Rabsons bow out after six decades

Ben Steele • Published 20 Oct 2009 11:00 1 Comment

ONE of the most famous names in local football bowed out of the Reading Football League this week as Rabson Rovers were forced to fold.

Rabsons have been a staple part of the Reading football scene since the 1940s, but problems over player availability has forced the club to pull out of the Senior Division.

Having not been able to raise a team for their previous three matches - each of which resulted in a £100 fine - honorary Colin Brown explained that the club had been forced to bow to the inevitable.

He said: "We had 19 signed on at the start of the year, but then lost two to Hartley Wintney and another to South Reading.

"Another four or five were not able to play on a regular basis and that obviously made it very difficult to get a full team out.

"Each time we cancelled a fixture it was costing the club £100, and you can't afford to keep doing that.

"I think the players knew it was coming because every week they were asking if the club was going to fold. But we gave it one last chance last week, but we only had eight available on Thursday so we decided to pack it in."

Rabsons nearly failed to make the cut for the Senior Division over the summer, after originally being demoted as their facilities were not up to step seven standard.

But Brown explained: "We were able to take over Lower Whitley Rec which saw us reinstated - but that was not until the beginning of August.

"Of course by then it made it very difficult to get in the players we wanted and I suppose that has contributed to where we are now."

And Brown admitted it will be a particularly sad day for one member of the Rabsons family.

He added: "Bob Bennett our vice president and treasurer has been involved with the club his whole life - it was set up by his father over 60 years ago.

"It's a sad day for him and his wife, but we have to thank them for all the work they did over the summer to try and keep the club going.

"It would be nice to think that because of the name and history the club could come back at a lower level, and you never know, that may happen in a few years' time."

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• 

  Megs
  Unregistered User
  Oct 29, 12:59
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  Good riddance I say.. he may recall not wanting to sign players a fews years ago.. now its come home to haunt them.. Vote British National Party...
  
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