Former Reading defender Andy Bernal insists he still thinks about the 1995 play-off final between the Royals and Bolton Wanderers.

Australian international Bernal joined at the beginning of that season, summer 1994, and was an instrumental part of the side that backed up third tier promotion by finishing second in what is now the Championship.

In any other year that would signal promotion and a first ever campaign in the top-flight for the club, however the Premier League was reducing its numbers and meant Mick Gooding and Jimmy Quinn's side had to go through the play-offs.

Comfortably disposing of Tranmere Rovers in the semi-final, more than 35,000 Royals travelled to Wembley and after going 2-0 up, Stuart Lovell had the chance to put the game to bed. It was not to be and the Trotters won 3-4 after extra-time.

Bernal, who is now a coach 'Down Under' with Central Coast Mariners, told the Reading Chronicle how the match still plays on his mind now.

"You had a squad of 14/15 great players, underrated players, and some great local talent coming through. We were pros who had been around, and we all came together. It just clicked. We lost our first game at Wolves but we knew on the bus journey home that we were going to have a good season.

"I still think about it [1995 play-off final]. You’re 2-0 up, could go three up, but end up losing 4-3. But that’s football. It’s a weird game, a wonderful game, and a beautiful game. For a kid growing up in Australia who grew up dreaming of playing in the big games I was very fortunate. It is amazing to say you’ve played at Wembley in front of a full house."

Reading Chronicle:

One of the very few people to have been involved with the club over both Elm Park and Madejski Stadium eras, the former Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town full-back remained in Berkshire until 2000 and made more than 200 appearances.

Reflecting on his time with the club, he said: "It was my dream to play in England and I didn’t care if it was a big stadium or small stadium as long as it had lots of fantastic fans, and that’s what Reading had. It was a fantastic first season, going all the way to Wembley.

"The team I played in at Elm Park was a very special team. We had some wonderful nights. The Madejski was a more impressive stadium, but I lived my best football nights at Elm Park."

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