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The Life Of A Royal - updated 2007
The Darker Days
Supporting a small (but growing), lower division football club such as Reading can make you the butt of many a joke. I don't mind taking a bit of stick. In fact, I quite enjoy the banter, and am more than prepared to offer my own. What gets up my nose, however, are the people who choose to 'support' clubs such as Liverpool or Man United, and take every opportunity to slag off their local team, criticising them even though they never watch them play. Then again, many of these big club parasites haven't even seen their 'own' team play. How many of those so called supporters have actually been to Anfield or Old Trafford? Wasn't it strange a few years ago to see so many Blackburn Rovers shirts being worn around town? Can you remember seeing one Blackburn shirt in Broad Street before they won the championship? I can't. And where are they now?
The funny thing is, these people only seem to mention football to you at work on a Monday morning if Reading have lost. Until, that is, the club looks like achieving a modicum of success. Then it would appear that these people undergo some kind of magical transformation. Suddenly, they can be found cheering on the team and claiming to be 'Loyal Royals'. The Monday morning conversation is now about how 'we' are going to win the championship. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that they are now on our side. I only wish they would be there every game, but please, spare me the hypocrisy!
So why on earth do I support Reading through thick and thin? Well, first and foremost, Reading is my town. I have lived here for all of my life and feel a certain loyalty to the place, even if it did have a reputation for being a bit of a dump.
I was brought up on a council estate in Southcote where there were a lot of other kids of my own age. We would spend most of our time kicking a ball around in the street or at the local playing field, but most of the others would be wearing Chelsea or Arsenal shirts. Not me. I found it hard to understand why they weren't proud to wear the blue 'n white hoops. I guess they felt that playing the likes of Hartlepool and Doncaster every week was nothing to be proud of. But for me it was inconceivable that I should support any team but Reading.
At the time, Reading Football Club did very little to encourage kids along to Elm Park. There was no involvement with the local schools that there is today. It is therefore reassuring to see many more youngsters wearing their Reading shirts with pride. This is in no small way due to the attitude and efforts of the club itself through its involvement in the community. If we are to retain the interest of these youngsters and build a support for the future, then it is vital that Reading Football Club is seen as an extension of the community itself.
I have been brought up on a diet of RFC ever since my dad first took me to watch 'the Biscuitmen' when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I can't actually remember anything about that first game, except the excitement of simply being there. It wasn't long before I was hooked and would continually ask "When are we going again, dad?"
My uncle also had a big influence on the development of my interest in football. If Reading were playing away, he would take me to watch Aldersh*t at the Recreation Ground. I think he found it embarrassing sitting in the stand next to me cheering for Reading. The home supporters were obviously very amused by it all. But these excursions gave me the taste for away games, and I desperately wanted to go to places like Scunthorpe to see Reading play, rather than Aldersh*t versus Crewe. Eventually, my mum had to concede to my constant pestering and I was allowed to go to away games. Now I felt like a true supporter, as if I belonged and was a part of the club itself. I just couldn't get enough of watching my heroes.
The big crunch came on the day of my sister's wedding. Reading were playing at home to Rochdale and I knew where I would rather be. Of course I was expected to attend the big family occasion. Needless to say, I went to Elm Park. My mum couldn't believe that I would miss my own sister's wedding, but I don't think my sister really cared too much. Although my mum eventually forgave me, I was never allowed to forget it.
Reading Football Club is in my blood. Your emotions can take over completely when cheering on your team. It's as if you become a completely different person for a few hours. Following the Royals has given me many fond memories, and some sad ones too. But you can't just give up on your team in times of trouble. The tough times only make the good times even more enjoyable.
Let The Good Times Roll
Now, of course, we have a fantastic stadium, a progressive attitude epitomised by the Academy, a gradually growing world-wide support, and are playing in the top flight of English football. The good times have finally arrived. Of course, no-one can predict how long the good times will last. I would hope that things will never quite return to the dark days of the 70's, but nothing can be taken for granted. Certainly the club is showing the right attitude of continual development.
Not everything about the Premiership is to be enjoyed. Indeed, there are a number of rather unsavoury aspects that I deplore; there is far more cheating and diving than ever before; there are a few horrible people in the game who display an arrogance and greed that is nothing short of insulting at times; players who think that earning grossly inflated wages gives then a right to stub out a cigar in someone's eye, or to beat a team-mate with a golf club; everything is over-priced and over-hyped; media coverage is frequently ignorant of the facts or any true knowledge; and the banter between rival supporters is much more vitriolic - there isn't the empathy with each other that there used to be. But for all its faults, the Premiership is still the place everyone wants to be. As a Reading fan, much as I always enjoyed my away days in the lower leagues, there is no greater pride than seeing my team take on the likes of Manchester United rather than Stockport County. Long may it continue. But regardless, I'll stick with my team forever. "Reading 'till I die, I'm Reading 'till I die!"
Squelchy
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