THE Antiques Roadshow from Caversham Park on BBC One on Sunday included a couple of sporty items.

By far the most interesting was a pair of boots – valued between £5,000-£8,000 – worn by Matt Busby at the time of the Munich air disaster in 1958.

The former Manchester United manager had played as a guest for Reading during World War Two.

There was also reference during the programme to Reading Golf Club, albeit in a fictional tale from one of the show’s experts.

It wasn’t one of their trophies, but a vessel once used by pilots if they wanted to spend a penny during a flight.

I’m surprised that Reading FC historian David Downs didn’t appear on this popular show which was filmed last summer.

Not only is he something of a priceless antique himself, he has many old souvenirs and mementoes, including dirty water from the Reading bath following their 1988 Simod Cup triumph at Wembley.

  • ABANDONED matches appear to be occurring a little too frequently in the Thames Valley Premier League these days.

A fortnight ago there were two – Newbury v Highmoor Ibis Reserves and Highmoor Under-21s v Burghfield. Both were due to misconduct of players.

Then last Saturday the Division One game between Westwood United and leaders Maidenhead Magpies was abandoned just before the final whistle when a player, having left the field to retrieve the ball, was allegedly struck by an unknown spectator on his way back.

The referee was Ian Wiltshire, who had also abandoned the Highmoor and Burghfield game after 33 minutes after a player had allegedly kicked the ball at him.

  • BERKSHIRE Cricket League champions West Reading were among several clubs who had their applications to join the Thames Valley League for the 2018 season rejected.

Premier Division rivals Peppard Stoke Row were also unsuccessful, while of the 16 applications, Sulhamstead and Bradfield were among those to receive the thumbs up from the league’s management and now await the approval of the existing member clubs.