Hob Nob is Twenty! Enter the competition here...

[dontbedaft]

Happy birthday HNA?! I can't believe it's been 20 years! My first forays onto the internet were to read the site. The national coverage of RFC was limited to James Alexander Gordon enunciating the results every Saturday, and living beyond the reach of the the Reading local media I was starved of RFC news.

Once I learnt of HNA? I used to stroll down to the library downtown on my lunch break to read the match reports and after one particularly poor away performance I received a public admonishment from the head librarian who had received an alert that my console was being used to review "unsavoury material"(too many profanities). Naturally once I explained that Paul Holsgrove had started the game her ire lessened but she made it quite clear that she was keeping her eye on me from then on. Thankfully my work gave us access to the internet shortly thereafter and I could get my HNA? fix without leaving the office.

Around this time Graeme lifted some grumblings of mine from the RoyalMail mailing list following a dreadful opening day display at home to Swindon because he was too depressed to write his own match report and I recall proudly telling friends that I was "published on the internet" - at that time it seemed more impressive because there were not billions of people tweeting about what they had for breakfast every day.

As to my top three RFC memories in the past twenty years, I've gone for

1) Archie's Late Show
Unthinkable! After a largely forgettable game, a very smug Mark McGhee looked set to record a victory at Elm Park with his high-flying Wolves team, (featuring ex-Royals Adi Williams and Michael Gilkes), when Archie Lovell scored twice in about the 95th and 96th minutes to turn the game on its head. The hilarious photo of McGhee on the touchline looking like steam was pouring out of his ears still does the rounds on HNA? once in a while.

2) Volley at the Valley
Visiting some friends in London who were Charlton season ticket holders I ended up watching the away fixture at the Valley in the 95-95 season sitting with the home supporters. I was doing just fine until Simon Osborn crashed a volley into the top corner from miles out. I leapt to my feet with a yelp of delight and then, realizing that I was rather blowing my cover, affected consternation with the officials.

3) Cool As You Like
I'm not even sure who the game was against, but I recall one particular incident when I was on the Tilehurst End at Elm Park and the ball broke kindly for the opposition. Their centre forward was feverishly bearing down on the goal I was stood behind. I braced myself for the worst but Dariusz Wdovcyck glided serenely across. It was an amazing contrast - the opposition forward's legs whirring like Roadrunner and Dariusz reenacting Chariots of Fire - but as Dariusz languorously crossed the path of the forward he did a massive double-take as he realized that the ball was drifting back upfield at the feet of our Polish international.

[westendgirl]

most memorable really are promotions so

1. Leicester away March 2006 (this had a real poignancy for me as my husband was seriously ill and about to spend 7 months in hospital in the next year but I still had the real joy of knowing we really had got to the highest league in the land)

2. Brentford away 2002 - having felt we had blown it after all those draws (added to by the balloons)

3. Brighton away March 1970 - my first away game and it was a record crowd at the Goldstone - 32000 and I can still remember the crush

[Brum Royal]

Similar theme to most I think:

1. Leicester 1-1 (a) 2006
2. Brentford 1-1 (a) 2002
3. Middlesbrough 3-2 (h) 2006

Honourable mentions:
Derby 5-0 (h) 2006
Forest 1-0 (h) 2012
Southampton 3-1 (a) 2012
West Ham 6-0 (h) 2007
Luton 3-0 (h) 1998
Forest 3-3 (h) 1997?
Wolves 4-2 (h) 1997?
Chelsea 2-2 (a) 2006
Liverpool 2-1 (a) 2012

[Mr Controversial]

1) 106 point 2005-06 season
2) Reading 6-0 West Ham
3) Helicopters landing on the pitch at The Madejski Stadium

[Dave_Kitson]

1. Dave Kitson's goal against Middlesbrough 2006-2007 season. Reading's first ever goal in the top flight!
2. Dave Kitson's hat-trick against West Ham in 2004-2005 season.
3. Dave Kitson's hat-trick against Gillingham in 2004-2005 season.

[Hendo]

Hi Dave!

[Nameless]

1. Standing on the terraces at the Town End atElm Park about an hour after the last ever game. Thinking over 25 years of memories, soaking up the vibes and wishing a fond farewell to a big part of my life

2. Arriving at the Mad Stad for the first ever match there. Breath taken away somewhat by our glitzy new home, wondering what memories would be built there in the future. Not sure if it was really ours.

3. Glenn Little. Just about anything he did on the pitch. Just the most consistently entertaining player I've seen in the hoops. Will never forget 2 Brighton players falling flat on their arses because they bought a dummy they thought he was going to sell them, although he just stood there ....

3 is not enough, most of what others have contributed are also great shouts.

[Salford Royal]

20 years of Hobnob makes me feel pretty old. As you can guess from my username, I'm a Northern exile and have been for 15 years now. As such, my highlights tend to be a bit more obscure as I've missed most of the big events over the years due to only having a season ticket for one season (damn you royalty points!). As such, Leicester and Brentford, Wigan home leg (I saw the fantastic 0-0 away leg!) etc were all enjoyed with Jeff Stelling and hobnob on the laptop. I think I've visited just about every league ground in the North we've played at though, with some wonderful memories (and smells, notably Saltergate).

My highlights:

1. Reading 3-3 Forest (Lambert wonder goal): Last season at Elm Park I think, got in the ground late to find us 1-0 down already courtesy of Pierre Van-Hooijdonk, who ran rings round our defence all night. As I was late in, I had to sit on the wall at the back of the South Bank for the first half, holding onto the roof for balance. The game had everything - Beasant's sending off, Centre back in goal, Steve Stone's open goal, PVH free-kick, and then there was Jamie's goal. Picks it up half-way line, dribbles past 16 players (may be exaggerated) and slots it home. Brilliant. There was no chance a team like that could go down.

2. Preston 2-2 Reading: In my uni days, I dragged a load of mates (including a couple of yanks) the short distance to Deepdale. Again running late for the game, as kick off had started we walked into the wrong half of the stand. My American friend, who insisted on borrowing my hoops, found himself confronted by 3 big Preston lads in no rush to sup up their pints. Ended out being escorted through the Preston end, behind the goal then up to the gathered masses of loyal Royals. Reading were utter garbage until that game, but proceeded to spend the first half playing Preston off the park. New signing Nicky Forster looked majestic. Then Martin Allen walked over at half time (having apparently forced Preston to warm up in the 'wrong half' before the game) and proceeded to give the Reading faithful a team talk about 'oxf*rd noise', 'pashun' etc and kicking any advertising hoardings/water bottles in the vicinity before being dragged away by RFC staff and stewards. Mental bastard. If camera phones existed in 2000, that would have been a keeper.

3. Liverpool 1-2 (AET) Reading: Bryn. Just Bryn. A fantastic performance for 90 minutes from the whole team, Jobi dribbling past 4 before dragging his shot wide, creating better chances but luck not on our side. Then we get an injury time penalty to take it into extra time. Throughout the game, an old, knackered, out of favour centre midfielder has been playing out of his skin at right back. We shuddered when we saw the line-up before the game, but to me, Brynjar's performance in that game is the single most unexpected (and therefore best) performance from a Reading player I've ever seen. After countless overlapping runs, he caps it off with a perfect cross for Shane Long to nod home the winner. The Icelandic Cafu.

[Big Foot]

1) Brentford away, 20th April 2002
2) Southampton away, 13th April 2012
3) Reading 3-1 Liverpool, 8th December 2007

[Royal Lady]

Hello Mr Hobnob Sir - congrats on the longevity of this wondrous board.

Anyway, my 3 favourite memories are:

1. Brentford Away 2002
2. Leicester Away 2005
3. Drawing with Chelsea on Boxing Day 2005 at Stamford Bridge

My 3 favourite Hobnob memories are:

1. Jay and his Bachelor degree (cos he was single at the time)
2. The thread recalling what our ancestors did in the 2 world wars
3. When you could change your name for a post and wind up Spacecruiser in particular.

I know you didn't ask for that, but it's all to do with HNA? in the last 20 years. Here's to another 20 more Mr Hobnob Sir - though I'll probably be long gone by then.

[Big Foot]

Hello Mr Hobnob Sir - congrats on the longevity of this wondrous board.

Anyway, my 3 favourite memories are:

1. Brentford Away 2002
2. Leicester Away 2005
3. Drawing with Chelsea on Boxing Day 2005 at Stamford Bridge

My 3 favourite Hobnob memories are:

1. Jay and his Bachelor degree (cos he was single at the time)
2. The thread recalling what our ancestors did in the 2 world wars
3. When you could change your name for a post and wind up Spacecruiser in particular.

I know you didn't ask for that, but it's all to do with HNA? in the last 20 years. Here's to another 20 more Mr Hobnob Sir - though I'll probably be long gone by then.

Hate to be a pedant, but on Boxing Day 2005 we won 2-0 at Wolves.

[Royal Lady]

oh was 2006 then? Soz.

[gimmer]

I'm new here - it looks great.

[RG30]

HB HNA

Favourite moments would be

1) Promotion at Leicester
2) Promotion at Brentford
3) Winning at Southampton 3-1 April 2012

[Pepe the Horseman]

When will you be announcing the winner?

[YateleyRoyal]

Hello Mr Hobnob Sir - congrats on the longevity of this wondrous board.

Anyway, my 3 favourite memories are:

1. Brentford Away 2002
2. Leicester Away 2005
3. Drawing with Chelsea on Boxing Day 2005 at Stamford Bridge

My 3 favourite Hobnob memories are:

1. Jay and his Bachelor degree (cos he was single at the time)
2. The thread recalling what our ancestors did in the 2 world wars
3. When you could change your name for a post and wind up Spacecruiser in particular.

I know you didn't ask for that, but it's all to do with HNA? in the last 20 years. Here's to another 20 more Mr Hobnob Sir - though I'll probably be long gone by then.

Hate to be a pedant, but on Boxing Day 2005 we won 2-0 at Wolves.

Absolutely fcuking freezing that day

[Deadlock]

1) Cureton's promotion-winning goal at Brentford.
2) The post-match promotion celebrations at Leicester, and Coppell throwing his coat into the crowd.
3) Archie's hat-trick against Swindon at Elm Park, complete with Jan Aage Fjortoft aeroplane celebration.

[hobnob]

When will you be announcing the winner?

Next week - probably middle of the weekish.

[Wycombe Royal]

Can't see a closing date, so I hope I am in time.....

1) Cureton's winner at Brentford in April 2002
2) Nicky Forster's winner against Wigan in the playoff semi final 2nd leg May 2001
3) Graeme Murty's penalty against QPR in April 2006

[Hendo]

So competition closed yesterday .....

Imminent announcement hopefully.

Oooo hi TOTP