John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Fatboy's erroneously-titled 'FANS unUNITED' thread was interesting.

I could fully understand the widespread contempt for Reading FC's decision to demand full payment of the debt they are owed by troubled Exeter City, as opposed to accepting 50% like various other clubs such as Brighton and Cardiff did. But why was so much personal abuse directed at John Madejski?

Reading's chairman was described as a 'wanker', a 'greedy, selfish twat' and an 'egomaniac' who 'only has one interest - himself'.

I've noticed that Madejski has become a regular target for vitriolic abuse on NSC over the last couple of seasons. So why is that? What has he ever done to upset Brighton fans?

 

[SussexHoop]

I reckon given that other poorer clubs agreed to take 50% of what they were owed, you'd think Madejski, given his own personal wealth, would have sanctioned doing the same.

 

[BensGrandad]

Jealousy is the answer.

No1 man can ever own and run this club again but would we turn him away with his miilions? NO

 

[Curious Orange]

Steve Sidwell
Steve Coppell

 

[Marshy]

He hates us after we pipped them to the title i think

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

I reckon given that other poorer clubs agreed to take 50% of what they were owed, you'd think Madejski, given his own personal wealth, would have sanctioned doing the same.

Perhaps, but there is no actual evidence that the guy knew anything about the decision himself. I can't believe that somebody like Madejski is involved in every single piece of business that Reading FC conducts, and in this instance I would've thought it was far more likely that their chief executive would have had made the final decision.

Anyway, the Exeter affair was not really the reason why I asked the question. Madejski has regularly come in for personal abuse on this message board over the last couple of years, and I wondered what the reasons for that were.

I know very little about the bloke myself, other than the fact that he has been at Reading for ages and helped to build them a tremendous new stadium.

 

[Safeway]

Steve Sidwell
Steve Coppell

That'll be it.

Bit lame when you think about it but hey, Brighton fans just LOVE to have a hate figure or fifty.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

But why was so much personal abuse directed at John Madejski?

Because alot of our fans are twats and are jealous are the simple answers LB

Those of us who have actually followed the club up and down the country over the last 20 plus years like myself (not post Goldstone fans) say far play to Reading FC. Who could forget that dump of a ground Elm Park they used to play in?

Too many people on here have small memories, wasn't so long ago that Reading FC were a right joke, an non-entity of a football club and they had to survive on piss poor crowds of 5000....good luck to them I say, wish we had a cash rich chairmam like Madejski who could actually fund a 21st Century stadium and playing staff to match

 

[BensGrandad]

Re: Re: John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

Because alot of our fans are twats and are jealous are the simple answers LB

Those of us who have actually followed the club up and down the country over the last 20 plus years like myself (not post Goldstone fans) say far play to Reading FC. Who could forget that dump of a ground Elm Park they used to play in?

Too many people on here have small memories, wasn't so long ago that Reading FC were a right joke, an non-entity of a football club and they had to survive on piss poor crowds of 5000....good luck to them I say, wish we had a cash rich chairmam like Madejski who could actually fund a 21st Century stadium and playing staff to match

Well said 100% right.

 

[Safeway]

Re: Re: John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

Because alot of our fans are twats and are jealous are the simple answers LB

Those of us who have actually followed the club up and down the country over the last 20 plus years like myself (not post Goldstone fans) say far play to Reading FC. Who could forget that dump of a ground Elm Park they used to play in?

Too many people on here have small memories, wasn't so long ago that Reading FC were a right joke, an non-entity of a football club and they had to survive on piss poor crowds of 5000....good luck to them I say, wish we had a cash rich chairmam like Madejski who could actually fund a 21st Century stadium and playing staff to match

I'd go along with most of that, although (and maybe this makes me a 'jealous twat) it does stick in the throat a bit that a club like Reading, with no notable history or tradition, gets to play with the big boys while we have to struggle in our shitty circumstances knowing full well we have the potential to be another Middlesbrough, Bolton or Charlton.

Same slight bitterness applies towards Wigan.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

That'll be it.

Bit lame when you think about it but hey, Brighton fans just LOVE to have a hate figure or fifty.

ingarmarson? (spl)
they went after steve brown after we made a bid as well

 

[Biscuit]

I've noticed that fans going out of their way to help teams in crises has become a regular target for vitriolic abuse by you The Laughing Bluebird. So why is that? What have Fans United he ever done to upset Cardiff fans?

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Re: Re: John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

Too many people on here have small memories, wasn't so long ago that Reading FC were a right joke, an non-entity of a football club and they had to survive on piss poor crowds of 5000....good luck to them I say, wish we had a cash rich chairmam like Madejski who could actually fund a 21st Century stadium and playing staff to match

I have a copy of the official history of Reading FC (entitled 'Heaven on Earth'). Apparently, Madejski bought his controlling share in Reading in 1990 when they were in big financial trouble, and it seems that he has ploughed a lot of his own cash into the club since in the form of transfer fees while ensuring that the club pays for itself in all other respects.

As for their new ground, the book suggests that much of the £43 million building costs were met by the surrounding business park development, but Majedski personally guaranteed the £10 million shortfall.

Doesn't sound like a wanker to me......

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Re: Re: John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

I've noticed that fans going out of their way to help teams in crises has become a regular target for vitriolic abuse by you The Laughing Bluebird. So why is that? What have Fans United he ever done to upset Cardiff fans?

Nothing at all. Fans United is a fine idea. In fact, there are a few Cardiff City fans standing alongside Wrexham fans at Torquay tonight. A Wrexham fan has just posted a message on our board at www.cardiffcity.com thanking us for our support.

But what do I know, huh? I simply don't know what it's like to support a club in crisis. Ain't that right, Biscuit?

 

[Inkerman]

Re: Re: Re: John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

it does stick in the throat a bit that a club like Reading, with no notable history or tradition, gets to play with the big boys.
Same slight bitterness applies towards Wigan.

MIGHT get to play with the big boys!!!!

We have been there (1979 - 83) whereas Reading (and Wigan) never have.

 

[Thimble Keegan]

I have no hatred of Reading, I just view them as an irrelevance.

Albion & England forever.

Thimble Keegan
Worthing BHA

 

[Biscuit]

*Gone away, is the Bluebird... here to stay is a new bird, walking alone singing a song, walking in a wardy wonderland..*

I just thought you were overcritical to the point of being very harsh to the Brighton fans which opted out of our home game to support Wrexham on their fans United day.

But what do I know, huh? I simply don't know what it's like to go to home matches every week. Ain't that right, Bluebird?

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Re: Re: Re: Re: John Madejski (Reading FC) - Why The Animosity?

MIGHT get to play with the big boys!!!! We have been there (1979 - 83) whereas Reading (and Wigan) never have.

It's intersting to look back and note that the 'big boys' who Albion got to play with in the top flight included Bristol City, Notts County, Luton Town and, umm, well, umm, Swansea City!

How times change.....

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

I simply don't know what it's like to go to home matches every week. Ain't that right, Bluebird?

Apparently so.....

I was very harsh yesterday? Perhaps you're right. And I knew mine wouldn't be a popular point of view. But, in my opinion, we should all support our own clubs first and foremost, and offer any help we can to other clubs afterwards.

 

[London Irish]

Given he's Tory scum, he's been the best English landlord we at London Irish have ever had - but Cilla Black FFS