC suffer from.

If they want to do a second book they must learn a few lessons from that fiasco.

Very disappointing to say the least.

Just what was the point in all of the contributors being asked to attend?

My daughter missed out on playing a football match this am because she thought it was important that she was there.

Silly me thought there might be some coverage by the local media but not even the club photographer was there. Only saw one person from Star make a fleeting appearance too.

Bought a copy of the book, waited for John Oster to turn up, got the book signed and left!

[Gordons Cumming]

I think Star owe us an apology.

Or some kind of explanation.

I missed part of my mother's 80th birthday celebrations to be there.

I wish I hadn't bothered.

[Forbury Lion]

I saw a bloke holding one copy in the air and one under his arm next to a Golden Gamble seller at the top of the hill, If that counts as a book launch I'm a Dutchman

Regards
Ruud Gullit.

[STAR Liaison]

Sorry but this is a fleeting visit to HNA? as my other half was admitted to hospital again on Friday evening and so have not had time to surf the net since.

Saturday did not go as we hoped and planned and there are certainly lessons to be learnt from the experience. I can only apologise to those disappointed.

I hope to have time soon to be more specific, or else to get someone else to respond, but my initial response to the specific query about the press is that there was a separate press launch on Tuesday to which local media were invited and some (Evening Post - see Wright column on Friday) did attend. There is no way that the club will allow a press launch on a matchday as there are too many complications.

PS the book however does look good all except the page with me on it

[Gordons Cumming]

Sorry but this is a fleeting visit to HNA? as my other half was admitted to hospital again on Friday evening and so have not had time to surf the net since.

Saturday did not go as we hoped and planned and there are certainly lessons to be learnt from the experience. I can only apologise to those disappointed.

I hope to have time soon to be more specific, or else to get someone else to respond, but my initial response to the specific query about the press is that there was a separate press launch on Tuesday to which local media were invited and some (Evening Post - see Wright column on Friday) did attend. There is no way that the club will allow a press launch on a matchday as there are too many complications.

PS the book however does look good all except the page with me on it

Hope your other half is on the mend soon.

A blanket apology to all contributors by e-mail wouldn't go amiss.

[RoyalBlue]

I too am sorry to hear about your other half's health problems SL. Given the circumstances I certainly don't expect a quick response (maybe someone else from Star can step into the breach and provide some answers).

Out of interest, why should a press launch on match day be so potentially full of complications? The press are already there and presumably are quite used to handling such things. All it needed was a quick photo session - words/interviews could have been done at any other time.

I'm not sure just what form the launch was meant to take.

First of all there was going to be a small reception in the hotel for the contributors (sounded a nice idea, both as a way of thanks/acknowledgement plus an opportunity for them to get to meet and talk to each other). However, that apparently had to be cancelled, although no reason was given for this.

Then there was still to be the launch in the Megastore, which sadly turned into something of a shambles. A few people hovered around clasping copies of the book, which they had found tucked away on a shelf in the Megastore. Word went round that unfortunately John (Keen? Madjeski? - no it turned out to be John Oster) had been delayed in traffic. John arrived 10 or so minutes late (IIRC), signed some copies of the book for those waiting and everyone left. I believe the 4 ex players introduced at half-time were due to be in the Megastore at 1pm for a signing session of the book but when we returned @1.25pm they had either already been and gone or that part never happened.

As we left for the launch on Saturday morning I said to my wife 'I've a nasty feeling this is going to turn into a bit of a shambles' and sadly my suspicions were confirmed.

It would be nice to know what had been planned and why it all seemed to go so wrong.