HALL OF FAME STAR'S READING FC - 2019 INDUCTIONS - Supporters Trust At Reading
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STAR’S READING FC
HALL OF FAME
2019 INDUCTIONS
Welcome Good
Evening
We are pleased, honoured and privileged to hold the fourth I am delighted to be able to
STAR’s Reading FC Hall of Fame, this evening. The Hall of lend my support to the
Fame continues to grow as we induct 25 more people into fourth episode of STAR’s
this select membership. Once again, there are a number of Reading FC Hall of Fame.
people to thank for their contribution to this event. This annual event is very
important to Reading
Firstly, we thank our compère for this evening, Paul Allen. I Football Club. It enables
also want to thank Nic Ide for work in setting up the our fans, young and old,
presentation that you will see tonight. Thanks are also due to and our football community
Reading Football Club and Reading Football Club’s Former to come together to
Players’ Association for their great and invaluable help. I recognise and celebrate the
would like to thank STAR Board Members, especially Kevin achievements of our
Lenton and Roger Titford for their input to bring this evening many significant players,
to fruition as well as the judging panel who have come up managers, supporters and
with this selection for tonight’s Hall of Fame. staff in the first 150 years of
our history.
Lastly, I am very pleased that the Mayor of Reading,
Councillor Debbie Edwards has agreed to join us tonight.
I hope you enjoy the evening.
Ian Maynard Nigel Howe
Chair, STAR
CEO
Reading Football Club
The Hall of Fame is a celebration and a record of individuals
who have played an exceptional or distinctive part in the life
of the club. It will include players, managers, officials
journalists and supporters with the number of inductees
evenly spread to represent each decade of the Club’s
history. Our aim is to have 150 inductees by the point the
club celebrates the 150th anniversary of its first match on
21st February 2022. So each year until then there will be a
fresh set of names acknowledged and introduced into the
Hall of Fame. The selection will reflect on the values that
STAR endorses and applauds.
The system of inducting 12 to 25 people a year means that
their induction would be special or noticeable rather than
being lost in a mass of names and thus creating interest in
who will be inducted each year.
For the 2019 selection more than twenty long-standing or
highly committed supporters put forward their nominations
(this element of the selection process has been open for all
fans to participate in) and a final selection panel of eight -
three STAR Board members and five others - made the
decisions on whom to include this year.
In the first instance STAR’s Reading Hall of Fame will be
viewed on-line via STAR’s website www.star-reading.org
after the launch celebration. At a later date, and as the
numbers build, the Hall of Fame may have a more physical
presence in and around the stadium.
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1870s 1880s 1890s
James Stanley Stan
Simonds Hayward Justins
President of the club and A Reading man, initially a Stan played full-back
influential supporter right half back in 1875 but between 1887 and 1897
throughout its amateur converted to a goalkeeper having learned his football
days (1871-1895). Often after two seasons and was with South Reading. His
described in the early days a regular player until 1889. was an unusually long
as the ‘father of Reading He was in Reading’s first career for those days. Stan
FC’ or its greatest friend. Berks & Bucks Cup win in was acting captain of the
He presided over the AGM 1879, played for the Berks club on many occasions.
and helped with the & Bucks FA and was He was one of very few
finances of the club in regarded in his prime as a players of the amateur
difficult times. James also fine keeper worthy of Reading to successfully
served for long periods on England consideration. turn professional. Stan was
the town council and was a Hayward could be quite an always a level-headed man
true Reading patriot from a attacking goalie, scoring 7 in a crisis both on and off
long-established Reading times in over 200 the pitch and a member of
family. appearances! the 1892 B&B Cup-winning
team.
Reading career 1871-95 Reading career 1875-89 Reading career 1887-97
First President of The c200+ appearances 194 appearances
Reading Football Club c7 goals 2 goals
1890s 1900s 1900s
Johnny Ernie Billy
Holt Watts Henderson
Johnny was an established Ernie was one of our first Billy made more
and well-known international professional players. He appearances for Reading in
when he signed for Reading signed from Tilehurst for the the 1900s than any other
from Everton in 1898 – a princely sum of 2/6d (12.5p) player. He was a
5ft 4ins centre-half, reputed in 1896. ‘Big Wattie’ was a tough-tackling defender
to have invented the sliding physical presence at either whose physical play saw
tackle. right half or occasionally as him form an impressive full
His form for Southern an emergency goalkeeper. back pairing with Herbert
League Reading was good In between his three spells Smith. Billy missed only
enough to earn him one for Reading, a strong one match in 1904-05 when
more England cap – thus Southern League side then, Reading finished runners-
becoming our first pro he played at First Division up in Southern League
England international – and level with Notts County and Division One. He signed for
he became the first man to Clapton Orient. Reading three times with
play 10 times for England spells at Southampton
without losing. and Everton in between.
Reading career 1898-1902 Reading career 1896-1908 Reading career 1897-1906
112 appearances 177 appearances 177 appearances
2 goals 8 goals 0 goals
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1910s 1920s 1920s
Jack Bert Alf
Smith Eggo Messer
Jack Smith was captain A skilful right back from Alf signed in 1923 and
and right back throughout Scotland Bert played 312 played almost every game
the 1910s and into our first games for Reading, the until joining Tottenham in
League season in 1920-21. most pre-WWII appearanc- 1930 for the large fee of
He joined the club from es. Previously with Hearts £2,000. He was in the first
Portsmouth for a mere £5 and Sheffield Wednesday he Reading side to win a
in 1910. In December 1920 signed in June 1921 for our Football League promotion
Jack became our first second League season. He in 1926 – the Division III
player-manager and captained the side that won (S) title – and the first side
guided the club away from promotion in 1926 from to reach the FA Cup
the threat of having to Division III (S) and reached semi-finals the year after. A
apply for re-election in our the FA Cup semi-final in dominant centre-half, Alf
first League season. 1927 and was seen as the was reckoned to be the
calm influence in the best uncapped player of
dressing room. the day.
Reading career 1910-22 Reading career 1921-29 Reading career 1923-30
252 appearances 312 appearances 295 appearances
0 goals 2 goals 19 goals
1930s 1940s 1950s
Billy Joe Jimmy
Butler Edelston Wallbanks
Billy was a veteran winger Joe was appointed Jimmy had a short League
with three FA Cup winners’ manager of Reading in career with Reading as a
medals (all with Bolton) April 1939. When war centre-half, joining the club
when he joined Reading in broke out in September in 1938 and continuing to
1933. On retiring he 1939 the club were top of play during the war. But he
became an innovative Division III (S). He steered is best remembered as the
manager in 1935, installing the club through the war long-serving trainer and
a gymnasium at Elm Park years, winning the London physio, a position he first
and taking players out into War Cup in 1941 and took up in 1953 and held
the community. Billy came keeping club spirits high. H until his testimonial match
close to winning promotion managed our first post-war in 1975, 22 years later. He
several times, winning over season (1946-47) which delighted fans with his wise
50% of his League included our record 10-2 -cracking and his unusual
matches in charge. League victory over high-stepping run onto the
Crystal Palace. pitch to treat injured
players.
Reading career 1933-39 Reading career 1939-47 Reading career 1953-75
67 appearances Manager 58 appearances
16 goals 1 goal
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1950s 1960s 1960s
Jimmy Maurice Colin
Wheeler Evans Meldrum
Jimmy was born in Maurice was born in Colin signed from Watford in
Reading and signed Reading and made his April 1963 for £1,300 and
professional in August debut in October 1955 at became one of manager
1952. He started as a left left half. His strong but fair Roy Bentley’s best signings.
winger but played across play, good character and He was a virtual ever
the forward line and all-round effort made him a present from April 1963 to
became a prolific scorer, firm favourite with the fans. October 1969 mainly at
topping the chart four He was never booked or left-back. Colin was
seasons in a row. After sent off in an 11-year Reading’s first Player of the
injury in 1964 his new career. Maurice became Season in 1963-64 and
role was player-manager manager in 1977, won the retained the trophy the next
of the reserve side which Division Four title in 1979 season. He was a
won the Football and was briefly Director of tough-tackling Scot who
Combination Second Football (2000). inspired team-mates by
Division title in 1966 – example.
and so he was voted
Player of the Season.
Reading career 1952-68 Reading career 1953-66 Reading career 1963-69
452+1 appearances and 1974-84 302+2 appearances
168 goals 459 appearances 9 goals
16 goals
1970s 1980s 1980s
Bobby Stuart Steve
Williams Beavon Richardson
Bobby joined in 1969 and Stuart joined in 1980 from Steve was a tough-tackling,
served the club as a Spurs and was a fast, left-back who made
player, a coach and as a permanent fixture in the the number three shirt his
scout. He played a key Reading team for the entire own over an 11-year
left-wing role in the hugely 1980s. He was a cultured career, thanks to his
entertaining team of 1969- midfielder and dead-ball consistency and
70, scoring 16 goals, often expert and the creator of enthusiasm. He joined from
ghosting in at the far many goals for the Southampton in 1983 and
post – hence his nickname free-scoring promotion was a virtual ever present
‘The Shadow’. In 1974 he sides of 1984 and 1986. in the promotion seasons
returned as reserve Stuart famously scored the of 1984 and 1986 and the
manager, then youth team opening goal from the spot Simod Cup triumph in
coach and finally scout – in our Simod Cup final 1988. Steve rarely scored
as well as being a triumph of 1988. but his goal gave the club
committed vice-president its highest then (1987)
of the Supporters’ Club. League finish.
Reading career 1969-71 Reading career 1980-90 Reading career 1982-93
67+5 appearances 460+21 appearances 449+8 appearances
22 goals 55 goals 3 goals
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1990s 1990s 2000s
Keith Mick Nick
McPherson Gooding Shorey
Keith joined Reading from Mick signed in 1989 from Nicky joined from Leyton
Northampton in 1990 and Wolves at the age of 30 Orient in 2000 and
was a regular choice at but was able to play over developed into such a strong
centre-back for the next 350 games for Reading. player he became the first
nine years. He was not He was both tough and Reading man in over a
especially tall for a skilful in midfield and a key century to play for England,
centre-back but was quick component of Mark winning two caps in 2007.
and hard as nails and McGhee’s Division Two Slightly built and with
adapted to many different title-winners in 1994 and excellent ball control Nicky
playing styles and just missed the Premier was an attacking full-back in
defensive partnerships. League in 1995. Then he the record-breaking ‘106’
Keith was the Reading shared the player-manager side and won a place in the
captain under three duties with Jimmy Quinn PFA divisional team of 2005-
different managers and for two and a half seasons. 06. He scored many fine
skippered the club to the goals with pinpoint
Division Two championship free-kicks.
in 1994.
Reading career 1990-99 Reading career 1989-97 Reading career 2000-09
307+10 appearances 356+12 appearances and 2012-13
8 goals 30 goals 316+1 appearances
14 goals2000s 2000s 2010s
Ivar Dave Alex
Ingimarsson Kitson Pearce
Ivar was an experienced Dave joined Reading from Alex is an Academy
international defender with Cambridge in 2003 for the product from a young age
Iceland when he joined bargain fee of £150,000. As who captained our youth
from Brentford in 2003 for a tall, skilful centre-forward, side to the PL Cup win
a fee of £175,000. He gave good in the air and on the 2007. He staked a first
the club eight years great ground, he scored goals a team berth at the heart of
service, and together with -plenty. He was a key figure the defence in 2009-10.
Ibrahima Sonko, Ivar in the ‘106’ team of Alex, a fine ambassador for
formed a formidable 2005-06 and then scored the club, was ever-present
defensive barrier in the Reading’s very first in the Football League
famous 2005-06 season. Premier League goal Championship-winning side
Ivar was ever-present and against Middlesbrough. of 2012, scoring 5 goals
never booked. He adapted After a spell with Stoke he and winning Player of the
so well to the Premier briefly returned to Reading Season.
League he was voted and later settled here.
Player of the Season in
2006-07.
Reading career 2003-11 Reading career 2003-09 Reading career 2005-15
276+7 appearances 130+29 appearances 228+12 appearances
11 goals 62 goals 15 goals
®2010s
David Last Year’s
Downs Inductees
David is one of the In 2018 we inducted another twenty-five names into the Hall
best-known Reading of Fame. In chronological order they were:
supporters but more than
that he has been John Morgan Gordon Cumming
involved with the club as Edgar Field Steve Hetzke
its official historian. His Frank Deane Ian Branford
book ‘Biscuits & Royals’ Herbert Smith Martin Hicks
was published in 1984. Harry Matthews Michael Gilkes
After retiring from Ted Hanney Sir John Madejski
teaching David went to Billy McConnell Shaka Hislop
work for the club in a Harry Sirrett Phil Parkinson
variety of roles including Arthur Bacon Kevin Doyle
Education Officer and Tony McPhee Nick Hammond
Youth Protection Officer, Johnny Brooks Eamonn Dolan
finally retiring at the age Dick Spiers Brian McDermott
of 76 in 2018. Denis Allen
All their profiles can be found under the Heritage tab on our
website at www.star-reading.org. If you would like to take
Club historian and part in the nomination process for 2020 please get in touch
Academy official with STAR.
Martin Allen receiving an award on behalf of his father
Denis Allen, presented by the then Mayor of Reading,
Cllr. Rose Williams and STAR Chairman, Ian Maynard
at the 2018 Hall of Fame evening.
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