MORE than 150 players, officials and guests from the early 1970s through to 2002 attended a reunion of Peppard FC last Friday.

The evening was organised by club stalwarts Dave North and Jack Hawkins.

Roy Merryweather, who was the manager when Peppard won their first Reading & District League title in 1974, recalled how he had helped guide the club on the road to the domination of local football from the late 70s through to the early 90s.

Those glory years were also recalled by Kevin Watkins, team captain between 1986 and 1996.

Former Peppard legend Joe Fletcher also entertained those present at the Reading Hilton Hotel with his renditions of Danny Boy and My Way, with many joining him for the ‘Peppard anthem’.

  • THERE was an air of sadness among the team who were providing the commentary to patients at Royal Berks Hospital on Reading’s match with Wolves at Madejski Stadium last Saturday.

For there were just two of them - Graeme Collyer and David Downs - following the death of their colleague Ian Savin two weeks ago.

Ian was the senior member, having filled the voluntary role for an amazing 50 seasons.

“He had done incredible work not just with his football commentaries, but for radio hospital as a whole, so he will be very sadly missed,” said David.

Ian’s funeral service is to be held at West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Road, Thatcham, on Monday at 11.15am.

  • BRIMSCOMBE & Thrupp manager Sam Prior clearly wasn’t impressed with Rivermoor Stadium despite seeing his side beat Woodley United 2-1 last Saturday.

He used social media to complain about the mud-bath of the pitch (it had been raining), condensation in the dressing rooms, cold showers and “dreadful” floodlights.

Incidentally, this game saw players outnumber spectators, with the crowd recorded at 17.

The Uhlsport Hellenic League are still waiting to hear what disciplinary action, if any, the Berks & Bucks FA plan to take against Highmoor Ibis following their abandoned Floodlit Cup tie against Bracknell last month caused by the referee fearing for his safety. The likelihood is that the game will be replayed as it was goalless at the time.