Does anyone remember: 3rd November 1976 ?

daib0 · Nov 22, 2011

At Elm Park Reading: Reading 2 Brighton 3 League Division 3 (now League 1)

Reading fan from Royals Rendezvous ‘in peace’, and anyway we lost that night, but what a great game of football! I seem to remember the score went: 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3. But can’t remember the goal-scorers now …
Brighton were top of the league at that moment, a ferocious proposition for Reading to face after some thirteen games or so, and you went on to get promotion (I think runners-up off top of head). You brought loads and loads of supporters that night, and we were intermingled in the ‘South Bank’ on a pleasant Autumn night (our favoured day then for mid-week games) but not a spot of bother – far from it, we had really great banter with the away fans. Perhaps the most fiercely competitive match for all the right reasons that I had ever witnessed as a Reading fan up to that point. We were enjoying life in the third tier after getting promotion the previous campaign and were sitting mid-table (little did we know then we’d go down again end of season by just a point).

So, just in case someone was there that night, please leave your memories on here!!

daibo
(mod for Reading’s “Royals Rendezvous”)

Medwayseagull · Nov 22, 2011

I was there -found the newspaper cutting. Peter Ward and Brian Horton(2) for us. Murray and Hiron for you. Readings biggest crowd of the season to date according to the report - 12,097.

bobby smith · Nov 22, 2011

Who remembers the 3-0 win when Pat Saward collapsed in the dugout

Johnnyboy · Nov 22, 2011

I was there (3-2 match), in the army stationed at Arborfield so only a bus journey away.
I have two main memories from the match, firstly loads of Brighton fans everywhere before the game, none after when I went into town for a drink! Not sure who the Reading fans disliked most then, Soldiers or Brighton fans, for once I kept quiet!
And secondly I think it was Senior? nipping in front of our defender for a couple of near post glancing headers at corners.
Great game and great atmosphere.

Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo! · Nov 22, 2011

Remember it well; organised a mini-bus from Beechams at Worthing with "Freddie Goodwin's" brother. I used to like going to Elm Park and this is probably one of the best away evening games I've been to, for both performance and atmosphere.

Gregory2Smith1 · Nov 22, 2011

the programme says we played in red,did we?

Tricky Dicky · Nov 22, 2011

Blimey - I can't remember yesterday.

Gregory2Smith1 · Nov 22, 2011

daib0 said:
At Elm Park Reading: Reading 2 Brighton 3 League Division 3 (now League 1)

Reading fan from Royals Rendezvous ‘in peace’, and anyway we lost that night, but what a great game of football! I seem to remember the score went: 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3. But can’t remember the goal-scorers now …
Brighton were top of the league at that moment, a ferocious proposition for Reading to face after some thirteen games or so, and you went on to get promotion (I think runners-up off top of head). You brought loads and loads of supporters that night, and we were intermingled in the ‘South Bank’ on a pleasant Autumn night (our favoured day then for mid-week games) but not a spot of bother – far from it, we had really great banter with the away fans. Perhaps the most fiercely competitive match for all the right reasons that I had ever witnessed as a Reading fan up to that point. We were enjoying life in the third tier after getting promotion the previous campaign and were sitting mid-table (little did we know then we’d go down again end of season by just a point).

So, just in case someone was there that night, please leave your memories on here!!

daibo
(mod for Reading’s “Royals Rendezvous”)

diab0

may i ask,who were your big rivals back then,oxford,swindon,the 2 bristols?

noticed in the programme,the ref was from swindon and a lino was from bristol,any dodgy decisions that night

hillianseagull · Nov 22, 2011

Great game! Remember getting into Brighton on the Seagulls Special early hours of the morning. My Stepdad parked behind Pelham street, and proceeded to turn left into Trafalgar Street going wrong way down a one way. Only to meet 2 Bobbies on their beat, flagged us down and told him to get down to bottom of the road sharpish!!!! :dunce:

Don Tmatter · Nov 22, 2011

Was Robin Friday injured for that 1 or had he joined Cardiff by then?

Peter Grummit · Nov 22, 2011

Remember it? I was in goal!

Didn't we have about half the crowd?

This game was between the two Derby League cup ties - for the away game we took THREE charter trains, a plane and a fleet of coaches. It was the start of the huge away following period and big home crowds - 26k+ for the return win over the Biscuitmen in April.

PG

Gregory2Smith1 · Nov 22, 2011

Peter Grummit said:
Remember it? I was in goal!

Didn't we have about half the crowd?

This game was between the two Derby League cup ties - for the away game we took THREE charter trains, a plane and a fleet of coaches. It was the start of the huge away following period and big home crowds - 26k+ for the return win over the Biscuitmen in April.

PG

PG

i know you played in green,but did we play in red?

i went to both derby games and we played in green up there

Freddie Goodwin. · Nov 22, 2011

My memory must be fading because I can recall few details apart from it being a cracking match and great atmosphere.

Somebody mentioned a 3-0 win at Elm Park and I remember that one, us in our 'Arsenal' kit and the goals all crackers from our full backs, Templeman & Spearitt(2)

Lord Bamber · Nov 22, 2011

Don Tmatter said:
Was Robin Friday injured for that 1 or had he joined Cardiff by then?

Robin Friday - Legend.

The book "the greatest player you never saw" an awesome read.

Gregory2Smith1 · Nov 22, 2011

robin friday,he's down as playing no 9 in the programme

TheMajor · Nov 22, 2011

As soon as I saw the thread title - I thought "Nobby Horton scored in that game" but I can't remember to post a letter I picked up ten minutes ago :nono:

daib0 · Nov 23, 2011

Gregory2 said:
diab0

may i ask,who were your big rivals back then,oxford,swindon,the 2 bristols?

noticed in the programme,the ref was from swindon and a lino was from bristol,any dodgy decisions that night

Basically, I'd say Aldershot and Oxford. Aldershot for such geographical closeness (even though we usually won!) and Oxford because we sensed them 'uppity'! Swindon didn't have so much sense of a real disliking, and the Bristol clubs even less. We were well wary of Portsmouth though, their fans gave us a bit of aggro about that time, which is one of the reasons we remember the Brighton game - you guys were as good as gold! And of course, Wycombe hadn't yet come into the league ...

daib0 · Nov 23, 2011

Don Tmatter said:
Was Robin Friday injured for that 1 or had he joined Cardiff by then?

I think he was around till Christmas time that year ('76). He was already into the drugs stuff by the time of our match together, but it was all kept covered up from public knowledge then - or at least as schoolboys we weren't told anything ...
Fantastic positive memories of him as well, I was at the Tranmere game the previous season when he scored 'that' goal - the most incredible I've ever seen live in 35 years! In fact, I would have seen virtually every home game he played for us. Despite a fairytale Cardiff debut, it lasted so little ...

He's obviously got a pride of place on our "Royals Rendezvous" so those who know his reputation, do check out "Historical" part and "Media" section: can't give you links until I get to 25 posts so message says that I get! But Royals Rendezvous is already listed on your forum lists ... and we're wum-free, promised!

Cheers,
daib0

Gwylan · Nov 23, 2011

I remember that game really well. The Seagulls Special used some small station rather than the Reading Central and there seemed to be thousands and thousands of Brighton walking to the ground. It was a cracking game - Wardy and Friday were on fire - and there could easily have been four or five goals scored by each team. Wardy's goal was scored after a fantastic turn by him that left the defender almost inside-out.

Can't believe that was 35 years ago - I remember loads of away trips from that year as if they were yesterday.

Gregory2Smith1 · Nov 23, 2011

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