Fixtures
Reading have moved their home second division fixture with York City from Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, to Wednesday September 2, because it clashed with the "Reading Rock festival".

Thames Valley Police warned the club they could not provide sufficient manpower to cover both events.

Reading have already switched their opening game against Wrexham on August 8, from a home fixture to an away fixture because their new ground will not be ready.

The Royals have also decided to play home midweek matches on Wednesdays next season. Their traditional Tuesday night clashes with greyhound racing at Smallmead Stadium, which is adjacent to Reading's new stadium.

Mad House still not finished
Reading are holding talks with the Football League in an effort to have their opening day fixture at home to Wrexham changed to an away game.

The Royals want to switch the match to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground because building work on the new Madejski Stadium is unlikely to be completed by the big kick-off on August 8.

Reading are hoping to persuade Wrexham to switch venues and play the return match on January 9 at the £37million Madesjki Stadium.

Training delay
Reading could be forced to look for temporary training facilities as workmen race to build the new Madejski Stadium in time for the new season.

The Royals are planning to use modern training equipment housed in the £37million pounds stadium once it is completed.

But, with builders struggling to finish work in time for the new season (probably put off by the smell on a hot day), the club are looking for temporary facilities for the players to use. (18th June 1998)

Grants not worried!
Grant Brebner said he is not worried about dropping down two divisions to play first team football after completing his £100,000 move from Manchester United.

He said: "Reading seem a big club and they appear determined to get in the Premiership so moving into the second division doesn't really bother me." (14th June 1998)

The Royal Academy
Reading have invested £1 million in a new youth coaching set-up called the Royals Academy.

Modelled on the FA's own national academy, the Reading plan is based on a 25,000 word blueprint which has been applauded by Howard Wilkinson.

Youth director John Stephenson said: "We will build on the hard work which has already been done to take the club to a higher level." (13th June 1998)

Stars in thier eyes
Reading are stepping up their search for new players by sending first team coach Steve Kean to watch matches across Europe (try watching teams playing in France).

Kean has watched players in Holland, Norway and Yugoslavia as manager Tommy Burns tries to build a squad capable

Mr Burns said: "We have been having a look at players who have been recommended to us and one or two of them have impressed." (12th June 1998)

Grant Brebner signs
The Royals have signed central midfielder Grant Brebner from Manchester United for a mere £100,000 quid.

The 20-year-old Scottish Under-21 international (Oh what a suprise!) has signed a three-year deal with the Royals.

Reading chairman John Madejski said: "I am delighted that Grant, who is a young premiership player with an exciting future ahead of him, has agreed to join the Royals. He's a talented central midfielder who will give an added boost to the Royals midfield and create flowing football in our push to regain our first division status."

Grant Brebner
Midfield
18, 5'10", 11st 5lb
Edinburgh, SCO 

Career Record	 			    Apps   Goals
1994-1998            Manchester United        0      0
09/01/98 - 08/02/98  Cambridge United (loan)  6      1
25/02/98 - 25/05/98  Hibernian (loan)         8      1

(12th June 1998)

Lots of season tickets
Reading have sold almost 3,000 season-tickets for next year. Apparently fans have been flocking to by advance seats at the £37million ground to watch Tommy Burns' side win promotion back to division one.

Andrea Barker said to Nationwide: "This time last year we had only sold a few hundred and only sold 1,900 the whole season so this is a tremendous show of support." (12th June 1998)

New home kit
Last weekend Reading revealed their new home and away kits. The home kit shown here isn't that bad.. but I thought that Auto Trader went got sold or something like that?

New live guest book
I have just completed a live guest book which you can contribute to about anything football related.

Just Click Here.

Royals join scramble
Reading have joined the race to sign Manchester United's Scotland under-21 international midfield player Grant Brebner.

Tommy Burns is hoping to sign Brebner after missing out on his Old Trafform team-mate Ben Thornley who joined Huddersfield last week.

Brebner is currently holding talks with Scottish club Hibernian where he spent two months on loan last year but Royals are hoping to beat them to his signature.

To the "Royal"s
Tommy Burns has been given a £500,000 boost after the second division club signed a new sponsorship agreement with brewers Courage.

The £535,000 pound deal - which includes Courage naming a new beer after the club called 'Royal' - will run for three years and will see Courage ales served in all the bars at Reading's new stadium.

Reading chief executive Nigel Howe said: "This is great news for the club and it marks the start of a new era with the move to a new stadium." (June 6th 1998)

Burns searching the net
Tommy Burns is looking at players across Europe as he tries to build a team which can win promotion from the second division next season.

Burns has sent first team coach Steve Kean to Norway on a scouting mission and he is also keeping an eye on players in Holland and Croatia.

Kean admitted: "There are four or five players who we are looking at across Europe, but I imagine several other managers will be doing the same." (June 4th 1998)

Booty betting on better luck
Martyn Booty is hopeful he can put his injury worries behind him by playing a key part in the Royals second division campaign next season.

Booty, who has recovered from a hernia operation which ruled him out for the last two months of last season and is spending the summer building up his fitness before next seasons training.

"The groin feels fine and I'll be back training with everyone else. I haven't been involved since Tommy Burns arrived but I've watched the training and it looks really good."

Jack Rowell
Nigel Howe has denied rumors that former England rugby coach Jack Rowell was to become a director at Reading next year.

A while back it had been suggested that Reading chairman John Madejski had offered Rowell the chance to join the board.

Howe said: "Jack was a regular visitor last season and gets on well with everyone here but there are no immediate plans to put him on the board." (1st June 1998)

New RFC Official Internet Site
Well there a new site to add to the mix. Finally Reading have seen the light and made an Official Internet Site. The site to me looks a good bet for news and player information. I-way internet services look like they have got the chance to host this site so I expect that Graham Loader will have something to do with it. Anyhow check it out.. like the stadium its not quite finished yet but heres the URL: www.readingfc.co.uk

Andy Smith to come to Reading?
Rumors hear that Tommy Burns is expecting to make at least one more new signing before the start of the World Cup Finals.

Burns is being linked with a move for Dunfermline's highly-rated striker Andy Smith and has admitted there could be some more transfer news soon. (26th May 1998)

Mad House Up Close...
(...May be a bit to close.)
Last week I had the opportunity to see for myself the new Mad House (and also take some old police tape from historic Elm Park). It all looks very impressive. Unfortunately I was too late to go into the visitors center but I was able to take in the surroundings. Yes.. I could see that on a nice summers day when the winds are blowing from the North that the smell of the near-by Water Treatment Plant could be enough to make the opponents wince (Might be a useful advantage). So from what I have seen bring your nose pegs on windy days to the High Tech Mad House. (25th May 1998)

For pics, plans, and more information about the MAD house goto The Madejski Stadium Site.

Free Transfers..
Tommy Burns has now signed midfielder Mark Reilly from Kilmarnock and also defender John Polston from Norwich on free transfers.

John Polston (Defender)
Born: Walthamstow, 10/6/68
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 11' 12"
Previous clubs: Tottenham H, Norwich City.

Polston is a central defender who has made well over 200 appearances for Norwich since his £250,000 move from Spurs in July 1990. The England Youth International made his debut for the White Hart Lane club in the 1986-87 season, going on to make 28 appearances with Spurs prior to his move to Carrow Road. Polston has been a regular performer in the Norwich defence in his seven seasons at the club. - Norwich Web Site.

Dariusz Wdowczyk one of many players let go by Tommy Burns has returned to Poland as a player-coach of First Division side Polonia Warsaw. It's a shame but theres always this new POLston. - (25th May 1998)

Comings and goings..
Roll out the Royal tarten as it looks likely that 29 year old Mark Reilly is going to join the Royals on a free transfer.

Mark Reilly (Defender/Midfielder)
(Born Bellshill 30-3-69)
Height: 5'8" Weight: 10st 10Ibs

Solid and reliable player who started his career with Motherwell in 1985 having stepped up from Wishaw Juniors. Mark joined Killie in July 1991 and has been converted from a left back to a bustling midfielder. His skill on the ball have been invaluable to Killie in the past couple of seasons.
- from the KILMARNOCK web site.

Meaker, Lovell, Morley, Dariusz, Bibbo, Freeman, and Throp are expected not to be playing for Reading in the new season. (10th May 1998)

Stats for download
Here are two files which contain Reading FC stats for the 1997/98 season.

  • Player Stats..
  • Team Sheet

    Pat Bonner as assistant?
    Reading manager Tommy Burns is set to make former Celtic team-mate Pat Bonner his assistant manager.

    The 37-year-old former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, who made 80 appearances for his country, has met with Reading officials and watched the club's 1-0 defeat against Norwich on Sunday.

    "Nothing is settled yet," said Burns, who took over from former manager Terry Bullivant in March.

    "But I believe taking Pat on will be good for Reading Football Club and I expect an announcement to be made this week."

    Bonner is currently coaching both the Republic of Ireland and Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton. - sporting-life. (6th May 1998)

    Last Game
    Well its over... Another season to add to the stats.. It seems strange to me thinking that I will not be able to see the Royals play at Elm Park any more. May be it was the stuwards or crappy PA I think we will all miss Elm Park next season. Okay the peaple at the Tilehurst end might not, as they won't get wet every time it rains next year.

    I hope every one has a great summer and hope to see you all next season.

    Regards..
    Jon Castell

    Player Of The Season - Results
    After todays match Parky received the Player of the Season award. I would also like to annunce that the Internet Player of the Season for Reading goes to.... Phil Parkinson!

    Full results below....

    Results So Far for Player of the Year
    (After 82 votes) 

    Parkinson	59.8%	49
Hammond		18.3%	15
Asaba		3.7%	3
Davies		3.7%	3
Lambert		3.7%	3
Bernal		2.4%	2
Williams	2.4%	2
Kelly		1.2%	1
McPherson	1.2%	1
Meaker		1.2%	1
Morley		1.2%	1
Primus		1.2%	1

    Results So Far for Worst Player of the Year
    (After 65 votes) 

    Worst player of the Year		
Colgan		27.7%	18
Asaba		15.4%	10
Holsgrove	12.3%	8
Bernal		7.7%	5
Bodin		7.7%	5
Houghton	6.2%	4
Robins		6.2%	4
Morley		3.1%	2
Swales		3.1%	2
Caskey		1.5%	1
Lambert		1.5%	1
Lovell		1.5%	1
Meaker		1.5%	1
O'Neill		1.5%	1
Primus		1.5%	1
Hodges		1.5%	1

    One last word.. I will be over in a couple of weeks to check out the ground and see what I can.. so see ya around!

    Loyal Royal No More
    A man knocked on the pearly gates,
    Her face was scarred and old,
    He trembled and she shook with fear,
    He was just about to fold.

    "What have you done...", St. Peter asked,
    "...to gain admission here?"
    "I've been a loyal Royal sir,..."
    "...for many and many a year."

    The pearly gate swung open wide,
    St. Peter rung the bell,
    "COME IN AND CHOOSE YOUR HARP..." he said
    "...you've had your share of hell." - (3rd May 1998)



    • If you wish to contact me drop me a line @ jon.castell@sympatico.ca.

    Last updated: July 1st, 1998

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