The hardest player to ever play for Reading?

[Simmops]

Have we had any real hard men play for us? We always seem like we've been a nice team.

Watching MOTD podcast and they're saying names like Vinnie Jones, Julian Dicks, Keane etc

Never really remember us having any real hard men like that. Maybe Bikey because he had a screw loose and was a bit of a nut (always remember him shoving over his own physio helping somebody in the AFCON semis )

Maybe back in the 70s or 80s when you had to commit GBH to get a yellow there were some?

[Zip]

Terry Hurlock. Thighs like tree trunks.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Billy Whitehurst
Terry Hurlock
Kevin Bremner....and on and on and on.....

[Graham's dad]

Terry Hurlock, no doubt about it .

[oldebiscuit]

Terry Hurlock. Thighs like tree trunks.

And the mentality to go with it.

[oldebiscuit]

Billy Whitehurst
Terry Hurlock
Kevin Bremner....and on and on and on.....

I thought that Billy was just a thug, and Kevin a grafter rather than a hard man. Terry is probably the all time Reading hard man, and could play a bit too.
And let’s not forget Robin up front, he could take a waist high tackle or two.

[AthleticoSpizz]

No arguments from me there ‘Old-un’

However, memories and mythical nights discussed over a few pints have me in the frame of mind....

Kev B had no front teeth left....being a jock...he was obviously hard.

Billy W was a referees nightmare...also feared by most of his opposition.

Terry H, probably our most respected ‘thug’...could play a bit too....”Terrys’ gonna get ya”

[tidus_mi2]

In recent history, Andre Bikey was a nutjob and Carlo Cudicini knocked himself out by colliding with Sonko.

[Zip]

No arguments from me there ‘Old-un’

However, memories and mythical nights discussed over a few pints have me in the frame of mind....

Kev B had no front teeth left....being a jock...he was obviously hard.

Billy W was a referees nightmare...also feared by most of his opposition.

Terry H, probably our most respected ‘thug’...could play a bit too....”Terrys’ gonna get ya”

I’d say all three were hard men with Whitehurst being a wind up merchant too but Hurlock was a hard, tough, muscular rugged so and so with that nasty edge about him. Decent player too. Can’t see beyond him. He was intimidating and he played on that.

[oldebiscuit]

In recent history, Andre Bikey was a nutjob and Carlo Cudicini knocked himself out by colliding with Sonko.

And Steve Hunt didn’t realise that he was a hard man until he cleaned out Petter Chech/Check/Chehckz whatever.

[The Cube]

Pretty sure Hurlock is the answer in my lifetime, but don't forget Dave Madden.

[From Despair To Where?]

Terry Hurlock
Mick Tait
Billy Whitehurst

Hurlock was intimidating, Tait was a bit sly and Whitehurst was a headcase.

That mid to late 80s team was full of hard players, if not necessarily dirty players. People like Kevin Bremner, Gary Peters and Martin Hicks could handle themselves.

Apparently Hurlock left because he fell out with Branfoot over his refusal to move home from Brentford to Reading.

[Augem]

Hurlock no doubt if only we could find another one , they would need to be a little smarter not to get sent off every match.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Shane Long

[From Despair To Where?]

Hurlock no doubt if only we could find another one , they would need to be a little smarter not to get sent off every match.

Hurlock only got sent off once for us IIRC. I think it was against Rotherham.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Good shout for the Mick Tait FDTW, overlooked him.

[leon]

Kaspars Gorkss.

[fartdad]

John Oster

[Royal Rother]

Hurlock for sure.

[Barney]

1970s - Robin Friday (really was as hard as nails)
1980s - Terry Hurlock
1990s - Parky

No one since that springs to mind.