‘Jesus was born in 3000 BC’
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| Berkshire's new literacy policy is going well. |
In summary, not as boring as Preston and better than Rovrum. 4 games in, post-Hourihane, and we’ve scored 2 goals (conceded 3). And we really don’t look like we’ll score…and neither do we look like we’ll concede. Keith Hill’s dream! But we can be more than pleased with ourselves this week, as we really limited a side away who're gunning for automatic promotion. Though if you read the press, you’d think we’d stifled THEM rather than vice versa. Listen kids, we weren’t penned in our own half. Far from it. And perhaps if the Royals had thrown more men forward to break us down, we’d have been more adventurous ourselves. Thus, our 2nd goalless game in 2. And last week I couldn’t remember when we’d last had a nil-nil! (I worked it out….Wigan home, Burton away). But we’ve gone from 2nd top scorers in the league to 5th in a handful of games. Oh well – it was good while it lasted.
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| This is what the outside of a football stadium looks like. |
Despite having to catch a ba5tard bus to the stadium, I always enjoy a trip to Reading. Even better, the big pub by the station (Three Guineas?) has been refurbished, ready for our arrival. So, naturally, they won’t let me, Reedy and Selwood in. Something about no football colours, but if we’re willing to sit there with our coats on the whole time…no ta. We quickly elect to part with our money at a hostelry who will appreciate us for what we are: yobs. (We did wonder whether those wandering around the town centre in rugby shirts would be similarly accorded short shrift). So we went across the road to…The Social (?) where football shirts were also barred, but there was no-one else there, so we had a warmer-upper while the technologically gifted looked up ‘craft pubs Reading’ on their whatchamacallit. Greyfriars it was, and a cracking pub too. The bus to the ground left from outside an’ all. So why we left it to go to the appalling ‘paddy pub’ (that’s what the taxi driver called it) I’ll never know. Something about food, but no-one ate and several pints couldn’t be finished, such was their awfulness.
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| The best of customer service at Reading. |
So, onwards to the arena. 4 quid return! Christ on a bike. In Germany, these things are free. I’m sure it was £2.50 last time. I mean, we only paid 12 quid for a return from London. Not impressed. Still, at least it gets you there. And Reading really make the effort with away fans, signage everywhere making you feel at home in the stadium.
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| Reading FC-embossed pie. Very nice actually. |
Did we win 3-1 last time we were here? Fatboy Jennings and Noble-Lazarus bagging 25 yarders. Well, it was very different this time as the only shot we had on target was a long range trickler from Marley. He did, however, hit the post (and given how close he was, he’ll be kicking himself). Later, Hamill blazed over with his left foot when he ought to have done better. Them? No idea. I think Davies made one decent save, that was it.
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| Reading beach. |
*** MacDonald. I read in the programme he was on Reading’s books as a junior. An added incentive to play out of his skin then. Dominated.
** Roberts. Where there’s one, there’s the other one. No wonder Reading barely had a shot.
* Hammill. Go on then. Wadd can’t argue, cos he wasn’t there! Frustrated Reading.
Londontykes MOTM:1. MacDonald 2. Hamill 3. Roberts
Despatches:
Scowen was excellent, till he was subbed, injured. This gave Moncur the best part of the 2nd half to impress. He didn’t. Seems to specialise in taking too long to make a pass, and getting it nicked from under him. Like ‘Dangerous’ Brian O’Callaghan used to do – ‘cept in midfield. Bradshaw looked alright. I feel sorry for him tho. Imagine what he’d do with a SUPPLY. I was also impressed with Williams’ workrate, while it was great to see Yiadom back. Jones also impressed at right back.
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| Flattening out the mud at full time. |
Drink du jour: just beer. Then another one back in Paddington, before falling asleep near the end of Mark Watson’s set at the Old Vic. I can sleep anywhere…
Away: 700 and odd. Poor atmosphere all round. Seems those January transfers have really knocked the stuffing out of the fans. And you needn’t bother waiting for the Royals to be roused.
Onwards and upwards!
The Damage:12 train4 bus20 ent3 prog3+ steak and ale pie, which was really rather good.= 42
The Tunes:
Mixmag June '15 - Jamie Jones
Mixmag Feb '15 - RL Grime
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| The teams line up. |
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| Reading's hardcore. |
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| Clever design. |
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| Hecky. Still one of our own. |
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| Yours truly, courtesy of BFC twitter feed. |
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| Full time. Job well done. |
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