Low away attendances

[Cape Town Royal]

Apparently the record low for a LEAGUE game at Elm Park was 1934 v Bradford in 1991 then 1943 v Preston in 1982 but I always thought the Preston game was the record with 1732 fans

Anyone able to confirm?

In the book "Biscuits and Royals" by David Downs it states lowest attendance at Elm park was 1,713 versus Preston North End, Division 4, on October 2nd. 1982. Good memory you got there.

I was at the Preston game - it was at the end of the Frank Waller era and I am fairly sure after this game (which we lost) he put the club up for sale. Can remember it raining heavily and both terraces behind the goals were nearly empty.

The game was on Southern TV with George Best in the TV studio doing the analysis. I'm sure I've seen the highlights on here somewhere....Kerry Dixon scored twice.

I was at the Preston game too and I always thought it was given as 1713 and our lowest attendance.. you were right it lashed down with rain and both open ends were empty.

Also remember going to Halifax on a Friday night possibly the year before when we won 1-0 with a Laurie Sanchez glancing header. Not many Reading fans there that night and we were boosted by my mate from Donny, his brother and 4 of his mates... I think the whole attendance was only 1013.

[From Despair To Where?]

I remember us playing Orient in the Freight Rover Trophy at Elm Park back in the 80's. Can't remember the exact attendance but it was in the 900s

Lowest home crowd for a FRT game was 1151 v Northampton in 91/92.

We played in the football league trophy v Bournemouth, in front of 1136, in a group stage before the season started.

In 85/86 we played Orient in the FRT in front of 1403

Bizarrely, I may be mistaking it with a "showcase" pre season friendly against continental opposition. This was in the days when there was something strange, exotic and unknown about foreign teams but it turned out to be some French second division team. I vaguely remember Trevor Senior scoring so it was probably 1986.

[If you still hate Futcher]

I remember us playing Orient in the Freight Rover Trophy at Elm Park back in the 80's. Can't remember the exact attendance but it was in the 900s

Lowest home crowd for a FRT game was 1151 v Northampton in 91/92.

We played in the football league trophy v Bournemouth, in front of 1136, in a group stage before the season started.

In 85/86 we played Orient in the FRT in front of 1403

Bizarrely, I may be mistaking it with a "showcase" pre season friendly against continental opposition. This was in the days when there was something strange, exotic and unknown about foreign teams but it turned out to be some French second division team. I vaguely remember Trevor Senior scoring so it was probably 1986.

You don't mean Genoa do you

[Barney]

Reading v Genoa was 1994. Part of the promotion celebration. Lashed down during the game...crowd was circa 6000.

[From Despair To Where?]

Lowest home crowd for a FRT game was 1151 v Northampton in 91/92.

We played in the football league trophy v Bournemouth, in front of 1136, in a group stage before the season started.

In 85/86 we played Orient in the FRT in front of 1403

Bizarrely, I may be mistaking it with a "showcase" pre season friendly against continental opposition. This was in the days when there was something strange, exotic and unknown about foreign teams but it turned out to be some French second division team. I vaguely remember Trevor Senior scoring so it was probably 1986.

You don't mean Genoa do you

No, it was in the mid 80's. It was someone like Tours or Troyes that we played.

[Jackson Corner]

I was at this game if you think things are bad now. Check out this defending!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6r4B23EXSA

[AthleticoSpizz]

nice kit tho’ ......proper hoops

Credit to the PNE fans who swelled the numbers

[BarryWhiteRFC]

Bury away, cold very wet October evening 2000......about 100 of us huddled amongst the 2800 crowd.
(2-0 Reading, Butler, Cureton)

One of my favourite Reading away games of all time. Low tin roof, not many fans that had made the journey belting out chants that seemed to sound like there was 2,000 of us. Always love Bury away.

[BarryWhiteRFC]

Under 100 Wigan away 1990 stood behind the goal on a grass bank god we think were bad now.

Was that the 1-1 game where we had to wear Wigan's away kit as we forgot ours? Or was that later on. Jamie Lambert scored I think?

[Sutekh]

Under 100 Wigan away 1990 stood behind the goal on a grass bank god we think were bad now.

Was that the 1-1 game where we had to wear Wigan's away kit as we forgot ours? Or was that later on. Jamie Lambert scored I think?

Jamie certainly didn't score for Reading in 1990, his brief era was 1998 so might have been around then if that's what you're remembering.

[BarryWhiteRFC]

Under 100 Wigan away 1990 stood behind the goal on a grass bank god we think were bad now.

Was that the 1-1 game where we had to wear Wigan's away kit as we forgot ours? Or was that later on. Jamie Lambert scored I think?

Jamie certainly didn't score for Reading in 1990, his brief era was 1998 so might have been around then if that's what you're remembering.

That was at the end of Lamberts era, maybe not 1990, but it was certainly before 98. First match report on HNA? Has Lambert playing in 94/95 season... So I'm sure it was before that.

http://www.royals.org/matdoc/261194.html

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Was that the 1-1 game where we had to wear Wigan's away kit as we forgot ours? Or was that later on. Jamie Lambert scored I think?

Jamie certainly didn't score for Reading in 1990, his brief era was 1998 so might have been around then if that's what you're remembering.

That was at the end of Lamberts era, maybe not 1990, but it was certainly before 98. First match report on HNA? Has Lambert playing in 94/95 season... So I'm sure it was before that.

http://www.royals.org/matdoc/261194.html

Lambert scored in this game I think, Jan 93 https://www.11v11.com/matches/wigan-ath ... 93-174402/

[Barney]

Lambert played for RFC between 1992-1998.

[If you still hate Futcher]

Under 100 Wigan away 1990 stood behind the goal on a grass bank god we think were bad now.

Was that the 1-1 game where we had to wear Wigan's away kit as we forgot ours? Or was that later on. Jamie Lambert scored I think?

Interesting what tricks the mind plays because my recollection is that Wigan wore our away kit at Elm Park (not sure exactly when but late 80's?)

Unless by extreme coincidence both happened

[AthleticoSpizz]

Bury away, cold very wet October evening 2000......about 100 of us huddled amongst the 2800 crowd.
(2-0 Reading, Butler, Cureton)

One of my favourite Reading away games of all time. Low tin roof, not many fans that had made the journey belting out chants that seemed to sound like there was 2,000 of us. Always love Bury away.

yep, despite it all, the atmosphere was great. You weren’t the fellah in shorts and hawaian shirt were you?

[double d]

lowest away attendance ive been part of was a cold wet tuesday night in november at Forest in 2011 during a poor run of form. Around 180 of us there for that. lost 1-0

I was there for that. Imho was way worse then what is going on now

[tmesis]

Did anyone else go to the "festival of football" on the Sunday after winning promotion in 1986? I doubt many more than 300 turned up to Elm Park for that one.

Given that the first team did actually play (v Wokingham) I suspect that may the lowest crowd for any kind of match at Elm Park that involved the first team.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yeah, was there.

Wasn’t there a game versus the cast of Eastenders at some stage during the prceedings too?

The lunchtime beers helped.

[JIM]

could be a new all time low at the MAD STAD for the next home game.
any one know how many season tickets are sold.?

[tmesis]

could be a new all time low at the MAD STAD for the next home game.
any one know how many season tickets are sold.?

The lowest league crowd is just under 6000. It's not going to be anywhere near that low.