Past Reading Teams

[Sarah Star]

Does anyone know where I can get lists of past Reading teams with their squad numbers?

That's all I want to know.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Try soccerbase. And don't forget that squad numbers are a (relatively) new innovation.

[Sarah Star]

Try soccerbase. And don't forget that squad numbers are a (relatively) new innovation.

I can find all sorts of stats for different players and who was in the team going back years, but not what number they played with... unless I'm looking in the wrong place.

[Svlad Cjelli]

In which case try the programmes from each year if you can get hold of them.

Also, "The Definitive Reading FC" and (I think) "Heaven on Earth" have all the player's numbers in every match up to 1998.

[66DD]

The last home programme of each season in which you are interested could be a reasonable source of teams and squad numbers.

[bobbybottler]

Does anyone know where I can get lists of past Reading teams with their squad numbers?

That's all I want to know.

Any one in particular?

[Ark Royal]

Squad numbers were introduced in 1993. The Premier League changed in 94, but the Football League did not switch until 99.

[Sarah Star]

There's no particular player or team I'm looking for, just wanted to know who had held which shirt going back as far as I can (I'll bear in mind that it's a relatively recent thing).

Will probably have to ask STAR for the programmes although I've heard they're trying to get rid of a few if anyone else is interested.

Thanks.

[strap]

Luke Chadwick, Darren Campbell and Peter Castle made apps for us in 2002-3 but I don't have their numbers.

Ditto Michael Branch in 2001-02.

Hope you've got good specs.

[Lenarduzzi's Hair]

Luke Chadwick, Darren Campbell and Peter Castle made apps for us in 2002-3 but I don't have their numbers.

Ditto Michael Branch in 2001-02.

Hope you've got good specs.

To fill in the gaps:
Luke Chadwick: 30
Darren Campbell: 34
Peter Castle: 37
Michael Branch: 31

[strap]

Luke Chadwick, Darren Campbell and Peter Castle made apps for us in 2002-3 but I don't have their numbers.

Ditto Michael Branch in 2001-02.

Hope you've got good specs.

To fill in the gaps:
Luke Chadwick: 30
Darren Campbell: 34
Peter Castle: 37
Michael Branch: 31

Great, many thanks.

[Sarah Star]

Thanks Strap. That's exactly what I wanted. Seems like you got to fill in a few blanks curtesy of Lenarduzzi too, so thanks to him too.

[jazz]

Hey SS. Good luck with your research, but we long term fans shouldn't forget RFC stalwarts who wore the shirt long before numbers were introduced. In those days we knew and recognised players, did not have to identify them by numerals on their backs. Nonetheless, I'm sure Ronnie Blackman would have loved a 9, Gilbert Glidden a 2.

[Sarah Star]

I suppose there's always the field position numbers that I could apply to earlier teams:

1. Goalkeeper
2. Right full back (right side center back)
3. Left full back (left side center back)
4. Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
5. Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
6. Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
7. Outside right (right winger)
8. Inside right (attacking midfield)
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left (attacking midfield)
11. Outside left (left winger)

(admittedly I got this from Wikipedia)

[jazz]

I suppose there's always the field position numbers that I could apply to earlier teams:

1. Goalkeeper
2. Right full back (right side center back)
3. Left full back (left side center back)
4. Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
5. Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
6. Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
7. Outside right (right winger)
8. Inside right (attacking midfield)
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left (attacking midfield)
11. Outside left (left winger)

(admittedly I got this from Wikipedia)

Brilliant. That's exactly as it was in the 2-3-5 days.

[Sarah Star]

It does go on to adapt that:

Early evolutions of formations involved moving specific positions, e.g. moving the centre half back to become a defender rather than a half back. Their numbers went with them, hence central defenders wearing number 5, and remnants of the system remain to this day. For example, in friendly and championship qualifying matches England, when playing the 4-4-2 formation, general number their players (using the standard right to left system of listing football teams) four defenders - 2, 5, 6, 3; four midfielders - 7, 4, 8, 11; two forwards - 9, 10. This system of numbering can also be adapted to a midfield diamond with the holding midfielder wearing 4 and the attacking central midfielder wearing 8. Similarly the Swedish national team number their players: four defenders - 2, 3, 4, 5; four midfielders - 7, 6, 8, 9; two forwards - 10, 11.

Might get a bit complicated, but it's a start.

[Svlad Cjelli]

You need this :

[SpaceCruiser]

Strap, how's your database going, are you using VB and access? I've been wondering whether to waste my time writing some java stuff to do this kind of stuff.

[strap]

Strap, how's your database going, are you using VB and access? I've been wondering whether to waste my time writing some java stuff to do this kind of stuff.

Hi Spacey, yes, all in MSAccess with plenty of VBA. All self taught though, so I would imagine some routines are pretty inefficient. Having said that, the raw data stored in the Access tables is pretty tight, with very little duplication, so I guess it would be perfefctly feasible to write a complete new "front-end" display section just using the raw data tables. Sadly well beyond my abililty.

[Terminal Boardom]

Strap, how's your database going, are you using VB and access? I've been wondering whether to waste my time writing some java stuff to do this kind of stuff.

Whats this? Spacey in helpful, non-pedantic mode and posting sensibly? I must go and have a lie down