[Amelia Chaffinch]

SATURDAY 22ND JANUARY

3PM

MADEJSKI STADIUM

We don't have the best record v Reading; just 16 league wins to their 22 and 11 draws.

Of course we thraiped them in 120 minutes of the best nil nil draw action Wembley has ever seen. Well, since the time we were last there in the League One play-off final. 

Henceforth we perennial strugglers who had been dwelling in the foothills went to the top of the mountain with a fairytale ending. The little terriers went on to battle the big dogs in the Premier League.

.... is just some of the twaddle uttered by the commentators that day. 

Last time out we were 4-0 victors at our place; goals from Lewis O'Brien, Matty Pearson, Sorba Thomas and Danny Ward. All of whom are available to put in a repeat performance!



How do we compare in the league?

Currently we're 7th on 41 points and Reading are 21st on 22 points. They have 2 games in hand, once of which they'll be playing tomorrow v Luton Town so the table is subject to change. Undoubtedly, they're having a bad run of form so it won't change that much.

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Top scorers

When I think Reading I think boring. I've no idea why; I've never been. Just one of those things.

Lets see if we can find anything interesting.

Oscar Wilde was imprisoned in Reading Gaol... interesting but not nice.

Reading Abbey was built by Henry I but was destroyed by Henry VIII when he took against the monasteries. I don't know what Henry II through VII thought about it.

Jane Austen ... God bless her ... went to school in Reading.

Kate Middleton was born in Reading.

The Reading Festival is the world's longest running rock festival.

I think we've talked in a past life about the best festivals we've been to so this time I'll ask what song (rock or otherwise) sums you up?

Have any of you been to Reading? If so, some tips for away day travellers would be appreciated.

[Lord Snooty]

Well this place is an absolute must see, if you're in Reading at any time......

https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-vi...rs-gallery

[ritchiebaby]

Short and sweet again, Amelia.

My song would be Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles - "and I know you won't let me down, cause I'm already standin' on the ground."

Reading = Lucy Worsley, but that's another story.

[Lord Snooty]

What song (rock or otherwise) sums you up?

Well really, how can it be anything else but Kid Creole's........

I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby. 

Or maybe My Ever Changing Moods by the Style Council 

[jjamez]

Been to reading for one of the FA cup replays a few year ago. Bloody freezing and we lost. Think hoggy got shown a red and powell was in charge. The ground is in or just beside an industrial estate or that's what it looked like, not too dissimilar to ours really in terms of its location.

[Lord Snooty]

I went to Elm Park a couple of times. Sounds nice doesn't it? Elm Park.
It was. A proper old style footy ground.

Not been to their new place.

[theo_luddite]

Nice little write up that AmChaff

Think the most interesting thing they did in Reading recently was how they revamped the station. It involved sliding roofs off platforms and back on again and installing something that looks more like a new airport terminal, all bright, high roofs and airy rather than a dingy old station that was a relic from who knows when.

Confused the crap out of me first time through after they completed it though. I couldn't remember where some of the old platforms had been hidden.

Before Cross Country got hold of it, for me it was as cheap and efficient to get the train from Wolvo to Reading then the Rail Bus to Heathrow. Now it's only almost as efficient. That said, I've not tried the Euston run yet either since the bearded wonder had his fingers prised off the East Coast Main Line.

I did make the mistake of travelling down that way when Reading Festival was allowing the travelling hordes in on a Thursday before it all kicked off on Friday a few times. What is it about University stoodents once they are in charge of rucksack, a tent, a sleeping bag, two rolls of bog roll and a can/bottle opener for a few days that means they don't understand the concept of seat reservations? 

Colchester's manager got the push this week for 1 win in 10 games. A decision that may have been lost in the noises off coming from Goodison Park and the parties held down the Thames in Downing Street. Reading's manager got the dreaded Vote of Confidence on the bus back from Boro at the weekend for 1 win in 10 games, 2 wins if you don't count the FA Cup match at Kiddy. Town have only lost 2 in the league in the last 10. We can all see how this is going to end can't we boys and girls? 

I hear Fraggle Rock is making a comeback. I hope Sprocket is still taking care of the Lighthouse and it's keeper. One of my former next door neighbours used to have a pooch that was a dead ringer for Sprocket. Absolutely bat-shit barmy she was and the pooch was just as saft in the 'ead if I'm honest.

---

PS jjamez - there's a slight difference in location. Ours is a leisurely mile hike from the station. Theirs is a not so leisurely 3 mile hike. Yes there are buses, taxis, etc. but it's a far shorter hike from the hard shoulder of J4 on the M4. Not that I recommend parking on the hard shoulder of the M4, especially if you get there by train.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

B team had a good result against Salford yesterday. 8-1!



Goals: Hat trick from Pat Jones, MIcah Obiero 2, Danny Grant 1, Brodie Spencer 1 and Ben Midgley 1. 



Which of those do you think will be the first to get in / back in to the first team?

[theo_luddite]

Bilokapic

Can he play up front too?

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Sometimes, theo, I'd be willing to give him a go.