Reading F.c. " Premier League Status "

marshbags · March 26, 2006

READING F.C. “ PREMIER LEAGUE STATUS “

It,s party time for royal supporters

Forgive me TP but i think they deserve a grand welcome to the Premier League

Congratulations to all the supporters and especially to you.

I hope you do a Wigan next season by making a big impact and establish yourselves.

Steve Coppel was a good player with a great attitude and deserves his success, who says the good guys never win, a gentle man as a player, coach and manager

Now go up in style by winning the championship.

You along with Wigan give lots of hope to all the teams and their supporters in the lower divisions and what can be achieved.

Enjoy the moment, celebrate and then look forward to the next challenge in the premier league.

I think they will do O.K. and not just survive, but in any case you are going to have a brilliant experience in the top flight.

marshbags

P.S.

Should you wish this post to be married up with the winners and losers, moderators, no problem but i think getting promotion to the P.League deserves a special thread dedicated to Reading.

So come on mates and football supporters, let,s give T.P. a quality thread to save....................

Ater all he also deserves it.

Edited March 26, 2006 by marshbags

marshbags · March 27, 2006

Hiya T.P.

I hope your now easing up on the celebrations and there,s not much of an hangover.

Thought the following articles might appeal to you that i read this morning.

First Quote:-

Madejski sets Premiership targets

Madejski is confident Reading can avoid relegation next season

Reading chairman John Madejski is hoping to follow in the footsteps of West Ham and Wigan when they begin life in the Premiership next season. Wigan and West Ham sit seventh and eighth in the top flight respectively after being promoted from the Championship last season. And Madejski said: "Next season we want to follow the example which has been set by West Ham and Wigan. "We're ready to take our chances with everybody else in the Premiership." Reading secured promotion to the top division with a 1-1 draw at Leicester on Saturday. Royals boss Steve Coppell revealed the club have already been planning for next season in the Premiership. He said: "Just like at every other football club, you're always planning months in advance. "We've been looking at next season for at least a month now and so the work will begin in earnest on Monday.

Second Quote:-

Coppell pays tribute to players

Steve Coppell and John Madejski are heading for the Premiership

Reading boss Steve Coppell hailed his players after they clinched promotion to the Premiership for the first time with a 1-1 draw at Leicester.

Coppell said: "This has been dream-like in many ways, but a dream based on hard work and players of tremendous ability. "They're a small squad who give everything for the club and we've had a tremendous year. "We knew results were going our way, but we wanted a decent result and just being there is a warm feeling inside."

Reading chairman John Madejski also said promotion to the Premiership was a dream come true. Madejski said: "This is the fulfilment of a dream, it's what we set out to do 16 years ago."

Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell said: "It's a joy. The chairman and managers have been rocks and this club will not grow in stature." Coppell is determined to gear Reading up for the Premiership once the dust has settled on the celebrations.

The Reading boss said: "To be honest, we have been looking at next season for about a month so now the work will begin in earnest on Monday. "Our last game of last season we were at Wigan when they were celebrating. Now it's our turn."

Enjoy the moment

marshbags

ThaiPauly · March 27, 2006

Thanx Marshbags... I follow the games live via Reading World..so I follow every moment.. Reading are the third most important thing in my sad little life (only joking).. this is the first season I have never seen a game owing to my comitments here in LOS... but I certainly intend to get back next year, even though I have a very good chance of seeing almost every game on UBC.

Thank you for your posts... I am just a humble supporter... who has lived his life in the shadows.. I just could never bring myself to betray my heart and give up on them.. I am lucky.. some folk supported the Royals all thier life and never got to see them play in the top flight.

ie... we have been established since 1871 and have NEVER played Liverpool... in ANY competition.. they are the only club in the top flight we have NEVER EVER played.. well that will change now

yes I am SO EXCITED... if you were me you would feel the same.. it is like winning the lottery... but even if I won it I could not do what good old John has done. I am quite good freinds with his ex-business partner who put his share of the sale of Auto trader into golf clubs... but this is something SPECIAL.. I dont have the passion for golf, although I made my money from that particular sport...

Anyway I hope we can emulate Wigan and West Ham next year.. the target is now 103 points for the remaining 6 games.. the most ever in the First Divison.. imagine the heartache ten years ago when we finished second... only for that year to be the ONLY year in history when only one club was guaranteed automatic promotion.. and we lost to Bolton 4-3 in the play offs... GUTTED and so unfair!!

Anyway MB, we are probably the only guys reading this thread ..but I thank you very much for your interest and congratulations

TP

marshbags · March 28, 2006

yes I am SO EXCITED... if you were me you would feel the same.. it is like winning the lottery... but even if I won it I could not do what good old John has done. I am quite good freinds with his ex-business partner who put his share of the sale of Auto trader into golf clubs... but this is something SPECIAL.. I dont have the passion for golf, although I made my money from that particular sport...
Anyway I hope we can emulate Wigan and West Ham next year.. the target is now 103 points for the remaining 6 games.. the most ever in the First Divison.. imagine the heartache ten years ago when we finished second... only for that year to be the ONLY year in history when only one club was guaranteed automatic promotion.. and we lost to Bolton 4-3 in the play offs... GUTTED and so unfair!!

Anyway MB, we are probably the only guys reading this thread ..but I thank you very much for your interest and congratulations

TP

Unfortunately our teams are not the fashionable big boys of football .

However we are just as important as are all the teams that make English football what it is today.

By my reckoning only the pigs in second place can overtake you and even then they have to win most of there remaining games, and Reading loose all there remaining matches.

46 games are standard ( i think ) so.................................................

You have 92 points with 6 games remaining ( 18 points to play for. )

The pigs have 78 and need to take 15 out of 18 and your team to loose all there remaining games

which i reckon is a no chance senario.

I won,t tempt fate in case i give you bad luck, but i honestly cannot see them overtaking you.

The league at the moment is as follows on dated 27-03-2006.

P GD PTS

1 Reading 40 56 92

2 Sheff Utd 40 27 78

3 Watford 40 24 72

4 Leeds 40 21 72

5 Crystal Palace 40 19 67

6 Preston 39 20 61

7 Wolverhampton 40 10 59

8 Cardiff 40 7 59

9 Norwich 40 -8 53

10 Ipswich 40 -8 53

11 Luton 40 -2 52

12 Coventry 40 -6 52

13 QPR 39 -9 49

14 Plymouth 40 -8 48

15 Stoke 39 -13 48

16 Leicester 40 -7 47

17 Burnley 39 -8 46

18 Derby 40 -6 45

19 Hull 40 -6 45

20 Southampton 39 -8 42

21 Sheff Wed 40 -16 41

22 Millwall 40 -21 36

23 Brighton 40 -26 32

24 Crewe 39 -32 31

Another article for you TP in case you haven,t seen it from the old players of the past for your pleasure.

Royal seal of approval

By Stuart Roach and Ian Wilkerson

It has taken 135 years for Reading to reach the top flight.

In that time the Royals has seen some star names come and go - without the club ever reaching the pinnacle of English football.

So, how do they feel about Steve Coppell's march towards the Premiership and what memories do they have about their times at Elm Park?

BBC Sport talked to some of their blasts from the past to find out.

KERRY DIXON

I really hope Reading can adapt to the Premiership the way Wigan and West Ham have done this season

Kerry Dixon played for Reading from 1980 to 1983, scoring 51 goals in 116 league appearances.

In 1982-83, he scored 26 goals in 35 games to finish as the top scorer in Division Three, despite playing in a side that was relegated at the end of that season.

He joined Chelsea for £175,000 - then a club record sale for Reading - and went on to win eight England caps, scoring four goals for his country.

He now works as pundit for Chelsea's television channel.

I think it's wonderful that Reading will be playing in the Premiership next season.

It was always a possibility when John Madejski put his money in and the opportunity was there for them to make the transition from Elm Park to a new stadium.

I'm looking forward to seeing Reading play Chelsea twice in the Premiership next season and I really hope Reading can give them two good games and adapt to the Premiership the way Wigan and West Ham have done this season.

I have fond memories, of course, of my days at Elm Park. I had three seasons there and the final season ended in disappointment because the club were relegated.

I had mixed feelings that year because I ended the season as the division's top scorer but we still got relegated and that really tells the story of that season for us.

It was a prolific season for me but a disappointing one and the stand-out memory was scoring four goals in a game at Doncaster but we still lost 7-5 - a great personal landmark but a strange feeling for me.

I had three seasons with Reading playing with the likes of Webby (Neil Webb) and Sanch (Lawrie Sanchez) and players like Mark White and Steve Death, who was a great keeper.

I've not had the opportunity to see Reading play Chelsea in the league since leaving for Stamford Bridge, so I can't wait for those games next season.

KEITH CURLE

They have got a fantastic manager and chairman and they are very understated

Keith Curle's stay at Elm Park lasted one season and became a stepping stone for the future England defender - from the old Third Division to the First.

Manager Ian Branfoot spent £150,000 to take Curle to Elm Park from Bristol City.

But after a season and an appearance in the winning Simod Cup team, the Royals were relegated to the Second Division.

While they were off to Division Two after a two-year stay, Curle was off to Wimbledon, as the Dons spent £500,000 of the money they claimed after winning the FA Cup.

Curle made 53 appearances without scoring.

It was a disappointing season, even though we did get to Wembley.

With the players we had in that side, there was no way we should have got relegated.

Things were a lot different then. I would describe Elm Park as compact and bijoux and, to be honest, I think the whole place was held together by a lick of paint.

But, location-wise it was spot on and I have not been at all surprised by the progress that has been made in the last few years.

It needed someone who could provide an injection of finance and have the vision and they have got that now.

They have got a fantastic manager and chairman and they are very understated.

They are not shouting anything from the rooftops and are doing things in the right manner.

Reading helped me step up the divisions and I always like to see the clubs who have been good to me in my career doing well.

It's great they are finally fulfilling their potential.

PHIL PARKINSON

Top flight football has been a long time coming for Reading and the supporters really deserve it

Parkinson spent over 10 years at Reading after joining them in 1992 from Bury for £37,500 when they were in the old Division Three.

It proved to be money well spent as Parkinson went on to establish himself as a huge favourite with the Royals' fans, captained the club and earned a testimonial in 2002.

The midfielder made over 400 appearances for the Royals before leaving to become manager of Colchester.

Obviously I'm very pleased to see them in the Premiership. It's reward for the club that has done things the right way.

Reading have built solid foundations with a good academy and the ground move over the years, rather than one big outlay which could have put the club in jeopardy.

They are a role model for other clubs and a great example to clubs looking to do things the right way.

The biggest thing for me at Elm Park was beating Brighton to get promoted under Mark McGhee, which was a great achievement as Mark had very little resources to work with.

Wembley was a stand-out memory, then the play-off final against Walsall at Cardiff and also getting promoted under Alan Pardew by drawing at Brentford on the final day of the season.

Top flight football has been a long time coming for Reading and the supporters really deserve it.

I think they will do well in the Premiership. When you look at Steve Coppell's record, he gets the absolute maximum out of whatever resources he has and I think that whatever he is given to spend he will use it very wisely..........................................................................

............quotes ended

It,s not important that not many people are reading this thread as it,s to be expected with not being the Man utd,s Arsenals or Chelsea,s ect. ect. ( so it,s understandable )

As we say at Hillsborough we support our team in good and bad times and your supporters along with yourself can be proud of doing the same for Reading, that,s for sure.

We are the true supporters of football and prove it year after year, no matter what happens.

Sorry the post is a bit long as i wanted to send you the article also.

You,ve more celebrating to come soon so again get ready to party some more.

I,ll be commenting on the outcome of the rest of the ups an downs on your thread winners and losers,as things develop..................................................cheers T.P.

marshbags

Edited March 28, 2006 by marshbags

ThaiPauly · March 28, 2006

Thanks for that MB.. I really enjoyed reading it.

I beleive we still have to come to your place, so if your safety is guaranteed by then if we need a win to clinch the title then I am sure the Olws will have no problems ensuring that it is us and not the other side of the Steel City that are Champions!!!

I would really laugh if Southampton went down, I have no time for their Chairman, he is the one causing all their problems and should leave. However I think that the teams in the bottom 3 now will go down.

Anyway, thanks again for the post

TP

mickmac · March 28, 2006

Congrats to all the reading fans, and just to re-itterate the OP, hopefully they will emulate Wigan and give their fans plenty to cheer about.

I hope they are still hung over next Saturday whenthe Rams visit them, hopefully we can hood-wink you like we did with Palace last week-end.

Once again my best wishes.

JKD · March 29, 2006

Another Bangkok-based RFC fan here checking in. I've been waiting 28 years for this moment so I am glad we have finally done it and in some style. Looking forward to seeing our fake shirts on sale next season! Nice piece on Football Focus last night, anyone see it? I didn't know Steve Coppell was a regular visitor to Thailand.

ThaiPauly · March 29, 2006

SC comes for the GOLF.. his Son is now training in the USA to become a Pro golfer... after this particular Coppelll, dont be surprised to see his Son emerge as a top golfer in the Paul Casey, Jutsin Rose mould.

Dammit I missed the programme

Suthep_Steve · March 30, 2006

Congrats to the Royals from a Blade.

Hope to be playing you again next year but we are still not there......

Good luck next year in Premiership, never mind about staying up lets see you in Europe

marshbags · April 3, 2006

Just to reitterate for the record on this thread also...................................

There you go T.P.

Reading confirmed champions in style and deservedly so. again.....................

Sorry i couldn,t send this yesterday but my ADSL was off most of the day, along with TOT backup.

I couldn,t even find out how the owls had done till late afternoon. ( nail bitting stuff for us )

It,s never happened before (ADSL situ. ) makes me wonder if it was meant to be. ??????????????

WELL DONE to you all connected with the ROYALS

marshbags

Edited April 3, 2006 by marshbags

ThaiPauly · April 3, 2006

Indeed MB , we clinched it in some style, now we have to go for the record of 102 points. so I hope there will be no let up

Thank you for your good wishes... I hope we go easy on you!!

TP

ThaiPauly · April 30, 2006

Well nobody else is gonna "Blow My Trumpet" but todays victory against QPR has given us a RECORD tally of points. The most achieved in the second tier of English Football (EVER)..106 points... just can't seeing us slipping up next year... you dont get that many points if you are crap!

Anyway I know I am probably talking to myself.. BUT RECORD BREAKERS We are! Plus the biggest ever goal difference, another record.

Come on You Royals.. many Prem teams will not relish a trip to the Mad Stad next year

Oh ..PS I am talking about READING FC for those that have never heard of us!!

Edited April 30, 2006 by ThaiPauly

marshbags · May 1, 2006

Well nobody else is gonna "Blow My Trumpet" but todays victory against QPR has given us a RECORD tally of points. The most achieved in the second tier of English Football (EVER)..106 points... just can't seeing us slipping up next year... you dont get that many points if you are crap!
Anyway I know I am probably talking to myself.. BUT RECORD BREAKERS We are! Plus the biggest ever goal difference, another record.

Come on You Royals.. many Prem teams will not relish a trip to the Mad Stad next year

Oh ..PS I am talking about READING FC for those that have never heard of us!!

Hiya T.P. one of many Royal supporters, please go to:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/p...ies/4959908.stm

Go to images 4 for the penalty shot and 5 for the team/cup presentation

You must be blind over/pissed, oops sorry, i meant delighted.

cheeers.........................................................................

......................Hic! Hic! Hic!

Downloaded this photo for you and hope it,s possible to print off if you wish.

Repeat the url is.

Go to image ( 5 ) forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Captain Murty holds aloft the Championship trophy as Reading set a new league points record of 106

Congratulations again T.P.

Both Reading and you as a decent person deserve the success and the joy that comes with it.