Reading FC legends Michael Gilkes, Phil Parkinson, Steve Sidwell and Glen Little have been selected in the 1871 Podcast's Greatest Reading XI from the past 50 years.
Over the past few weeks, the 1871 Podcast has been choosing a Greatest Reading XI from the last five decades and, on Sunday, they selected their four-man midfield and wide players - from their own shortlist and fan nominations.
Current Royals assistant manager Gilkes - who signed for Reading in 1984 and made 486 appearances, scoring 52 goals - was selected on the left, with Parkinson and Sidwell in the centre of midfield and Little on the right.
Find out who we have chosen as Reading's greatest midfielders from the last 50 years. Click here to listen: https://t.co/SNjEp7yAi6#readingfc @Huntyroyal @legend3 @SimonOsborn40 @JamieCuro @willow1871 @GraemeMurty @goodingmick4 @sjsidwell @STARReading @ReadingFPA @TalkReading pic.twitter.com/gm3PMQhBCe
— 1871 - A podcast for Reading FC fans (@1871podcast) April 24, 2022
Affectionately known as 'Parky', Parkinson played more than 400 times for the Royals between 1992-2003 before forging a successful managerial career with the likes of Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers.
Sidwell and Little were both instrumental players in the famous 2005/06 record-breaking side which got promoted to the Premier League with 106 points.
Both left with well over 100 appearances each and Little still occasionally covers the club with BBC Radio Berkshire.
READ MORE: Reading FC podcasters vote Steve Death as best goalkeeper
Simon Osborn and Mick Gooding were chosen as the two midfield substitutes.
Other midfielders and wingers on the shortlist included Richie Bowman, Neil Webb, Lawrie Sanchez, Jerry Williams, Stuart Beavon, Terry Hurlock, Paul Canoville, Kevin Dillon, Darren Caskey, Hal Robson-Kanu, Garath McCleary, Jem Karacan, Jimmy Kebe, Bobby Convey, Brynjar Gunnarson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Scott Taylor, Stephen Hunt, James Harper, Jobi McAnuff, Michael Olise and John Swift.
READ MORE: Reading FC podcasters vote Martin Hicks and others as best defenders
That means the Greatest Reading XI so far includes Steve Death in goal, Nicky Shorey, Martin Hicks, Ady Williams and Graeme Murty in defence, with Gilkes, Parkinson, Sidwell and Little across the midfield.
The substitutes so far are Shaka Hislop, Dylan Kerr, Osborn and Gooding.
The Greatest Reading XI from the last 50 years will be completed this coming Sunday, when the 1871 Podcast chooses two forwards in the starting XI and one on the bench.
Click here to listen to the full episode.
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