by Forbury Lion »
05 Aug 2011 21:00
As a human being, I respect every minutes silence and would join in with any minutes applause, However in this case, If what Reading FC have stated is true (and why wouldn't it be?), that the family would prefer to have neither, then I believe neither should take place.
On a general note, whilst we are all fans united regardless of life outside of supporting the club and even regardless of which club we support, I do feel that, whilst all fans are equal, to have a minutes silence for the passing of just one of our numbers would start to become a bit too routine and it would be like going though the motions every week. The exception are extraordinary circumstances such as Charlie Matthews (West Stand Season ticket holder), who was one of the many killed in the Ufton Nerfet rail crash on the way home from the game. In this case he was killed in the line of duty, so to speak, having travelled to Reading for the game.
As for public figures, unless they are much loved figures associated with the club (Maurice Evans) or football in general (Sir Bobby Robson) the town itself or the nation (Queen Mum), I don't believe a Reading match is necessarily the right forum for which to pay tribute. (obviously if the opposition team have similar links which we do not then that is also acceptable and we shall join them in their minutes silence). Also Remembrance Day is very important.
I remember a few seasons back we seemed to have a minutes silence every other game and half the time I, sadly couldn't tell who or what it was for. If we have them all the time I'm sure some will even start to resent them which will be tragic.
