by Z175 »
17 Aug 2011 14:45
I would imagine the clubs would be like this :-
In March 1983, Oxford United club chairman Robert Maxwell proposed merging United with neighbours Reading to form a new club called the Thames Valley Royals, to play at Didcot. The merger ran into trouble as a result of fans of both clubs protesting against the decision. Ultimately, new Reading chairman Roger Smee failed to raise enough finance to guarantee the clubs' future and after a marathon 5 hour board meeting, Reading Chairman Frank Waller announced that a majority of the club's shareholders had indeed accepted the offer for their shares from Maxwell. Shareholder Roy Tranter was the only descenter but some share trickery by Waller has left the pro-merger group in the majority. Supporters groups petitions to the Football Association were accepted, but a little media attention was given to the Reading and Oxford fans in the media and local politicans were reluctant to go against the powerful Maxwell.
Thames Valley Royals started life in Division Three in Oxford United's position, with Reading FC having formally resigned their football league place in June 1983. Maidstone United were elected to the football league for the first time due to Reading's demise. The Royals enjoyed a superb debut season under manager Jim Smith with the playing squad comprising of a majority of legacy Oxford players, although the 36 goals from ex-Reading Trevor senior were the most in the football league that season.
As promised in the merger negotiations, the new club allocated half their home games to Reading's old Elm Park and the other half to the Manor Ground in Oxford. To begin with attendances dropped off significantly at Elm Park with a record low set in the forth game of the season v Scunthorpe Utd, when only 134 fans turned up. Attendances in Oxford actually grew throughout the season and by January Maxwell conceeded that the remaining home games would all be played at the Manor.
The following season the Royals returned to Reading for occasional matches but by now the Reading Supporters Club had formed a new amateur side out of a merger of local clubs from the Reading & District League. The new club was called Reading Town and it joined the inaugural Chiltonian League in 1984. Yet this initive lost round as the Thames Valley Royals enjoyed great success. Following a "half season ticket" inititive by Maxwell, over 10,000 fans gained the right to a season ticket the next season as they soared clear at the top of second tier. Royals were finally promoted to the top tier in May 1985 in front of 34,000 fans at Elm Park, a new record and Maxwell was hailed in blaze of blue and yellow as the Second Division trophy was paraded around both Oxford and Reading.
Jim Smith moved to QPR after the promotion and legendary ex-Reading player and manager Maurice Evans guided TVR to safety and Maxwell was to parade around the English League Cup as the Royals secured a 3-0 win over QPR in the final, the first major English title to head to Oxfordshire or Berkshire. Yet European football was never to venture to the Thames valley, as the Heysel era ban prevented the Royals from a European tour.
The Royals narrowly survived another two seasons in the top tier before their eventual relegation in 1988. This year did bring the second cup triumph however, as Luton were dispatched in the Simod Cup final. After relegation, Maxwell announced planning permission had finally been granted for the Maxwell Stadium in Didcot. Yet Maxwell had now bought Derby County and his intentions were clear when the cream of the Thames Valley squad was made to join County. Maxwell's sudden bankruptcy and death left the club in turmoil and insolvency protection was sought in 1991. Sadly the liabilities of the now complete 30,000 seater stadium in Didcot were too much and no one bought the club. Thames Valley Royals were liquidated in June 1991 after an illustrious 6 years.
The assets were sold off and a local Reading businessman was persuaded to buy the club's league place. Robert John Madejski had no interest in football but was outraged when supporters of rivals Aldershot, also recently liquidated, attempted to buy the place. Negotations took place with Reading Town chairman Roger Smee and eventually Reading Town were admitted to the new Division One in July 1992. Before the season kicked off the club had been renamed Reading FC. Yet the turmoil had hampered preperations and the club were relegated to Division Two at the end of the season.
The next year brought about a new era as player manager Mark McGhee guided Reading back into Division One and the following season lost out on premierleague football at wembley. Madejski eventually funded a new ground to the south of Reading, Maxwell's Didcot stadium having been demolished to make room for a super market.
The Madejski stadium witnessed a return to the Premierleague in 2006 and despite relegation continue to flourish in the second tier. Oxford fans formed a new non-league club which progressed up the leagues and won the conference national in 2010. The 2010/11 season thus witness both Reading and Oxford occupying a football league position for the first time since 1983.
Last edited by
Z175 on 17 Aug 2011 14:53, edited 1 time in total.
