Graham Kemp

[No Fixed Abode]

He was picked to play for the Royals from local Sunday league football.

Is there any other players for Reading where they've been playing Sunday football one week, then playing league football the next?

[strap]

Bit tenuous as he never made a 1st team app for RFC.

Fred Bartholomew was signed from Reading Biscuits (c. Apr 1904) and made 8 league starts.
Norman Brooks from Huntley & Palmers (c. Jul 1946 in addition to WW2 guest apps) and made 1 league start.
Bill Clover from Woodley OB (c. Jan 46) and made 44 league starts
Len Grant from Reading Utd (1921) making 77 league starts
Brian Leach from Coley Boys Club (Feb 1950) making 108 league starts
Stan Wicks from Castle St Institute (May 46) making 168 league starts and being sold to Chelsea for £13,300.

But perhaps the best of the lot was Jimmy Wheeler. He signed for us from Huntley & Palmers (May 1952), and went on to make 404 league starts scoring 145 goals. Legend.

Haven' t bothered checking all the "juniors" and "groundstaffers" who would have played for local sides whilst also playing for the youths and reserves.

[No Fixed Abode]

Kemp was on the bench though for the 1st team wasn't he?

[floyd__streete]

Huntley & Palmers played in the Southern League didn't they? Do we know much else about their history? Where did they play etc.?

[Sarah Star]

And what years did all these signings take place?

[strap]

Huntley & Palmers played in the Southern League didn't they? Do we know much else about their history? Where did they play etc.?

Certainly not when Jimmy Wheeler was with them. According to Official Centenary History of the SL 1894 to 1994, H&P were never a member. Reading were from 1894 to 1920 and our Reserve side was from 1920 to 1927.

[floyd__streete]

http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/HUNTLEYP.HTM

BRILLIANT website this. How many Reading-based clubs have entered the FA Cup over the years? RFC, RTFC, H&P, Reading Abbey, Reading Minster, Reading Hornets.....

[strap]

And what years did all these signings take place?

Original post updated. And don't bother telling me the Sundayt League wasnlt around in some of those days! Not interested.

[strap]

Kemp was on the bench though for the 1st team wasn't he?

He was a non-contract player who was signed at htestart of 1991 -2 season, and released at the end of 92-3. He made the bench once as a non-playing sub on 8th Feb 1992 in a 2-1 home win v Shrewsbury.

[BanffshireRoyal]

Huntley & Palmers played in the Southern League didn't they? Do we know much else about their history? Where did they play etc.?

They were in the Spartan League when I was around. It was a good quality amateur league taking clubs from as far off as Essex if I remember right. The ground was on Kensington Road opposite St Mark's Church and Prince of Wales Avenue. They had a good cricket ground there as well.

[Franchise FC]

Kim Sainsbury

[bobbybottler]

Huntley & Palmers played in the Southern League didn't they? Do we know much else about their history? Where did they play etc.?

They were in the Spartan League when I was around. It was a good quality amateur league taking clubs from as far off as Essex if I remember right. The ground was on Kensington Road opposite St Mark's Church and Prince of Wales Avenue. They had a good cricket ground there as well.

That was Reading Cricket Club's home venue until they moved to Sonning Lane.

[strap]

Huntley & Palmers played in the Southern League didn't they? Do we know much else about their history? Where did they play etc.?

They were in the Spartan League when I was around. It was a good quality amateur league taking clubs from as far off as Essex if I remember right. The ground was on Kensington Road opposite St Mark's Church and Prince of Wales Avenue. They had a good cricket ground there as well.

I have a vague memory of a book about the History of Huntley & Palmers by Tony Corley. I think my mum had a copy. That would doubtless have had a chapter on the sports and social side of the company. Will try to dig it out and report back. Never realised H&P made it up that far the NL ladder.

[Terminal Boardom]

Not quite Bobby Bottler. The County Ground where H&P played, and latterly the Royal Mail was never home to Reading CC. They used to play their games at hurch Road, Early - not far from the Three Tuns. Now covered by a housing estate. They moved in the 1980s to their current Sonning Lane home.

[strap]

Not quite Bobby Bottler. The County Ground where H&P played, and latterly the Royal Mail was never home to Reading CC. They used to play their games at hurch Road, Early - not far from the Three Tuns. Now covered by a housing estate. They moved in the 1980s to their current Sonning Lane home.

Ahh, the Three TUns right at the end of the 17 bus route. Many an evening spent drinking underaged in there! No so many at The Bear Inn at the other end of the 17 route. Actually favoured The Plough and Royal Oak in Tilehurst for the underaged years, or The Boars Head in town.

Happy days. Seems a lifetime ago, but at the same time like only yesterday! College Arms was another favourite haunt, also bizarrely on the 17 bus route! AND the White House, ditto! Another The Lyndhurst Arms.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Wasn't there a young keeper in the early 80s who was signed up, played 1 game and then went back to local football. Just can't remember his name though...

[Sarah Star]

And what years did all these signings take place?

Original post updated. And don't bother telling me the Sundayt League wasnlt around in some of those days! Not interested.

You think I'd know such things?

[bagman]

I think the goalie was Colin Court, but I don't know who he was signed from.

[strap]

I think the goalie was Colin Court, but I don't know who he was signed from.

Andover Town. A non-contract player who managed just the one start after the legendary Steve Death threw his toys out of the cot IIRC.

[strap]

http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/HUNTLEYP.HTM

BRILLIANT website this. How many Reading-based clubs have entered the FA Cup over the years? RFC, RTFC, H&P, Reading Abbey, Reading Minster, Reading Hornets.....

Shame it sems to end at the start of 2006-07 season.

Add South Reading to your list.

Is there a regulation that bars local "sunday league" sides from entering the FAC nowadays? As they have the FA Vase, TA Trophy etc to enter instead?

Not sure what the rules state.