LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
September 2003
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  • 30th September 2003 - Canaries 2 Royals 1

    • Reading faced another tough away fixture at Carrow Road and made 3 changes to the starting line-up. Brown, Harper and Salako were replaced by Mackie, Newman and Goater

    The Royals started the game much more brightly than they had at Sunderland 3 days earlier, yet still found themselves a goal behind after just 17 minutes. A poor Norwich corner was cleared but the ball was played back in and Darren Huckerby fired the ball home. However, rather than set the vistors back, it seemed to spur them into greater action. It only took to Reading 8 minutes to find the equaliser through Nicky Forster. For the remainder of the first half, Royals enjoyed good attacking possession and forced their hosts onto the back foot. They went in at the interval with the scores level and it was City who were certainly grateful to hear the half-time whistle.

    After the break, the home side fought back and had most of the play. But just when the hard working Royals looked to be heading for a well earned point, a long range effort from McVeigh took a wicked deflection past Hahnemann for what proved to be the winner 3 minutes from time. Reading threw everything forward to try and find a late equaliser but it wasn't to be.

  • 27th September 2003 - Royals Go Missing

    • Reading went to Blaydon Races and didn't turn up at the Stadium of Light.

  • 27th September 2003 - Terriers In Carling

    • Reading have been drawn at home to Huddersfield Town in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup.

  • 24th September 2003 - Oxford Stuffed

    • Reading stuffed local rivals Oxford with great ease in the Carling Cup. A totally dominant performance saw the Royals run out comfortable 3:1 victors as the hosts had no answer to Reading's superior class.

    The first half may have ended goal-less but it was a mystery how. The Royals created numerous opportunities with the excellent Nicky Forster too hot to handle. Scott Murray did put the ball in the net from Fozzy's cross, but the referee's assistant signalled that the ball had crossed the line before being pulled back.

    The visitors finally got the breakthrough with a bit of good fortune. Forster's effort was deflected across the six yard box where it hit the lurking Salako and rebounded into the net. The nature of the goal may have been lucky, but no-one could deny that the rampant Royals totally deserved the lead. Nicky Forster then produced a bit of magic to score an excellent goal and seemingly end the contest. However, a lapse in concentration at the back allowed Oxford to pull a goal back from their only decent effort of the night. A brief spell after that the home side were boosted, but it didn't take long for Reading to regain control. In the final minute, some delightful work by substitute Omar Daley left former Royal Robinson on his backside. Daley played the ball in to Forster who in turn laid it off for Harper to fire home.

    So it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening to put one over our local rivals with such ease. However, Saturday's task away to Sunderland will undoubtedly be a far sterner test. The draw for the next round of the Carling Cup takes place live on Sky Sports at 5:30pm on Saturday - just minutes before the Royals game at the Stadium of Light.

  • 20th September 2003 - Royals 1 Coventry 2

    • A very dissappointing display from the Royals saw them go down 1:2 at home to Coventry City.

    Reading started the game brightly and took the lead through Nicky Forster after 20 minutes. But the home side were unable to use this as a spur to greater things and quickly lost their way in the game. The Sky Blues deservedly equalised before half-time.

    Things got worse for the home side after the break as Coventry completely controlled the game, creating numerous scoring opportunities. It came as no surprise when they grabbed the winner and their can be no complaints about the result.

    Next up in the league is a tough trip to the Stadium Of Light and Reading will need to improve by 200% on this performance if they are to come away with anything. Meanwhile, they have an opportunity to sort things out with a Carling Cup tie away to local rivals Oxford on Wednesday.

  • 18th September 2003 - Settled

    • The Alan Pardew saga has finally been settled out of Court. West Ham will pay the Royals £380,000 for Pardew to take over at Upton Park on 18th October.

  • 16th September 2003 - Royals 2 Cardiff 1

    • Reading came back from a goal behind against Cardiff to take all 3 points in a cracking game of football at the MadStad.

    The home side started brightly and Nicky Forster was especially sharp. But it was the Bluebirds who took the lead in the 13th minute. An individual error by Nicky Shorey allowed Thorpe to get in behind the defence and fire past Marcus Hahnemann in the Royals goal. This knocked the Royals back on their heels for the rest of the half as a good looking Cardiff side took control.

    After the break, Reading began to get their passing game together and dominated possession, although the visitors were still lively and contributing to an enjoyable encounter. The Royals second half dominance finally paid off with a well worked equaliser on the hour. A neat flowing move ended with Scott Murray firing the across the 6-yard box where Forster arrived to flick the ball home for his 50th goal for the Royals. Their confidence well and truly restored, Reading continued to push forward in search of the winner - and what a goal it was. Again, Scott Murray worked the ball well on the right and played it in to Forster. Fozzy held off the attentions of 3 defenders and laid the ball back to the edge of the box for Sidwell to fire an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

    It was a thoroughly deserved victory in the end, and a result that will be a boost to the spirits of fans, players and staff alike after the events of the past 10 days.

  • 13th September 2003 - Hammers 1 Royals 0

    • The first ever league meeting between the Royals and West Ham ended in defeat for Reading at Upton Park.

    The home side totally dominated the opening 20 minutes as the Royals seemed somewhat overawed. The only goal of the game came during this initial onslaught when Dailly header home a corner in the 17th minute.

    Eventually, the visitors forced their way into the game, but without really creating any clear cut opportunities. In the second half, Reading forced most of the play with West Ham playing mostly on the break. However, with the home defence not allowing any space for Nicky Forster, it was the hammers who continued to look more lively in front of goal. Indeed, had it not been for the excellent Hahnemann this could have been a much heavier defeat.

    So, it wasn't the result that all Royals fans had been hoping for following the events earlier in the week, but not many teams will take anything from Upton Park this season.

  • 10th September 2003 - 5 Reasons Why He's A Git

    • No Reading fan can deny that Alan Pardew has done a magnificent job during his time in charge. When he took over, the team was a shambles following the debacle of Tommy Burns. Pardew, with the full support of a magnificent Chairman, totally turned things around. Two play-offs, an automatic promotion and the brink of the Premiership is far more than any loyal Royal could ever have dreamt of when Pardew took charge. However, his actions today leave a very sour taste and here are 5 reasons why.

    1. Dishonorable:
    Alan Pardew AGREED to a contract that only permitted him to talk to Premiership clubs and he has now broken that agreement. His departing statement quotes the fact he was denied the opportunity to speak to West Ham as being the reason for his departure. What absolute CRAP! The truth is that HE DENIED HIMSELF that opportunity when he agreed to sign the contract. We all know that the real reason is 'wonga'. Which brings me to the second point;

    2. Unprincipled:
    It was only a short time ago that Pardew presented himself as 'the leading light'. Showing the players the way by taking a pay cut. Now, as soon as someone waves a big fat cheque in front of his face he can't wait to grab it.

    3. Disloyal:
    Alan Pardew has turned his back on a club and a Chairman that have given him every possible support to launch his managerial career. And this is how he repays that faith in him

    4. Hypocritical:
    He has repeatedly been 'banging the drum' about what a fantastically progressive club Reading is, and that it has better prospects and potential than any other club in the divison. A club that is 'really going places'. A club with a superb infrastructure to move forwards and upwards. So how come he now feels that West Ham is a better propspect after all? Must be that 'wonga' again!

    5. Stupid:
    Let's face it, he had a great thing going at Reading and a real opportunity to make a little bit of history. To turn it all down for West Ham can only be described as stupidity.

    Oh! I suppose that now he is no longer a Royal I can use a 6th reason too - he's ex-Palace scum.

  • 10th September 2003 - Pardew Does A Runner

    • Alan Pardew today turned his back on the club that has given him every possible support during the start of his managerial career when he offered his resignation. Quite rightly, in order to protect the interests of the club, Chairman John Madejski has refused to accept Pardew's resignation. Whilst that makes no real practical difference, it does at least preserve the club's integrity and protect their financial position. It now means that Reading can expect to either seek substantial compensation from West Ham or sue Pardew for breach of contract (or both). It is also feasible that Reading could take out an injunction to at least delay Pardew from taking up a new position - similar to the action taken by Crystal Palace when Steve Bruce left in similarly unpleasant circumstances.

    You have to feel sorry for poor John Madejski. When Mark McGhee left the club, Madejski thought he was doing the honorable thing by allowing McGhee to at least talk to Leicester - and he was shat upon and also severely criticised in some quarters. This time, he tried to protect himself and the club by agreeing a contract with the manager that only permitted him to talk to Premiership clubs. He has still been shat upon. He just can't win.

    We all know that John Madejski was deeply hurt and depressed by the McGhee saga. He said that he never wanted to face such a situation again and would turn his back on football if he ever did. Well I only hope that it doesn't come to that. John Madejski IS Reading Football Club. Without him, the club could never be where it is today - no matter who the manager is. Chin up John and stick with it - we are all behind you. STUFF ALAN PARDEW.

  • 6th September 2003 - Hammers Approach Rejected

    • West Ham United made a formal approach to Reading for permission to speak to Alan Pardew about their vacant managerial position. Royals chairman John Madeski refused the request.

  • 5th September 2003 - New Saddlers Date

    • The home game against Walsall has been re-arranged for Tuesday 21st October (ko 8:00pm).