Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 08:15
Town holds breath as Royals risk relegation
By Neil Manrai
Comments (0)
Print Article
THE roads will be distinctly quiet on Sunday afternoon as residents across the town tune in to see if Reading Football Club can avoid relegation from the Premiership.
After two contrasting seasons among England’s elite, the Royals now need to get a result and hope other scores go in their favour to preserve their top flight status.
Ironically, their opponents – rock bottom Derby County – were the side they beat to clinch the Championship title in April
2006.
Reading must win their match against Derby and hope Fulham lose or draw against Portsmouth.
Although the match is not being shown live on television, pubs across Reading will be tuning into the match on the radio.
Stuart McTaggart, barman at the Rose and Thistle in Argyle Street, west Reading, said: “We definitely expect the pub to be busier than normal.
There are a lot of loyal Royals who can’t make it to the match so we will be playing the match on the radio as we do for every game.”
Supporters Trust at Reading (STAR) will be taking seven buses to Pride Park as well as large inflatable footballs to guarantee the fans at least one laugh.
STAR board member, Chris Witcher, said: “I have lost count of the number of big games we have played over the last few years.
“We are all determined to enjoy ourselves whatever the result and thank the boys for the efforts.”
Reading East MP Rob Wilson will be among the fans praying the Royals can survive.
He said: “There is a small possibility that I might be able to get up there but it is more likely that I will have to listen to it on the radio at home.”
And Reading West MP and Royals season ticket holder Martin Salter said: “I will certainly be watching on the TV or listening on the radio and I have to admit I am very nervous indeed.
“I think our problem is that we are playing some of our worst football while our rivals Fulham are playing some of their best. We need the players to show more courage and determination than we’ve seen in recent weeks. We can still do it.”
One fan anxiously listening for the result is 80-year-old Sybil Ford. Mrs Ford went to her first Reading match in 1946 and for the last 15 years has been a season ticket holder.
A broken hip will stop her being at Pride Park, but she and her son will have their ears glued to the radio.
Mrs Ford said: “I have seen them go down before so the only way I can be is positive. The one thing I hope is that no matter what happens, Steve Coppell stays as manager.
“If we stay up I will drink to the players’ health.”
Tilehurst’s Roy Smith said: “If they go down it will be a humiliation for the whole town.
“I will be listening on the radio and I hope they do stay up. I think the town of Reading will be in trouble if they go down.
“I don’t think Coppell has made the right decisions and he should have bought some new players earlier in the season.
“I think John Madejski should have delved into his pocket much quicker.”
Fans remain cautiously optimistic that their club can stay up, but are prepared for the worst.
Season ticket holder Will Gilbert from Tilehurst said: “Unfortunately I’m not going to Derby. I’m going to stay at home instead and watch the results come in on Soccer Sunday and if we do manage to stay up I am going straight down to the pub to celebrate.
“I am not confident though, I just can’t see us scoring.”
Bishop of Reading, Stephen Cottrell, a lifelong supporter of Spurs but also a keen Reading fan along with his three sons, said: “ I think it was wonderful for the town when Reading went up, it gave the town a lift and we got to see young people wearing Reading shirts around the town.
“I think if the team does go down, they will be one of those teams to bounce back up again.”
Further Details
