Oldest living Reading players?

[Jerry St Clair]

There's a really interesting article in the latest When Saturday Comes about international players who lived to 100. Only four made it, and none lived beyond 101.

Which got me thinking. Who is the oldest surviving Reading player? And who is the Reading player who's lived the longest?

I recall seeing a picture of Frank Richardson being presented to the crowd in the 1980s as a survivor of the 1920s promotion winning side who was, presumably, in his 80s. But other than that, I haven't a clue.

Stattos?

[PEARCEY]

Er...Strap?

[Far Canal]

Good question. I'll put a stake in the ground...........

Ron Blackman, our all time leading league goalscorer, was born 02/04/1925.

[PEARCEY]

Good question. I'll put a stake in the ground...........

Ron Blackman, our all time leading league goalscorer, was born 02/04/1925.

I googled Ronnie to see if he was still alive but couldn't find anything apart from a Ronnie Blackman on facebook....and he is a black man but aged about 30.

[Terminal Boardom]

Mick Tait? He was about 90 when he played for us.

[Far Canal]

Good question. I'll put a stake in the ground...........

Ron Blackman, our all time leading league goalscorer, was born 02/04/1925.

I googled Ronnie to see if he was still alive but couldn't find anything apart from a Ronnie Blackman on facebook....and he is a black man but aged about 30.

You didn't look far enough..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Blackman

[floyd__streete]

Er...Strap?

I never knew Strap played for Reading.

[moo]

[Russell Street]

It must be Trevor Senior. He's about the same age as RL, and we all know she's aaaaaaancient.

[PEARCEY]

Good question. I'll put a stake in the ground...........

Ron Blackman, our all time leading league goalscorer, was born 02/04/1925.

I googled Ronnie to see if he was still alive but couldn't find anything apart from a Ronnie Blackman on facebook....and he is a black man but aged about 30.

You didn't look far enough..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Blackman

I found all that but it didn't say whether he was still alive or not.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Ronnie is still alive. He lives somewhere in the Fareham area I think.....

I'd also be surprised if he was currently the oldest surviving player

Looking at some of the names playing for Reading just after the war (I know some have passed on) perhaps its one of these....

Vic Barney
Wilf Chitty
Hughie Deverall
Maurice Edelston
Gilbert Glidden
Len Goldberg/Gaunt
Jeff Gulliver
Les Henley
Tony MacPhee
Bill Layton
Jimmy Wallbanks
Ron Moyse
Bill Amor
Ronnie Dix

Bet its bound to be someone from the 1930s though....

Are David Downs, Cube or Strap about?

[Far Canal]

According to 1871 Where are they now, only two of the above may be still alive........

Vic BARNEY 1946-1948 (47 games 14 goals) Living in Witney (info 11/2000)
Wilf Chitty............1946-1947 (26 games 8 goals) Died in 1997
Hughie Deverall......"Jackie" DEVERALL 1937-1947 (78 games 10 goals) Died in 1999
Maurice Edelston.....1946-1951 (223 games 80 goals) Died in 1976
Gilbert Glidden.......1936-1949 (119 games 25 goals) Died in 1988
Len Goldberg/Gaunt....Les GAUNT (aka Les GOLDBERG) 1946-1949 (78 games 1 goal)
Jeff Gulliver..........Joffre "Jeff" GULLIVER 1946-1950 (170 games 0 goals) Died in 1999
Les Henley............ 1946-1952 (198 games 32 goals) Died in 1996
Tony MacPhee........ 1937-1948 (146 games 99 goals) Died in 1960
Bill Layton.............1937-1946 (55 games 18 goals) Died in 1984
Jimmy Wallbanks.....1938-1946 (55 games 1 goal) Died in 1979
Ron Moyse.............1946-1952 (201 games 0 goals) Died in 1992
Bill Amor...............1947-1951 (68 games 12 goals) Died in 1988
Ronnie Dix.............1947-1948 (51 games 15 goals) Died in 1998

http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/watn/index.htm

but 1871 is no longer being updated......

John MACKIE 1999- Still at Reading


Additional:

FOOTBALL: Former Headington star dies
1:23pm Tuesday 30 May 2006

Vic Barney, a former Headington United captain who became one of the first Englishmen to play league football in Italy, has died at the age of 84.
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/search/?search=barney

Assuming this is the same Vic Barney, that just leaves Les GAUNT (aka Les GOLDBERG).

[Far Canal]

Re Ron Blackman (who according to my dad was Reading's best ever centre forward)........

He was Reading's most prolific goalscorer before moving to Forest in 1954. Sold for financial reasons, Forest was the low point in his career and he only made 11 appearances for the club. He is now retired and living in Portchester in Hampshire. He still gets many visits from Reading supporters.

http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/ ... 94,00.html

[Forbury Lion]

Keith Scott - 127
Shaun Goater - 153

[bobbybottler]

I have a 2001 edition of Alan Sedunary's Royals Remembered, I've just checked it and Les Gaunt was still alive at the time of publication.

I'm fascinated, great thread. I believe that the writer in WSC was Cris Freddi who I strongly suspect of being a closet Royal.

I'm also intrigued as to why Gaunt changed his name - Goldberg is perhaps a name which might of aroused anti-semitic feeling, that's the only thing which springs to mind....

[Royal Lady]

It must be Trevor Senior. He's about the same age as RL, and we all know she's aaaaaaancient.

Right you, outside - nowwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[SmellyAli]

I'm sure he's not the oldest but Johnny Walker (Must be in his 80's?), a former Reading captain with 300+ appearances, can regularly be seen shuffling along the East Stand concourse with his flat cap and walking stick while ignorant twats push past him and mutter things like 'out the way grandad'. To be fair they are probably in a rush to get to their seat and sing about how much they love the club, worship the players, Reading till I die, etc, etc.

[moo]

I'm sure he's not the oldest but Johnny Walker (Must be in his 80's?), a former Reading captain with 300+ appearances, can regularly be seen shuffling along the East Stand concourse with his flat cap and walking stick while ignorant twats push past him and mutter things like 'out the way grandad'. To be fair they are probably in a rush to get to their seat and sing about how much they love the club, worship the players, Reading till I die, etc, etc.

What did johnny walker do then grandad??

[bassavage]

[General B]

I'm sure he's not the oldest but Johnny Walker (Must be in his 80's?), a former Reading captain with 300+ appearances, can regularly be seen shuffling along the East Stand concourse with his flat cap and walking stick while ignorant twats push past him and mutter things like 'out the way grandad'. To be fair they are probably in a rush to get to their seat and sing about how much they love the club, worship the players, Reading till I die, etc, etc.

I've missed you, you massive bent.