This page provides some details behind events surrounding the Preston North End v Reading game in February 2000.
For a match report written at the time, click here (originally published on www.13inarow.com).
"Vision" on the HNA? messageboard - 1/2/2000 (just before we signed Butler)
I know a few people in Preston; we put them up when they come down here. However after beating them with a last minute penalty, then coming from 2 down to draw and nicking Forster and quite possibly Butler they don't appear to be returning my calls.
Touchy or what?
Report from a Preston website - 6/2/2000
SOUR GRAPES
I suppose Reading deserved a point in the end, if only for sticking to their task. We were poor in the first half and Reading's tactics of spoiling the game and intimidating Gregan didn't help contribute to the game as a spectacle. The ref allowed countless fouls on Gregan (man of the match) and eventually Sean cracked and got himself booked, silly booking but the ref should have protected him earlier, in my opinion.
Forster got the breakthrough for Reading, with a neat turn about 15yrds into our half, and then carried the ball all the way to inside the box and finished with a good clean strike. We felt disappointed that nobody managed to get themselves in between Forster and the goals at any point during that long run, (a good goal to be fair). Half-time came and the Reading keeper had hardly had a shot of any power to save.
Great start to second half, much more urgency and after a couple of chances which got the crowd going the inevitable goal came. In the end Gregan got up well to head back into Macken who finished brilliantly with a high toepoking volley? from about 8yrds. A few minutes later from a corner or cross from the left Jackson found the ball at his feet and from 10yrds hit it sweetly into the roof of the net with a first time shot. This was about 60mins (stats will prove me wrong) and no more than 10mins later that "fart in a bottle, little t**t" Butler (his constant niggling fouls and pathetic attitude didn't endear me to him at all) Headed in the equaliser after we failed to clear a corner properly.
We always could have nicked it in the end but in fairness we didn't really do enough to deserve a late winner, Gregan came closest after a strong charge through, but the keeper saved well.
A man outside the kop afterwards summed up the game when he commented "it's so quiet you'd think that we'd lost, not gained a point and gone top". This is the expectation that now surrounds Deepdale and it's an illustration of how far we have come in a few short years.
Daily Express - 7/2/2000
Reading players were at the centre of a bizarre incident in which police threatened arrests before their 2-2 draw at Preston. The trouble began when they went to the Preston home end to begin their pre-match kick-in and refused to move despite requests from North Ends assistant manager Kelham O'Hanlon and manager David Moyes. Police eventually intervened and ordered them to move away from the Preston end as it was causing a crowd disturbance.
In the match itself Nicky Forster and Martin Butler were on target to earn a precious point and keep the Royals above the drop zone.
Lancashire Evening Post match report -7/2/2000
Question of sport as Royals pinch point
By Brian Ellis
It was debatable if anyone had the last laugh in a match so heavily stained with bad blood. Perhaps Preston could claim it after going top of Division Two. Maybe satanic strikers Nicky Forster and Martin Butler would argue moral victory was theirs for silencing the boo boys with a goal apiece. And it is entirely possible the whole Reading squad left town in search of a party after one of the most shameful wind-ups ever seen on a football field paid off with a point.
Yet there were no winners, only losers, on a day when sportsmanship was crocked in the pre-match warm-up and never showed its face again. North End must take it as a rich compliment that the last two teams to visit Deepdale have felt compelled to use underhand tactics - some might even call it cheating - as the only way to get a result. A fortnight ago Wycombe did their level best to intimidate Sean Gregan into self-destruct mode. They failed. On Saturday shameless Reading didn't even wait for the match to start before launching their dirty tricks campaign. And this time the final result suggests it might just have worked.
It was surely no accident that keepers Scott Howie and Peter Van Der Kwaak trotted on to the wrong half of the pitch to begin their loosening up drills. And if we needed any further proof that this was a deliberate act of gamesmanship it came with the arrival of 14 squad-mates and coach Martin Allen. The bizarre sight of two teams warming up on the same patch of grass, with stewards trying to pinch the footballs Reading were using, might have been comical had it not wound the crowd up as much as it did the players.
Ground safety officer Nigel Webster's plea to Allen to remove his players was completely ignored. And in the end it took the intervention of the police to effect a solution. We will never know for sure just how much this little pantomime aggravated the North End team. Yet they were certainly well below their best in the first half and not totally on song in the second.
It could be argued Reading were only getting their retaliation in first for the hostile reception both Forster and Butler were expecting after snubbing moves to Preston this season. But it is more likely to have been a calculated plot to upset North End's rhythm and thus escape a hammering, such is the fearsome reputation David Moyes' side have built up of late.
Forster and Butler got just what they expected - a barrage of booing every time they touched the ball. So it was little wonder they both celebrated their goals as if they had just netted the cup final winner at Wembley. As partnerships go it must pain every Preston fan to admit it had the makings of something special. And this was only the first time the pair had played together. Still, if they prefer to be in a scrap to avoid the drop instead of a possible promotion campaign, there is nothing North End can do about that.
The way things are shaping up for Jonathan Macken, there would only have been room for one of the two any way. His 53rd minute flick beyond Howie's fingertips into the top corner was his 21st goal of the season so far and equalled Kurt Nogan's tally for last term - but with 18 games still to go. Andy Saville's total of 30 in the championship season of 1995/96 is now seriously under threat.
Michael Jackson's 56th minute goal to put Preston 2-1 up might only have been his second of the campaign after eight last year. But it was something special - he scored it with his foot! Team-mates who mobbed him in celebration pointed that fact out to the Town End crowd by lifting up his boot.
But manager Moyes was more concerned with two goals leaked at the other end for the fifth time in the last six matches. "After we had got ourselves in front at 2-1 I thought we would probably go on and win the game," he revealed. "But we didn't defend well at a corner and we only got a draw."
Moyes stuck with the side which had put four past Oxford at the Manor Ground on Tuesday, meaning Bjarki Gunnlaugsson's dash back from Spain on Friday night was only rewarded with a place on the bench. Steve Basham had looked rusty in midweek in his first game back since September and he was clearly still not up to the tempo of Saturday's game before he was replaced by the Icelander on 67 minutes. And Moyes even pushed skipper Gregan forward to support the front two for much of the second half in an attempt to give his attack some much-needed punch.
North End trailed at half-time to a 40th minute strike from Forster which highlighted the sort of qualities Moyes had wanted to bring to Deepdale in the summer. He turned marker Colin Murdock and left him for dead before dashing into the box and hammering an unstoppable shot past Tepi Moilanen. Reading had two other good scoring chances just before the interval, but Darren Caskey wasted the first through hesitation and Forster crashed the second across the face of goal with Butler just inches off connecting.
Gregan got a yellow card for barging Butler over as he was about to take a quick free kick. And two minutes later the North End skipper was lucky not to see red after a tackle which left Phil Parkinson in a heap on the floor.
Preston have a habit of stepping up at least one gear in the second half after getting a flea in their ear during the interval. And so it was in this match with the side looking far more dangerous from the restart with Gregan in a more advanced position. David Eyres was denied a goal in the 50th minute with a back post header which Howie got down to save well on his line. And three minutes later North End were level.
Graham Alexander chipped the ball into the box, Gregan got up nod inside and Macken stretched out his boot to clip the ball beyond the keeper's grasp and into the top corner. And three minutes after that Preston were in front. Eyres took a free kick on the left, Macken couldn't quite reach it and Jackson slid in to scoop the ball high into the roof of the net.
The joy was short-lived with the visitors hitting back almost straight away to level. A corner wasn't cleared, the ball came out to Forster on the left of the area, he clipped it inside and Butler was in space to flick a header inside the near post.
Gregan might well have won the game for North End in the 69th minute when he danced through and tried to stab the ball home, but Howie got down to save. And then the skipper was just inches wide from 25 yards.
At the final whistle Reading players punched the air in celebration at taking a point and wealthy chairman John Madejski talked of his side "turning the corner." After you have spent more than £40m on the club - £5m of it on players in the last 18 months - fifth bottom of Division Two is a poor reward. In contrast Preston, whose only fee of any note this season has been £200,000, went quietly back to their dressing room to find they had gone top of the table.
Lancashire Evening Post comment -7/2/2000
Reading could be in hot water for their provocative act of gamesmanship before Saturday's draw at Preston. North End are to lodge an official complaint with the Football League claiming the antics of the visiting players in their pre-match warm-up incited fans and sparked a major safety scare.
"It was scandalous really," said Deepdale safety officer Nigel Webster today as he finalised a lengthy report to be sent to the League and the Football Safety Officers' Association. "It was a deliberate attempt, orchestrated by their manager, to provoke the Preston players. But the more serious issue here was safety. Fans were getting very upset by what was going on out there and there could have been a serious incident which could have placed both supporters and players in danger. That's why I am writing to the Football League today."
The rumpus began when keepers Scott Howie and Peter Van Der Kwaak started their warm-up routine in the Preston half of the field and refused to move despite being asked by North End No 2 Kelham O'Hanlon and then a senior steward. When their team-mates came out they too went to the Town End and there were angry exchanges as both sets of players trained in the same half.
Safety chief Webster had to take the field to ask Reading to move and they still refused. Then police became involved and it was only when an officer warned Howie and Van Der Kwaak that they could face arrest if they continued that the visitors reluctantly trotted up field.
"It was absolutely ridiculous," said Webster. "It was an unsavoury incident and totally unnecessary. Preston deputy chairman Derek Shaw also condemned Reading's antics as "very poor." And he said: "It soured the game even before it kicked off.
North End manager David Moyes said: "I'm sure the Reading players are probably more embarrassed than anything else." Reading manager Alan Pardew insisted later that he had not witnessed the incident.
Lancashire Evening Post - 8/2/2000
READING WARNED BY POLICE
'Don't Repeat Preston Antics At Blackpool'
LANCASHIRE Police will be prepared to arrest a Reading player tonight if they incite the crowd at Blackpool like they did before the game at Preston on Saturday. Officers on duty tonight at Bloomfield Road have been warned to watch out for a repeat performance after Reading players and assistant manager Martin Allen warmed-up on Saturday in front of the home fans' Town End and refused to move into the other half of the pitch after repeated requests, including one from police.
"Had things escalated a little more, with more supporters involved, then it would have become a police matter," a senior Preston police officer told the Lancashire Evening Post. "It could have got to the stage where, to prevent a breach of the peace occurring, there was the possibility of us arresting a player."
North End are making a formal complaint to the Football League about the behaviour, claiming that the visitors' actions could have incited fans to invade the pitch and there were genuine fears that someone could have got hurt.
Inspector Andy Baxter said: "It wasn't really a policing issue at that stage, but it would have turned into one had fans become more agitated than they were. Had it been a bit later when there were more people in the ground, and had there been a risk that some would invade the pitch, then we would have taken it further. I have been in contact with my colleagues at Blackpool and warned them just in case it happens tonight at Bloomfield Road."
Reading were also accused of underhand tactics even before the players took the field. North End were forced to wear all white after the visitors turned up with the dark shorts which clashed with Preston's navy ones. It has been suggested that Reading did this deliberately to upset PNE's preparations.
Allen saw Preston destroy Oxford 4-0 on Tuesday night and their pre-match behaviour and overtly physical first-half approach could have been designed to upset the home side. It worked, earning Reading a 2-2 draw but that point still put Preston top of the table.
Lancashire Evening Post - 9/2/2000
Bees knees blast for 'smug' PNE
By Brian Ellis
Reading have launched an astonishing attack on Second Division leaders Preston, branding them "smug" and admitting Saturday's pre-match antics were a deliberate ploy to rattle them. And amazingly manager Alan Pardew hasn't left it there. He has also reported match referee Scott Mathieson to the FA - for not sending off North End skipper Sean Gregan when he rose to the bait!
"We shook 'em up," gloated Pardew, whose tactics earned his struggling side a point in a 2-2 draw. "I don't want people to think we are indisciplined. But it was a ploy by us and it nearly worked a treat. Certainly one of their players, in my opinion, should have been sent off after 20 minutes and we are sending a video and a report about the refereeing to the FA, because I was far from happy about it. I think they (Preston) are smug in terms of they think they are the bees' knees. And we wanted to shake 'em up."
The attack is bound to cause outrage at Deepdale where a lengthy report on Reading's provocative behaviour during the warm-up was being finalised today before being sent off to the Football League. Safety chief Nigel Webster is calling for action claiming the Royals' antics caused a major safety alert. And police who had to intervene to prevent crowd trouble have admitted they would have arrested at least one of the visiting players on the pitch had the situation continued much longer.
Preston allege the whole affair was "orchestrated" in an attempt to wind up the North End players. But it was the affect on the crowd which caused the biggest concern. "This wasn't just a harmless bit of fun," insisted former police chief Webster. "It was serious incident, no two ways about it. I had to go on to the pitch to try and resolve it and at that time I had a major safety issue on my hands. And in addition to the chance of someone getting hurt, if any Preston fans had decided to try and enter the pitch to vent their wrath against a Reading player then Preston North End would have been held responsible for that. It was totally unprofessional and uncalled for on the part of Reading. And there is no doubt in my mind that it was a deliberate act by the Reading management not only to incite the players but also cause problems with the home crowd."
Preston boss David Moyes has tried to stay clear of the controversy. But he admitted: "Psyching up the opposition is part of football and we have to learn to live with it and get on with it. It's hard to say how it affected my players on Saturday. But we learn from everything we do. We have had a chat about it and hopefully we will be better prepared if it happens again. It's all part of our education."
Lancashire Evening Post - probably 9/2/2000
Reading fans hit back as warm-up row gets hotter
These E-mail's were sent to the Evening Post by Reading supporters who read our Monday paper on our Website.
Your ridiculously over-the-top reporting of the way Reading approached the game on Saturday, has to be one of the most reactionary and biased pieces of journalism I have ever had the misfortune to come across. Did you really expect us to turn up, roll over and die? As for Sean Gregan, good player that he is, if a Reading player had committed the fouls he had, he would have been walking down the tunnel for an early shower long before the final whistle.
Diddums - poor old Preston players put off their game because Reading warmed up in their half! If they're that easily distracted they have got no chance of going up. Fancy you using that as an excuse. Have you got your excuse ready for the next time the opponents play better than your beloved PNE?
I must congratulate you on giving me one of the best laughs of the day. To try and excuse a poor performance by Preston by saying they were upset at Reading warming up in their half of the pitch is so funny it quite takes my breath away. If you have to make excuses like this when your team earns a draw, how do you manage when they lose?
As you are a local paper one can expect your sports reporting to be somewhat partisan but your travesty of a report of the Preston v Reading game was laughable. Do you think Gregan would fancy doubling his wages? The rest of them you can keep.
I've never read such a load of rubbish in all my life. If you can't be gracious in defeat or even after drawing, why bother?
You certainly seem to have an enormous chip on your shoulder. Two players decide to join Reading instead of Preston and you don't seem to be able to take it.
Will you also send a report or at least do something about your supporters who rushed to the front of the stand and quite clearly spat at Martin Butler when he scored his goal.
What biased football reporting and what a huge fuss about two teams warming up in the same half of the field. I notice there was no mention of the fact that when Butler scored a North end fan ran towards him and spat at him. All the RFC fans think the report was just sour grapes. I thought it was an even game and a 2-2 result was fair for both teams.
Is this what passes for excitement in Preston these days? At the Madejski Stadium, visiting teams quite frequently decide which half they'll warm up at and no fuss is made. So why did Preston choose to make an issue of it?
You're biased!!!
Lancashire Evening Post - 10/02/2000
Gregan lucky to stay on
After being at the North End v Reading game, I can only agree with the response of the Reading fans through your website. I for one was happy with a draw. We have got no excuses, this was a poor game for PNE and Alan Pardew obviously did his homework on us, even if a bit below the belt with the pre-match warm-up. Sean Gregan lost his cool from the start, and should of been sent off. David Moyes knows this "psyching out" banter cost us three points and hopefully won't be repeated through hot headed players. Keep up the good work to the board and management, for we are potentially the biggest club in Europe!
Mick Barnes, Bank Head Lane, Hoghton, Preston
We used to be the same
The Reading game was a bad day at the office, and not one that will be sunk in despair. Wind up tactics were reminiscent of the John Beck era, where every psychological edge was used to compensate for apparent lack of ability. So perhaps we should not blame Pardew too much, but instead rejoice that under the Moyes' Boys we continue to move onwards and upwards to better greens. That is in stark contrast to moneybags Reading have to contemplate another season in Division Two, assuming that Pardew's sad attempts to achieve popularity with his own fans actually keeps them up.
Paul Swallow, Higher Walton
North End proud but certainly not smug
In my opinion, Alan Pardew was some way wide of the mark when he claimed that Preston as a team are smug. Self confident maybe, but certainly not smug. I would argue also, that Mr Mathieson was possibly the best referee I have seen at Deepdale this season in terms of positioning, communication with his assistants, his application of the advantage rule and his overall control of what was a very bad tempered game. While I must agree Brian Ellis' match reports sometimes seem to come from another planet, I take issue with the Reading fans over the behaviour of their team. David Moyes was spot on when he claimed the players must be embarrassed, because for such a talented group of players (which regardless of league position, they are) to have to resort to that kind of antic in order to gain a result suggests their minds are more focussed upon their bumper pay packets than the job in hand.
M Eastham (by e-mail)
I witnessed the whole scene on Saturday from start to finish, and in my opinion we were only minutes away from a full scale punch up involving players and fans alike. I for one had lost it by then, and had picked out their coach Martin Allen as my number one target. To say it was a wind up is a joke. They pushed it too far for that. I bet they wouldn't have done that at Millwall. Personally I feel the police should have moved in quicker. And for the Reading fans to think it is a joke, what would they have said if we had took our frustration out on them? Personally I think Reading are an absolute disgrace to the good name of football. I feel they should be taken all the way on these issues and all the other things they got up to. Regarding their fans' comments, and their manager's comment on Gregan that he should have been sent off, how much stick is that lad supposed to take? He nearly got his face kicked off in the first few minutes yet he walked away. Yet when Butler got tackled, he went down quicker than Jurgen Klinsmann! Finally, if there's any justice in football, there'll be trying their little girlie games in Division Three next year.
Mr Cowell, Preston
I have just read yesterday' Evening Post regarding the PNE/Reading game. I can't believe it, I am so angry. We might be top of Division Two but our play is not that brilliant we are smug with ourselves. Credit where it's due, the manager and players know when they have had a bad game. I appreciate fans are usually biased to their own team and fans who are objective are few and far between (or is it only the totally biased ones who write in). But some of the remarks of some Reading fans who have wrote in beggar belief! They have totally disregarded their own manager's admission that they have deliberately tried to wind us up to put us off our game. A lot of clubs try and do that to us now, but never like Reading have done and it nearly worked. Are Reading so doubtful of their own ability that they have to resort to those tactics to gain an advantage? With the Reading manager's admission that the antics were premeditated so as to put us off our game and the players' subsequent actions on the pitch tells me only one thing - that Reading have conspired and cheated to gain an advantage and to get a player sent off. I accept there are certain mind games played but come on, let's be sensible! This kind of behaviour should be jumped on no matter which team has resorted to it. The managers and the teams may be able to put it behind them but the fans are not so forgiving.
Regarding the game, in my opinion, PNE played some good football at times, when they were allowed to, as did Reading. Reading were always dangerous on the break with Forster and Butler. I was disappointed not to come away with three points but I think a draw was fair. Some Reading fans have accused the Evening Post and Radio Lancashire with bias towards PNE. Sometimes I wonder if I have been at the same game but I have found the Evening Post does not shy away from criticising PNE when they have not been at their best. As for Radio Lancashire - they tell it how it is, whether good or bad, and I have great respect for their combined knowledge. Keep up the good work. On a more biased note, PNE keep up the good work, let's do it this season. Well done Sean Gregan for walking away when intimidation comes flying in.
Mike Roberts, St Annes
Reading manager Alan Pardew must be a desperate man. His confession of a pre-match 'ploy' last Saturday must be a source of acute embarrassment to all Reading fans, and demonstrates just how low a team without confidence will stoop to scrape a result. Thank goodness North End have a manager of integrity in David Moyes. While Reading are devising their next cunning ploy (perhaps itching powder in the opposition's shorts? Tying their opponent's boot laces together? or stink bombs in the opposition's goalmouth?) the rest of Division Two will be playing football. And If North End are proud (I think Reading misunderstood that as smug), we're proud because no-one is doing better in Division Two, and with more style, than North End.
As Saturday's game kicked off, Alan Pardew revealed his game plan - to get Sean Gregan sent off. Extra training sessions with a local amateur dramatics' society saw Reading players theatrically throw themselves to the ground clutching various random limbs whenever Gregan entered the same half of the pitch. The referee had the common sense not to fall for it. Gregan stayed on the pitch because at no time did he react, and, because Pardew hadn't realised what and accomplished and composed footballer he has become. Reading's own accomplished footballers, Nicky Forster and Martin Butler, now stand on the brink of realising their ambitions with the Royals, while securing the kind of personal terms that North End couldn't stretch to - they'll be the highest paid footballers in Division Three, and have all the stink bombs and itching powder they want.
Richard Glynn, Broadgate, Preston
So, Alan Pardew thinks we are smug. Of course we are smug, we're top of the league, best team in the league, number one. Pardew has spent a vast amount of money on the team currently at the foot of the table. Wonderful team Mr Pardew! If those antics are the best you can offer, well who knows, the chairman's vote of confidence may follow. Football is a family sport and entertainment industry where fans pay a lot of money for a match, not to be treated to your childish grasp at straws attitude to the game. So you think Gregan should have been sent off? You had that idea before the kick off. Unfortunately for you, you failed and he showed you what a class player he is, the sort of player you clearly don't have. If you and your staff need road maps for Wrexham or Wycombe, or maybe Brighton, then I'm sure thousands of Prestonians would willingly oblige. Football can well do without your childish attitude to management.
Ian Robinson, Preston
It is sad to see that a team that spends millions on players and on their ground have to stoop to such a low level to gain a point. But if that's what the Southerners want to play at, then good luck to them.
Mark Kelly, Lostock Hall
Spencer Collyer (on the mailing list) - 28/2/2000
I understand that Preston have lodged a formal complaint with the FA about Asaba's conduct on Saturday. Apparently they feel that it was unfair of Gillingham to bring him on as a substitute, because their (Preston's) defenders had exhausted themselves hacking lumps out of the Gillingham side already, and bringing Asaba on so late meant they didn't have enough time to kick the s**t out of him before he scored.
Lancashire Evening Post (part of the match report after Preston lost 2-0 at home to Gillingham) - 28/2/2000
Not for the first time this season, Sean Gregan came in for some rough treatment, much of it unpunished by referee Jones - the same official who was in charge when last season's infamous Battle of Sixfields erupted at Northampton. The Barrow policeman did yellow card Mark Saunders for a crude challenge which left the North End skipper in a heap on the floor. But, even though four players were to find their way into his notebook during the first half alone, poor Gregan had to put up with more than his fair share of aggravation. Wycombe, Reading, Bury and now Gillingham have all targeted the midfielder in visits to Deepdale over the past five weeks. One day, hopefully soon, a referee will twig what is going on and stamp on it before someone gets badly hurt.
Reading Chronicle - 11/02/2000
PRESTON might have had some grounds for complaint against Reading's menacing warm up tactics but you didn't hear them moaning about the standard of refereeing during the match, did you? that's because the Lillywhites mostly got away with murder from referee Scott Mathieson. Firstly, there was the incident with skipper Sean Gregan who simply had to go for two malicious fouls in the space of 30 seconds, but he escaped with just a caution and warning. Soon after Peter Grant took a boot to the throat but the referee played advantage TO PRESTON, then Gregan tried a bit of Nicky Forster magic only to trip over his own legs in front of the referee when no Reading player was within six feet of him. Guess what? Free kick to Preston. But the ultimate blow came in the second-half when Linvoy Primus appeared to have won the ball in a perfectly good challenge on David Eyres. Another free-kick to Preston and Michael Jackson equalised. So, Oi, Preston, stop that whinging now and count yourselves lucky that you even got a point.
Lancashire Evening Post back page - 12/2/2000
NOW EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!
By Brian Ellis
Wind-up merchants Reading will be asked to explain their conduct before last Saturday's game at Preston when a Football League inquiry gets under way next week. League officials have now received North End's lengthy report on the provocative warm-up routine which threatened to cause crowd trouble at Deepdale.
And Royals' boss Alan Pardew is to be invited to put his side of the argument before a decision is made on charging him, coach Martin Allen and any of the players with misconduct. Preston have reported Reading for inciting the crowd by deliberately warming up in the same half of the pitch as David Moyes and his squad. Despite repeated requests to move upfield, it took police intervention - and the threat of arrest - before the visitors agreed to move.
And North End say their actions wound fans up so much that there was a very real risk of someone getting hurt. "This wasn't just a harmless piece of fun," said Deepdale safety chief Nigel Webster. "We had a serious situation on our hands that could have turned nasty. It was totally unprofessional and uncalled for on the part of Reading."
An unrepentant Pardew has since confessed that it was a deliberate attempt to wind the North End players up. "It was a ploy by us and it nearly worked a treat," he said. "I think they (Preston) are smug in terms of they want to think they are the bees' knees. And we wanted to shake 'em up."
A League spokesman explained that after receiving the report from Deepdale the next step would be to ask Reading for their version of events before the matter could be considered. In the meantime North End are refusing to make any further comment.
Deputy Chairman Derek Shaw said, "Nigel (Webster) has sent a lengthy report to the League and now it is up to them. "I think everyone at Preston North End would prefer to get down to playing football now and I don't think we want to be going on any more about this. We don't want it hanging over the heads of the manager and the players. It is with the authorities now and we will leave it to them to decide what needs to be done next."
Lancashire Evening Post - 15/2/2000
The words sour and grapes spring to mind!
There are quite a lot of issues here. The only way that Reading can be regarded as rivals with Preston is that Reading have signed two strikers that Preston would have liked to have had playing for them this season. Reading fans are making out that nothing untoward happened and that players who are visiting their ground choose the end they kick in at on a regular basis, with no problems. They have also tried to wind up PNE fans on the internet. Bristol Rovers fans say that they did this with them when they were top of the division.
The bad behaviour began before getting on the pitch. Reading arrived with shorts that enforced a change of kit by North end. Aren't Reading and Preston the only two teams allowed to continue playing in their first choice of kit, if they wish to do so? If north end were smug or the bees knees they could have insisted that they weren't going to change their kit and made Reading play in one of their(pne's) alternates. I have been watching North End since 1960 and have never witnessed such a child-like act from a visiting team. The Reading players were visibly embarrassed by what was expected of them. The Reading first team coach who lead the debacle hugged and patted Moysie on the back then ignored his request to move to the Shankly end, what kind of sportsman is he? There was a safety problem because things were getting very heated. Even when the coach and majority of the Reading squad had moved to the Shankly end, at the Polices request, the goalkeepers insisted on staying at the Town end. It appeared that the Police were about to arrest one of them before they moved.
What drove Reading to such unsporting behaviour? Were there some other goings-on behind the scenes? After the two players were signed they certainly appeared to come out with the same sort of comments, do Reading have a script for new players? The words sour and grapes come to mind. Spent £40 million and still stuck near the bottom. Forster and Butler may prove their worth in the future but Forster has only scored five this season which is very poor for a striker.
G Jackson
Being 'smug' is better than being on the dole. Alan Pardew's actions and comments about the Reading game are only a poor attempt to keep the Reading fans, Chairman, Board and press off his back. For he knows that his application for the Jobseekers Allowance has been made.
Darren Eckton, Brackenbury Close, Lostock Hall
Being a biased North Ender, Readings tactics only emphasis the fear opposing teams have of our quality football, and the only hope of getting any kind of result is to stoop to underhand methods, as seen last Saturday. North End should take that as a major compliment, as it shows the fear that they instil into opponents morale.
John Mahoney, Bannister Hall Lane, Higher Walton
Money helps but clubs needs quality managers
I was absolutely incensed about the way Reading approached the game. As a long term Preston NE fan I know that Beck used to play all kind of games with the opposition and as you could see that did absolutely nothing for us. The fact that Mr Pardew admitted that it was a pre-determined attempt to try to put PNE off their game then shouldn't that be a genuine case to fine (at the least) reading players and coaches. I know myself that I was on the verge of getting involved so the police should have arrested the players involved.
As for Mr Pardew stating that Proud Preston are smug I have just got to say that the reason he is saying that is because almost everyone preston have played this season have commented on how they are organized, well prepared and play good, attractive, quality football and that we will get promoted this season. Reading have spent over a million pounds this season so what's going on? I'll tell you, it is down to them thinking money will keep them up. Money does help but you need to have quality managers and coaches such as David Moyes and Kelham O'Hanlon. Finally i would like to say well done to the boys and gregan in particular for not falling for the tricks that lowly reading tried.
P Rothwell, Southport
Moyes demonstrated professional approach
I think David Moyes should be applauded for his professional approach in the way he's reacted over the Reading incident. As for Reading manager Alan Pardew branding PNE as 'smug', it sounds like jealousy to me. At the pre-season friendly with Sunderland, one of the Sunderland supporters said to me 'PNE will go up this season!' The Everton manager, amongst other managers PNE have met in their recent cup matches, praised PNE's football skills. David Moyes is right to get on with the game and ignore the conflict with Reading (we won't be playing them again!). If this was two school children falling out, the sensible one would just ignore the others comments and walk away. David Moyes is doing just that. Wake up Mr Pardew. Concentrate on your own team - you need it! When you're back in the third division, re-read the rules and you'll find that you should provide the correct away kit! As for Moyes and the boys - keep up the good work.
CG, Ribbleton
Are we to believe that table-topping North End, professional footballers, who'd just played in front of 40,000 at Goodison, could be wound up by Pardew's crew kicking in at the wrong end? Maybe they were more incensed at losing out in the transfer of the two strikers. Anyway, that was amateur winding up compared to the real pro-winder up of the game, like John Beck. You know, they guy who used to manage North End.
Allan Fazackerley, Monks Walk, Penwortham
Dave Arlett (on the mailing list) - 15/02/2000
The following was apparently in the Lancashire Evening Post too...
Preston 5 Reading 0
Today started with a warm reception for the PNE board, backing for their decision to charge away supporters triple, therefore letting in the Preston faithful for free. PNE got off to a flyer, when Gregan converted a cross from the linesman, two minutes before kick-off. This is a day that Reading will want to forget, after having 22 of their party cautioned and 6 sent off. It started with a booking for Caskey, when he questioned with the Ref, why Parkinson was being beaten up in the changing room.
Fifteen minutes into the game, the travelling support were baton charged by the home stewards. This was on the insistence of PNE's safety officer, as he saw their wearing of scarves a blatant attempt at inciting the home crowd. PNE's 2nd goal of the day came after Gregan was fouled in the box, Robinson adjudged to have caught his boot 15 times with his head. On the 17th re-take of the spot kick, Howie was soundly beaten.
Into the second half now, and rain, allowing PNE to Field an extra 5 players, as is fair. By now the Reading fans had been moved to the car park, as their incessant cheering for their team is behaviour that will not be tolerated. Martin Allen was cautioned for coaching, and then when repeated the offence, he was struck down by a mini cooper, driven by the Chief Constable of Lancashire police. Rather unfairly, Reading would not give in, and spoilt the party somewhat be creating some decent chances. (has nobody told them the we are Preston! and at home). Typical of these small clubs and their attitude. PNE's 3rd goal was created by bad luck, bad luck for Howie who did not see the brick from the crowd until too late. He was warned about wearing a green jersey. The 4th and 5th both came when RFC were down to 5 players, in the 168th and 190th minutes.
Overall a good performance from PNE, although the manager was quoted as saying, 'Luck was not on our side today' and 'Teams come here with these spoiling tactics, it's our fans I feel sorry for'.
PNE have confirmed that they have reported Reading to the FA for 'having a nicer ground'. With the chairman commenting that Reading do not seem to realise that we were a great side once.
Mailing list (unknown contributor with reference to Preston's loss to Hartlepool in the LDV Vans Trophy on 10/1/2000)
I have heard that Preston are planning to appeal about their cup exit, as Hartlepool turned up at Deepdale with 11 players and tried to win. A Preston safety officer said that that sort of activity was a deliberate ploy to intimidate the home fans and that he could not be held responsible for the Preston fans' actions. "We sent a tame copper onto the pitch to remonstrate with the Hartlepool forward line, but they responded by scoring a winning goal. Some of their 77 fans even cheered and made more noise that the Preston fans, which put our players off their game. We take a very dim view of this and are hoping that the FA will reinstate us to the competition.
Lancashire Evening Post - 6/3/2000
Moyes fury as Gregan is ko'd
By Brian Ellis
Blazing boss David Moyes has hit out at the tackle which led to skipper Sean Gregan being stretchered off in Saturday's derby win at Burnley. The North End manager branded the challenge by Preston-born Lenny Johnrose as "terrible" and claimed it should have earned the Clarets' midfielder a red card. Gregan needed six stitches in an horrific gash on his leg and will almost certainly miss tomorrow's home game with Colchester. "Johnrose deserved to be sent off for that," he stormed. "Our physio says it was one of the worst gashes he has ever seen. That says it all about the tackle. There are no broken bones, thank goodness. But that tackle could have been that bad."
Team-mate Michael Jackson, who witnessed the incident at close quarters early in the game, said later: "It was a bad cut, you could see right through to the bone on his shin. Sean isn't the sort of player who rolls around on the floor when he's not badly hurt. I don't want to comment too much on it, but I don't think it was a very good tackle at all." Moyes fears North End could be without their skipper for more than one match at a crucial time of the season. And it follows growing concern in recent weeks that opposition sides could be targeting Gregan because of the massive influence he has on the promotion favourites.
The tackle happened during a frantic opening to the game at Turf Moor. He got up and tried to play on, but then signalled for treatment and was clearly in a lot of pain as he was carried off. It is the second season on the trot that the Preston midfielder has failed to finish a game at Burnley - last year he was also hurt in the televised clash between the two rivals and was out for the next two matches.
Mailing list (two unknown contributors after Reading had beaten Bournemouth 2-0) - 6/3/2000
Q. Everyone notice how Bournemouth came out and quite wantonly warmed in the half of the field we now use......?
A. Yes, I was quite disappointed that Clive Doyle didn't appear and make a big scene about it. After all, it really wound us up and could have sparked a riot. All in all, I reckon the team did brilliantly to manage to snatch a win, given how they were clearly put off their game completely by the way Bournemouth warmed up in our half.
Lancashire Evening Post - 10/3/2000
Gregan's injury has been coming
By Brian Ellis
Sean Gregan's horrific leg injury at Burnley has re-opened the debate about whether the Preston skipper is top of the Second Division hit list. Lenny Johnrose's tackle, which resulted in a gash down to the bone, was just the latest in a string of blood curdling challenges "The Guvnor" has had to endure this season. And manager David Moyes is in no doubt - Gregan HAS become a marked man! "I think other teams have realised Sean is an integral part of our team and they are doing what they can to stop him playing," said Moyes. "They know he is a physical presence and they are trying to give him a bit of treatment at times. But he is a big lad and he can handle himself. He gets on with it and very rarely do you hear him moaning about it. He's no whinger," said Moyes.
Last Saturday's cruncher at Turf Moor was the first time fans have seen Gregan laid out by an opponent. He had to be stretchered off and needed six stitches in the wound on his left leg. Moyes later branded the tackle as "terrible" and claimed Johnrose - ironically a Preston lad - should have been sent off for it. Gregan was forced to miss Tuesday's defeat by Colchester and is also expected to be out of tomorrow's trip Bournemouth.
Yet, even though he has lost his inspirational skipper for at least two matches at a crucial time of the season, Moyes will NOT be asking referees to give the player special protection. "I wouldn't do that," he said. "We want our players to tackle and so we can't mind being tackled back. But it would have been interesting to see if that tackle had been carried out by Sean Gregan just what the outcry would have been. In the past Sean has probably had a bit of a reputation with referees for the wrong reasons. But I think that if referees talk to each other they will all know that he has been 10 times better than even a year ago. What happened last Saturday is in the past. I'm not going to go back on that tackle or the player or the club involved. I'm talking generally. And I believe that folk are looking for him."
Gregan's immense presence at the heart of the North End engine room this season has been one of the major factors in the side's push for promotion. It has also brought him a bit of attention from clubs in the Premiership - Watford and Everton being the two most talked about in the national newspapers. Yet, despite the incessant speculation, the player still remains firmly committed to Preston and is totally focussed on getting them out of the bottom divisions for the first time in 20 years.
The plot to remove Gregan from the North End equation this season hasn't just involved attempts to cripple him. More often than not the rough stuff has had another, some would say even more sinister, motive . . . to prompt a reaction which might earn him a red card. But manager Moyes has news for the wind-up merchants: Gregan is walking away from all that stuff these days. "His record in recent months speaks for itself," said Moyes. "He is controlling a lot of situations and he isn't putting himself in circumstances where he could get in trouble." Gregan has served two suspensions this season - one for a sending off at Wycombe back in August and the other for totting up five bookings by November. But in the three months since he served that last one-match ban at the start of December, the North End captain has been on his very best behaviour. He has picked up only two more yellow cards in 16 appearances and both of those for tackles.
Lancashire Evening Post - 6/4/2000
What's going on demand PNE?
By Brian Ellis
Preston have written to the FA demanding to know why wind-up merchants Reading have so far escaped punishment for their provocative behaviour at Deepdale two months ago. North End reported the Royals for a warm-up routine which almost sparked crowd trouble before the game on February 5. But so far there has been no word from Lancaster Gate about the outcome of an inquiry into the incident. And Deepdale's ground safety officer Nigel Webster has now written to the game's ruling body asking for an explanation. "We just want to know what is happening," he said today. "We haven't heard a thing since I sent off my lengthy report about the incident almost two months ago. The Football League passed it on to the Football Association and we understand they have been looking into it for several weeks now."
Tempers flared when Reading's two goalkeepers started warming up in the same half of the field as the Preston squad. They were later joined by the rest of their team-mates in what manager Alan Pardew admitted later was a deliberate move to upset North End. Safety chief Webster, fearing crowd trouble, went on to the pitch to ask them to move to the other end and they refused. It was only when police threatened to arrest players for inciting the fans that Reading switched to the Kop end of the ground.
The wind-up worked and the visitors went home with a point from a 2-2 draw. Later, Pardew launched an astonishing verbal attack on North End, branding them "smug" and admitting the stunt had been pre-planned. "We shook 'em up," he gloated. "It was a ploy by us and it nearly worked a treat. I think they (Preston) are smug in terms of they think they are the bees' knees and we wanted to shake them up."
North End's official complaint, which cited the potential for a pitch invasion, was sent to both the League and the Football Safety Officers' Association. Reading were asked to explain their behaviour as soon as the matter was passed on to the FA who handle disciplinary matters. But two months on Preston are still waiting to hear what the outcome has been and are refusing to let the matter rest. "This sort of behaviour should not be acceptable in football - there could have been a very serious incident as a result of Reading's conduct that day," added Webster. "We sent a very detailed report to the authorities and, two months on, we now want to know what they have done about it."
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