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Archived News - February 2002

Thursday, 28th February

The game at Wycombe Wanderers was Reading's last game in February. That means two things - firstly, the last game with the yellow ball and also the last chance this season for players to pick up a suspension for five yellow cards. This is because for some reason the penalty for a fifth yellow card from March onwards is only a warning. The two bookings we picked up in the Wycombe game (Sammy Igoe and Andy Hughes) will not lead to a suspension, whilst those other players currently on four yellow cards (Graeme Murty and Adie Williams) need not be so careful for the remainder of the season.

It is still possible to pick up suspensions for red cards, of course, but it is now very unlikely that we will receive any further suspensions due to accumulated yellow cards.

Wednesday, 27th February

Reading's reserves drew 1-1 against bottom-placed Swindon Town at Newbury this afternoon. For a match report, click here.

Tuesday, 26th February

Reading beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 away and so are now six points clear at the top of the table. For match details (report to follow), click here.

There is a Meridian Match tonight from 11.30pm to 12midnight on Meridian. The main game is certain to be Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion (weather permitting), but they might also mention Reading. Probably not, though.

Monday, 25th February

Reading have taken Australian youth international Gareth Edds on a few days trial. His contract with Nottingham Forest expires this summer, and he is currently looking for another club. He is a midfielder and has played in Division 1, but rather more last season than this.

There had been a "threat" that Bury might of out of existence this week. The court proceedings actually begin on Monday, 4th March so it won't be this week in any event. I don't think it's all likely that they will go bust, but if they were to do so all their fixtures would be removed from the League table this season. The new top seven would look like this:

So the effect on us would be small but mostly positive. The overall winners would be Bristol City. A careful reading of elsewhere on this site will tell you that I have a particular loathing for the town of Bury and I would not be at all sorry to see their football club disappear in a puff of smoke.

Saturday, 23rd February

Reading beat Stoke City 1-0 thanks to a Jamie Cureton goal. "As usual other results go our way" (perhaps this only works on Saturdays?), and we are now four points clear at the top of the table. For a match report, click here. Before the match a new big flag appeared, with nice bright blue and white hoops on it. Unfortunately it was upside-down by the time it reached the North Stand but at least it was there.

Here's something you might want to get used to - "HA 0". HA is of course ZHA without the Z.

(Added Sunday, 23rd February). In the FA Premier Academy League, Reading's Under-17 side had a fine 2-0 win away to Millwall, whilst the Under-19s lost 1-0 at home to the same club.

Friday, 22nd February

Andy Hughes, Graeme Murty and Sammy Igoe feature on BBC1's "They Think It's All Over" tonight. The show is on at 9.30pm with a repeat at 1.15am on Saturday night / Sunday morning. If however you live in Wales, it is not on Friday night and instead you can see it at 10.20pm on Saturday night.

Thursday, 21st February

Bringing things rather more up-to-date, there is strong speculation that Reading will announce the permanent signing of Kevin Watson in the near future. The Chief Executive of the club has confirmed that we have put in another bid, of £100,000, and that this has been turned down. Officially, Watson is currently injured, although some think that this is merely a convenient excuse for him not to be playing. Stockport County have also shown interest in him, but as Watson has expressed a very strong preference to live in the South, they surely have no chance (quite apart from any League table-related reason!).

Whichever club owns Watson this Saturday, he will not be playing as he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on 9th February and so must face a one-match ban.

Today is the 130th anniversary of Reading's first ever game, which you can read about here. If you saw a piece on this in the Reading Chronicle today and thought that it didn't make sense, you'd be absolutely right. It rivalled Teamtalk for the number of misquotes and factual errors that can be crammed into a few lines. The truth is that the first game did take place in February 1872, whilst the exact foundation date of the club is still not certain. On that basis, it has to stay as "established 1871", at least for the time being. However, there is no way that the foundation was in February 1871 - if the year is right that first meeting has to have taken place towards the end of the year.

Wednesday, 20th February

Reading's reserve side lost 1-0 to Portsmouth this evening.

Phil Whitehead, Adi Viveash and James Harper have all been name to play in this evening's reserve game at Portsmouth (7pm at Fratton Park). This means it will be Harper's first game back since injury, and Viveash's first excluding the scholars trial match that he took part in last week. Whitehead of course played against Swindon Town last Thursday.

There had been some expectation that trialist goalkeeper Frank Talia (at the club with a view to gaining a contract to act as cover for the remainder of the season) would play some part in this game, but he is not named in the Reading line-up, with Jamie Ashdown being on the bench.

Monday, 18th February

The latest centre-back to go down with an injury is John Mackie who was, apart from the on-loan Leo Roget, our only fit player at that position. It's difficult to imagine how we've ended up in this situation, because at the start of the season we had six centre-backs. This is what's happened to them:
Barry Hunter - signed for Rushden & Diamonds
Adrian Whitbread - out injured for the rest of the season
Chris Casper - forced to retire through injury
Adi Viveash - has been out injured but hopefully will play for the reserves on Wednesday
Adie Williams - out injured but with various optimistic noises being made about a comeback
John Mackie - swollen ankle, and so a doubt for Saturday

In addition, we have Ricky Allaway who has made reserve appearances but has only been a non-playing substitute for the first team. The next centre-back after him would have been Declan O'Hara but he has gone to Hartlepool United with a view to securing a contract there.

Brighton fans are currently buying tickets for the game on Saturday, 9th March at Madejski Stadium. They have been given an initial allocation of 1,980. At the moment, no-one seems to know for certain whether they will get any more than that. There is talk that Reading are not giving out any more to the away side in case we can fill the ground with home fans, whilst the official line appears to be that Reading will make a decision on the matter early next week. The way forward is clear - if you don't yet have a ticket for the game, get down the ground or on the phone NOW and buy one. Ideally, demand one in the home section of the South Stand!

After six games, Ben Roberts has left Reading and returned to Charlton Athletic. The goalkeeper has an injury that would make it pointless for him to stay another month on loan as cover for the returning Phil Whitehead.

Sunday, 17th February

Reading fans messed around by ITV shocker! As you may have seen if you're able to get the local press, today was meant to be when Reading filmed the first session of the second phase of the ITV Sports Channel quiz, "Do I Not Know That". Whilst we were waiting to go into a tough battle against Hearts and Wycombe Wanderers, the programme makers announced that there would be no filming today as all four production engineers had called in sick. (Everton at home, Manchester City away, and Tranmere Rovers away in the FA Cup 5th round are believed to be some of the illnesses concerned!) So we got a night in Manchester at ITV's expense with nothing else to show for our journey.

Saturday, 16th February

(Added 17th February) Both of our Academy teams were in action this morning against Wimbledon - the Under-19s drew 2-2 away (click here for a match report), whilst the Under-17s won 1-0 at home.

At the request of Royal Yank, I have found out more about Joseph Sydenham and written a biography that you can read here.

Friday, 15th February

Here is a late result. Very, very, very late, in fact:

Reading Football Club 0 Reading Grammar School Football Club 0

What you have just read is the result of the first ever game played by Reading Football Club. According to the club history, no record of the result existed, but I have been able to dig a little further and find it out. To read match previews, reports and notes on both the games played in our first season, click here. The result of the second game was also 0-0, again a difference from what the club history says.

The most striking thing, however, is the date of that first game - it was played on Wednesday, 21st February, 1872. This could of course prove highly embarrassing for a website named 1871! At the moment, I cannot confirm the exact date on which Reading Football Club was founded, and it is of course possible that the inaugural meeting did take place in late 1871. If not, then expect a complete rebranding of all club merchandise!

I've now published the directions to Mr Sydenham's grave for those who wish to pay their respects to the founder of Reading Football Club (in whichever year it was!). They form part of the article describing how I found the grave, and can be viewed here. I am also writing a biography of Mr Sydenham which I will publish soon, hopefully by tonight (now, hopefully by Saturday, I'm afraid).

Both managers have criticised the referee, Barry Knight, for his mishandling of last night's game. It's pretty rare for that to occur and provides more evidence for those of us who believe he should not be let loose in an under-5 beach tournament, let alone a Football League game.

Thursday, 14th February

Reading can only draw 0-0 away to Swindon Town this evening, playing half of the match a man down after Sammy Igoe was sent off for two bookable offences. Swindon had two players sent off but not until the last three minutes so we gained no advantage from their dismissals. The worst referee in the world, Barry Knight, was as always the star of the show. For match details (report to follow), click here.

Phil Whitehead made a surprise return to action after Ben Roberts failed to last the whole warm-up before the game. Also Leo Roget made his Reading debut.

At what must have been pretty close to the last minute, Reading signed Stockport County defender Leo Roget on loan in time for him to play in the game at Swindon Town this evening.

Wednesday, 13th February

Wales Under-17s lost 1-0 to Germany at Strabonheath Park, Llanelli this afternoon. Reading's Chris Davies came on as a substitute for Wales early in the second half. As far as I know this is his first international appearance at this age group. He had a goal disallowed and generally had a good game. For full details of the match, follow this link to an article in the features section.

(Added 14th February) Both Reading's Academy sides lost 3-1 to Bristol City today. The Under-17s were playing a postponed away game - I'm not sure whether the Under-19s were playing a postponed home game or if this was the game to make up for the fact that Peterborough United withdrew from the League and that therefore both clubs were one fixture short. (Later news: It was the first of those two options.)

For anyone who missed the news, today's scheduled reserve fixture against Bristol City will not take place due to the ITV-inspired fixture congestion that Reading have this week.

Tuesday, 12th February

The injury that forced Adie Williams out of the Brighton & Hove Albion match before the end last night is likely to keep him out for around a month. As things stand, that means the only choices for centre-back alongside John Mackie on Thursday night are Phil Parkinson, Matt Robinson and Ricky Allaway (Darius Henderson's knee problem means that he cannot play for more than 30 minutes, apparently). However, I understand that Reading have made contingency plans and have been keeping appraised of the situation regarding two centre-backs with the possibility of taking one of them on loan. I don't know who they are and don't know if either would be able to join before Thursday.

Adi Viveash and Phil Whitehead both had a run-out on their returns from injury. They played in a game originally arranged so that Reading could look at potential Academy scholars in the Under-16 age group. Presumably Adi and Phil therefore each counted as two players!

Monday, 11th February

Reading go down 3-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion for our first away defeat in over four months but we remain four points clear at the top of the league and we are still clearly the best team in this division when playing on grass. For a match report, click here.

We finished the game with ten men after Adie Williams went off injured, with Darius Henderson dropping back to central defence. Reports suggest that Williams will not be fit for our game away to Swindon Town on Thursday.

At about 8.15am on Tuesday, 12th February, I'm doing a head-to-head chat with a Brighton & Hove Albion fan about tonight's game on the radio station Teamtalk 252. You can find it on long wave at 252 kHz, the slot previously occupied by Atlantic 252.

As of noon, there has been heavy rain in Brighton for the last hour. The home club said that they still expected tonight's big match to go ahead, but at 1pm, Brighton announced a 4pm pitch inspection (3.45pm according to Ceefax) whilst continuing to say that they did not envisage any problems. Click here for a match preview. Radio 5 Live will have second half comentary, assuming that the match is still being played at that point.

Russell Lucas played as a substitute for Wales Under-16s against the Republic of Ireland in Llanelli on Saturday. At the time he came on to play at left-back, Wales were losing 1-0 but inspired by Russell's tough tackling they came back to draw 1-1. Having made three previous appearances in the Victory Shield tournament, Russell received his Welsh international cap after the game. He has also now been invited to travel with the Welsh FA for a week's tournament in the Republic of Ireland in May.

Sunday, 10th February

I have a very special announcement to make. After some research in local archives, I have managed to locate the grave of Mr J E Sydenham, the man who founded Reading Football Club. He is buried in Reading Cemetery, and there is still a gravestone there, although it is damaged. You can read the details of the search and discovery here. Later this week, I will add the exact directions for anyone who wishes to visit the grave.

Also later this week (if I can find a day when we don't have a game!), I will make a further spectacular revelation about the history of Reading Football Club. However, please note that neither of these stories relate to the news on Monday, 7th January when I announced that I had made a rediscovery but was not yet prepared to reveal it. I am afraid that you will have to wait a bit longer for that one, but believe me if you have the slightest interest in the club's history it will be worth the wait.

Saturday, 9th February

A last-gasp winner from Jamie Cureton gives Reading a 2-1 win at home to Notts County. For a match report, click here. Let's repeat one of my favourite recent phrases - as usual other results go our way! We are now seven points clear at the top of the table, although that lead may be cut tomorrow when Stoke City play at home to Port Vale, a game that might also see us lose our record of having the highest attendance in the division this season. (Later news added 10th February: We did indeed lose our record the highest attendance but more importantly a Stoke City defeat means that we remain seven points clear.)

Russell Lucas was expected to play for Wales Under-16s against the Republic of Ireland in Llanelli today. As yet I do not know whether he played, or what happened in the game (see 11th February news for details of the game).

In the FA Premier Academy League, Reading's Under-19s drew 0-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur, an excellent result because Spurs were second in the league table. Click here for a match report. The Under-17s were at home to Tottenham - they lost 4-1 and I think the venue might have been switched to the Tottenham Academy pitch. (Later news: The game was switched.)

Reading featured in a four-minute item on Football Focus on BBC1 today. It included interviews with Alan Pardew, John Salako and Phil Parkinson, and showed one Reading goal (by Parkinson). At the end of the feature, the BBC demonstrated their current level of professionalism by using the out-of-date four stripes shield badge to show some club facts. We've had two since then! Meanwhile Ray Stubbs and Mark Lawrenson made the usual remarks, but ending with Stubbs saying that Reading were a club that "we might see promoted next year". Slip of the tongue, prescience, or does he think we won't go up this season? The correct answer can probably be obtained by starting with the assumption that Stubbs knows nothing.

Thursday, 7th February

John Salako had another run-out as a pundit on BBC2's African Cup of Nations programme tonight, commenting on the two semi-finals. At the end of the show, he tipped Cameroon to win the final.

Basir Savage has completed his signing for Reading. According to the Reading Chronicle the fee is £25,000 now, plus a further £20,000 after four League games, plus a 15% sell-on fee, and a visit by Reading to Walton & Hersham in a friendly match this year. Savage may be loaned out to another club and because of this will not get a squad number unless Alan Pardew actually names him in a squad.

Wednesday, 6th February

The reserve side lose 2-1 away to Brentford this evening. For a match report, click here.

Tuesday, 5th February

Kick-off time for the Wales Under-17s game against Germany next Wednesday has been changed to 1.30pm. Reading's Chris Davies is in the Wales squad for the game at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli.

Well, as it's now on the official site it's obviously OK for me to say that the new signing I referred to yesterday was Basir (usually known as Bas) Savage from Walton & Hersham. He has played in the last two reserve games on trial and really impressed me. Despite being tall, he's very skilful with the ball and showed good awareness to play a part in one of the goals in his second game. Together with Darius Henderson and Nathan Tyson, it means we potentially have three very good youngsters who can play up front.

Monday, 4th February

It's about time I kept a record of national TV and radio appearances for Reading FC personnel, so to kick off - John Salako was again the pundit on BBC2's African Cup of Nations programme tonight, commenting on Cameroon v Egypt and Senegal v Democratic Republic of Congo. Introduced as "Reading's prolific goalscorer", he easily outshone the presenter Garth Crooks (not a particularly difficult task, it has to be said).

If I miss any other such appearances in the future, please let me know.

News from the Fans Forum - Reading are about to make another new signing but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to give out all the information so I won't. I will say that he looked a fine player on the two recent occasions I've seen him. The Alan Pardew announcement was pretty much as expected, and more diplomatic than I would have been under the same circumstances. He did however say that he wanted the Forum moved forward from March because "it would be all over by then". Presumably some reference to the weather.....

Other points:
Phil Parkinson has been the potential emergency centre-back should either John Mackie or Adie Williams have to miss a game, but Darius Henderson is likely to have a reserve run-out in that position as well. Also Adi Viveash should be back in a week or so.
Phil Whitehead is in training at the moment.
James Harper should be back in a week.
Some Reading players are going to feature on "They Think It's All Over".
Graeme Murty is not very Scottish, but his dad is.

Yet another Reading youngster receives an international call-up - Chris Davies is named in the 18-man Wales Under-17 squad to take on Germany at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli on Wednesday, February 13 (kick-off 7.30pm).

John Mackie has signed an extension to his contract, which was due to run out at the end of the season. His new deal goes up to the end of the 2003/04 season.

There's a Fans Forum at the Jazz Cafe (the bar formerly known as Shooters) at Madejski Stadium at 8pm tonight. Alan Pardew specifically asked for a meeting and has some special announcements for fans - I reckon it's going to be along the lines of "make some more noise, you inhibited bastards" although possibly phrased more diplomatically than that. Also expected in attendance are Kevin Dillon, Phil Parkinson and Graeme Murty.

Saturday, 2nd February

Reading draw 1-1 away to Bury. As usual in recent weeks (!), other results go our way and we are now seven points clear at the top of the table. For a match report, click here.

After the game, the Northern Royals held a social evening in Buxton, which was also attended by Phil Parkinson and plenty of Reading-based supporters.

The Under-19 side defeated Crystal Palace 4-1 this morning (game switched to Palace) - for a match report, click here. The Under-17s lost 2-0 away to Crystal Palace.

Friday, 1st February

No shock at all, but Alan Pardew is the Manager of the Month for January. After a 100% record from the six games in the month and no goals conceded there was clearly no contest. It is the second month in three that the award has headed his way.

FOR NEWS FROM JANUARY 2002, CLICK HERE

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