24 Years ago today

[Mr Optimist]

What a fabulous day out, can still see that crossbar shaking from Taits thunderbolt shot too. Wish I'd been a little more than 8 so could have had all the beers and build up too but a truly awesome experience seeing little old Reading at wembley and destroying yet more higher league opposition

Bizarrely I was old enough to have had all the beers, which I did, and now regret because I don't remember too much about the day!

I remember climbing down from the upper standing area behind the goal to join some mates who were in the lower tier behind the goal. I vaguely remember the goals going in and getting lashed up in a series of irish boozers in Neasden/Willesden on the way through to Wembley and Reading afterwards.

I also remember the following weekend playing Ipswich at home in the league and the trophy being paraded in front of a crowd of about 9,000!

[Jackson Corner]

That was against Ipswich 30,000 plastics vanished in 6 days, somethings don't change. I am going to dig out the video and watch it tonight a very special day. Buy the way anyone know what happened to Luton?

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I still hate David Bobin and TVS for their completely shit coverage of the final. Bobin's post-match dubbed on commentary was an embarrassment. A "great day for Reading Town football club" indeed.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Its amazing how badly all our opponents have faired since 1988.

QPR, Oxford, Forest, Bradford, Coventry, Luton.

5 top flight clubs, all have been down to the 3rd tier since (well, Cov will be), 2 of them have gone from Top flight to Non League and Bradford have gone down through all 4 divisions. And Coventry have only once finished above half way since.

Ive also never understood why the Semi wasn't 2 legs. Its never been that way in the Associate Members Cup, AKA Johnstone's Paints, as far as i can remember?

Memory also tells me that something controversial happened in the other Semi that stopped us playing Swindon in the final.

[Ark Royal]

A wonderful, wonderful day and the best I have experienced at Wembley. I have some crappy photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/101802316870204213795/albums/5114138276040924385

When Harford scored, all I was thinking was please don't get thrashed. Our end went completely lipstick when Tait scored; Smillie's was just the icing on the cake.

Met some Luton fans in the car park after and they could not have been more gracious. I was really rooting for them in the League Cup final against the Gooners.

I then drove about a dozen family and friends back to Brackers in a mini-bus while drinking cans of Stella Artois and later got barred from my local for getting a bit over-celebratory.

Great day.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Met some Luton fans in the car park after and they could not have been more gracious.

I recall a Luton fan walking angrily through the Reading crowd outside saying "Come on! I'll take on anyone!", only for a Reading fan to lamp him, knocking him to the floor with one punch.

[under the tin]

I very nearly got into serious trouble with the missus.
I decided to organise a pub trip (off my own back).
I phoned up Wembley and put about £900 on my credit card by buying 52 tickets.
You couldn't source a coach for love nor money in Reading, so I ended up using Oakley coaches, near Basingstoke.
Happily, though, I managed to shift all the tickets in the pub, and the Woodley Yeoman were in attendance.
Great Day.

[Royal With Cheese]

Words cannot begin to describe how pissed I was exactly 24 years ago.

[AthleticoSpizz]

The price of a very costly engagement ring, it was worth it tho'.

Colin Bailie and Neil Smillie dropped for the Ipswich game, rumour had it (at the time) of some unsavoury dialogs with Branfoot in the dressing room.

[Franchise FC]

The scene of one of the best quotes I've heard at football, when we took the lead - "Only 55 minutes to waste".

I only wish it had been me.

[West Stand Man]

I saw Luton twice in a few days that year. I was given free hospitality tickets (by the Army FA) to White Hart Lane for the FA Cup semi-final (v Wimbledon). Then got Army FA tickets to the Simod Cup having seen all the games on route to the final. What a great day out it was. At least we have come away from Wembley as the winners on one occasion!

[Pele_Kitson]

My first ever game.

[Chaney]

Luton showed their true colours a few weeks later by beating Arsenal 3-2 in the league cup final

[Kitsondinho]

I wasn't old enough to go ......but my Uncle says it was a great day.

[SWLR]

It is hard to look at that day from out current position (cup 1/4 finals, regular tier 2, crowds of 18k, prem league, shiney ground, etc, etc)

It was such a big thing for a sh1t club, who had never achieved anything of note (OK we had done the 13 in-a-row thing) mostly bouncing between tier 3/4, to get to Wembley. The scenes at the final whistle for the Coventry game were unbelievable (and I thought the Plymouth come back would never be surpassed)

The fact that 40k turned up was the sign that we needn't be sh!t for ever more, if only someone would back it. Thanks Mr Mad

[RepressedRoyal]

I was a mere snip of a twenty year old back then....my mate convinced me to drink Tennants Super as it would get me p1ssed quicker. He quite was correct, I proceeded to watch the entire first half with one eye shut and the second with a biblical dehydration inspired daytime hangover, but even that could ruin what was a cracking day out. As others have remarked, for such an awful team to perform in such a manner against what was a very good top flight team, was nothing shot of miraculous. To see how far we have come as a club is nearly as astonishing as seeing how far Luton have sunk. Funny old game............

[buckingham royal]

Dreams are made of this - FANTASTIC memories !!!!!It can amd WILL happen again - THINK, BELIEVE AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE

[robinsfriday]

I was seven years old and this memory is still vivid to me. After this I couldn't give a shit if Santa was real or not.

[John Peel]

My first ever Reading game. Loved it. I was sat with Stuart Beavon's family too!

[Ian Herring]

with a biblical dehydration inspired daytime hangover

Genius.

The best description I have ever read of the affect of this particular beverage. (Or 'trampagne', as it is known in certain circles.)