I feel like Clough quitting was probably more defining than that season. Suspect there'd be at least one more trophy in the cabinet if he'd stayed.
And ideally that would also mean two fewer at the City Ground.
Well we actually continued to be a top side after he left. Dave Mackay built on his foundations and built a strong side that won the league in 1975 and continued to be a top side until 1976. What killed us back then, like usual, was an incompetent boardroom. They sacked Mackay unfairly in a unsuccessful attempt to entice Cloughie back and when that didn't work we ended up on a downward spiral to being bankrupt in the Third Division. We obviously would have been much more successful had Cloughie stayed but I think the fact that Cloughie left is focused on too much, what should be focused on is why he left which as usual was due to arrogant and incompetent people calling the shots. I chose 07/08 because it epitomises the way our club has been run most of the time, our trophies and 65 seasons in the top flight happened in spite of the way we are ran not because of it.
Probably papa johns trophy winners. Always mocked Southampton for loving them winning it but then when we won it I realised it’s the pinnacle of football.
Anyone can play in the FA Cup, even clubs in shite leagues like the Prem or deep non-league. Only a privileged few of the nations finest clubs are selected to play in the EFL Trophy.
Yeah, he was amazing, wasn’t he? He got hero status down at our place, but he seemed to be loved anywhere he went. We only had him for a few years, but he’s an integral part of our modern(ish) history.
· First team to ever be relegated into the conference
· First team to be promoted back into the football League
· Most points ever achieved in a season at 2 points per game (74, 1975/76 under Graham Taylor)
· First non league team in over a century to reach the FA Cup quarter finals.
For most, it's probably that last one. Set us up for where we are today in a lot of ways.
In terms of funny answers... We once had a balding striker take the piss out of Joey Barton so much he tried to get our lad sent off by throwing himself to the floor.
The one good thing that the con-artist Chris Kirchner did was approach David Clowes about buying the stadium from Mel Morris. Doubt Clowes would have ever been interested about taking over otherwise if things with Kirchner didn’t fall through (thankfully.)
I haven’t been around anywhere near as long as most of the other Reading fans here, but I’d bet my left nut they’d all say the 106.
Oh did you want a funny answer
Uhhh
that time our keeper punched a whiteboard after giving up a 2 goal lead at QPR, was out for the rest of the year, and we only stayed up because the rams got utterly fucked by the efl
That or the Thames Valley Royals saga. Before my time, but a historical event known to most royals fans.
If we survive this crisis, this may go down as the most important moment in our history.
I would say it's when the original Accrington Stanley went into liquidation in 1962, allowing Oxford United to then be elected into the football league for the first time in its history.
Fun fact: when we were relegated in 2006/7 to the conference, the reformed Accrington Stanley were promoted as champions of the conference.
Edit: that should read 2005/6 not 2006/7. In my defence, it's a time at the club I've happily forgotten about.
For me our sliding doors moment was winning the conference playoff final in April 2004 following our 2002/3 relegation. No doubt about it we were were lucky to get promoted back at the first attempt, finishing a distant third in the league. Without that we might have turned into a Torquay (terrible what has happened to a good club), and at the least spent years toiling away in non-league. As it was, we got promoted just about stayed up and moved to a new stadium. It might be a bit soulless compared to the old gay meadow but it’s sustainable and the club is alive.
Andy Pilley. Took us from a amateur club to league one. Sad it was all fraudulent but still a legend. Or Antoni Sarsavic's free kick in the playoff final.
Having the inaugural Ballon D'or winner on our team who along with a few others made us a top 5 club during the 1950's stealing the nations hearts with their 1953 FA cup victory.
Sir Jimmy Glass. Best taxi driver in carlisle.
Mad how arguably our club’s most iconic player and one of our biggest legends only played 3 games for us.
We had shilton for two. Prob counts as our best ever player lol.
It has to be our promotion to the Premier League in 1997.
Most important is probably Clowes saving us from the abyss, defining moment is the 07/08 season.
Most important other than the day we signed Efe Ambrose anyway.
I feel like Clough quitting was probably more defining than that season. Suspect there'd be at least one more trophy in the cabinet if he'd stayed. And ideally that would also mean two fewer at the City Ground.
Well we actually continued to be a top side after he left. Dave Mackay built on his foundations and built a strong side that won the league in 1975 and continued to be a top side until 1976. What killed us back then, like usual, was an incompetent boardroom. They sacked Mackay unfairly in a unsuccessful attempt to entice Cloughie back and when that didn't work we ended up on a downward spiral to being bankrupt in the Third Division. We obviously would have been much more successful had Cloughie stayed but I think the fact that Cloughie left is focused on too much, what should be focused on is why he left which as usual was due to arrogant and incompetent people calling the shots. I chose 07/08 because it epitomises the way our club has been run most of the time, our trophies and 65 seasons in the top flight happened in spite of the way we are ran not because of it.
I know this is the Internet in 2024 so I'm meant to argue with you but that's an excellent counter reply so I'll just say, nice one.
Our fans starting a political party to help get The Valley reopened in 1992 after years of ground sharing at Selhurst Park and Upton Park.
That is a real defining moment. Having a place to call home is so important for a football club.
Probably papa johns trophy winners. Always mocked Southampton for loving them winning it but then when we won it I realised it’s the pinnacle of football.
Better than the FA Cup?
Anyone can play in the FA Cup, even clubs in shite leagues like the Prem or deep non-league. Only a privileged few of the nations finest clubs are selected to play in the EFL Trophy.
Man united and Liverpool never gonna win one 😘
Boring mate won it too much
Guess
Off topic: Your username. What a player he was. Incredible for his two spells at Wigan aswell as your club.
Yeah, he was amazing, wasn’t he? He got hero status down at our place, but he seemed to be loved anywhere he went. We only had him for a few years, but he’s an integral part of our modern(ish) history.
Personally my favourite ever Latics player, top bloke
Guess
To them? No idea. To me? When I realized Lincoln almost never loses at home and started betting on the draw at 3/1 every home match.
Ah, Appleton's difficult second (full) season...
Even now, the frequency of Lincoln home draws is kind of uncanny.
Luke Waterfall throwing a bottle at the Mansfield home fans after an Ollie Palmer equaliser
Ironic because now mansfield fans would like to throw a water bottle at ollie palmer
· First team to ever be relegated into the conference · First team to be promoted back into the football League · Most points ever achieved in a season at 2 points per game (74, 1975/76 under Graham Taylor) · First non league team in over a century to reach the FA Cup quarter finals. For most, it's probably that last one. Set us up for where we are today in a lot of ways. In terms of funny answers... We once had a balding striker take the piss out of Joey Barton so much he tried to get our lad sent off by throwing himself to the floor.
When Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence got on the piss with our captain and crashed whilst drag racing each other.
Clowes buying the club whilst we were in administration. We wouldn't exist if that didn't happen
The one good thing that the con-artist Chris Kirchner did was approach David Clowes about buying the stadium from Mel Morris. Doubt Clowes would have ever been interested about taking over otherwise if things with Kirchner didn’t fall through (thankfully.)
I haven’t been around anywhere near as long as most of the other Reading fans here, but I’d bet my left nut they’d all say the 106. Oh did you want a funny answer Uhhh that time our keeper punched a whiteboard after giving up a 2 goal lead at QPR, was out for the rest of the year, and we only stayed up because the rams got utterly fucked by the efl
That or the Thames Valley Royals saga. Before my time, but a historical event known to most royals fans. If we survive this crisis, this may go down as the most important moment in our history.
Yeah it's the 106 for sure - a beautiful season
I would say it's when the original Accrington Stanley went into liquidation in 1962, allowing Oxford United to then be elected into the football league for the first time in its history. Fun fact: when we were relegated in 2006/7 to the conference, the reformed Accrington Stanley were promoted as champions of the conference. Edit: that should read 2005/6 not 2006/7. In my defence, it's a time at the club I've happily forgotten about.
For me our sliding doors moment was winning the conference playoff final in April 2004 following our 2002/3 relegation. No doubt about it we were were lucky to get promoted back at the first attempt, finishing a distant third in the league. Without that we might have turned into a Torquay (terrible what has happened to a good club), and at the least spent years toiling away in non-league. As it was, we got promoted just about stayed up and moved to a new stadium. It might be a bit soulless compared to the old gay meadow but it’s sustainable and the club is alive.
Getting out of non league at the first attempt saved us
It's a tough division to get out of isn't it? Took us four years to get out, and even then that was through the playoffs.
100% designed to try and trap clubs in
Prob winning the 1958 fa cup against united?
Andy Pilley. Took us from a amateur club to league one. Sad it was all fraudulent but still a legend. Or Antoni Sarsavic's free kick in the playoff final.
The fa Cup quater final when we were still in the 5th tier.
Getting Europe
Having the inaugural Ballon D'or winner on our team who along with a few others made us a top 5 club during the 1950's stealing the nations hearts with their 1953 FA cup victory.