READING MATTER

AUTUMN 2010

YOUNG STAR MEMBERS ON THEIR DAYOUT

STAR
SUPPORTERS’ TRUST AT READING
 STAR SHOTS

We were wondering when the

first anniversary date was?

‘Oh what big ears you have

Grandma’

Pondering. A man and his pipe

at peace

‘Do Wine Gums count as

alcohol on the coach, Colin?’

2
 STAR CONTENTS

EDITORS COMMENTS

This is being written on the coach returning from the Burnley game.
A group of Burnley supporters have just indicated that the final
score was two nil. Funny I thought the final score was four nil.
I like winning. It sets you up for the next game and the days that
follow, suddenly begins to look a whole lot better.
Come on URZ.
In this edition have taken a look at some different football related
subjects. Thank you to Esther Madden, Alan Sedundary, Paul Ellix,
Richard Wickson and Steve Prince for their articles. As STAR
sponsor the ex-players team shirts we thought we would feature
them in this issue. The cover photographs were taken at their
recent charity game. (How Wendie managed to slip into a picture
of Adie Williams we still have not managed to figure out). On
page 25 you will find a list of events for this year. All the usual
favourites plus the new event of ‘A Question of Sport’. Keep an eye
on our web page for details of this one. I’ve been told there’s a
RFC team coming along. I wonder who?

CONTENTS

Chairman’s Notes….Page 4 / Annual General Meeting….Page 5

Fans’ Forum: Brian….Page 8
Ex-Players Association….Page 14 / Our Last Game….Page 15
Away Grounds : Your Views….Page 16 / Homeless World Cup….Page 18
A Tribute to Roy….Page 20 / Our Questions Count….Page 21
Living Next Door to Ivar….Page 22 / STAR Events….Page 25
Flag Running… .Page 25 / Committals, Community and Clubs….Page 26
Eighty Years Young….Page 28 / Meet the Board….Page 31

Main Cover Picture

Ex-Reading Players v Gunners charity game. See page 14

EDITORS
Wendie Wakefield / Esther Madden / Nathan Wakefield / Pete Vickery

Published on behalf of STAR

Reading Football Supporters’ Society Ltd. trading as STAR

3
 CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Hello again, welcome to the first Reading Matter of the season, and
especially to those reading this in its electronic form. The cost in
printing, postage and effort of sending out a paper version is
considerable and we appreciate being able to deliver this
electronically.

At the time of writing we are 10 games into the season and sitting in
7th, which is a decent start and if only we had not shipped some
silly goals we could be pushing QPR hard. Still let’s hope Colin*
has a similar experience at QPR as he had at Sheffield United when
we stormed past them. But there again maybe we can’t manage
that twice in a decade!

The last few games have been more entertaining to watch and
despite some early misgivings the squad has shown that it has
some depth, and that the younger lads are now showing that, given
some time on the pitch, they really can step up to the mark (I tried to
say that without the clichés but they fit and maybe that is why they
are clichés!). To sum it up I look forward to every game at the
moment and enjoy the wins especially – so no change there.

STAR is still attending the regular management meetings at RFC

so, as we are there to represent you, please do contact us about
anything you would like to ask the management, or even better
enable us to tell them of ways they can make the football
experience better for all. We post details of the matters discussed
on our website; so have a look and give us feedback on subjects we
should raise.

I would like to welcome Nathan, Ian and Pete to the STAR Board, all
of whom have already been helping us over the past season. We
welcome members who want to help, without necessarily
committing to standing for election, to join our teams – it can be a
less intimidating way of getting involved – so if you think you might
like to help please get in touch. I would also like to thank Jon very
much for his efforts as vice-chair and look forward to Michele’s
contribution as the new vice-chair and I am sorry he has decided to
step down from the board.

You can contact us at the STAR Base or at info@star-reading.org.

* For those who do not know Colin is Neil Warnock and no I won’t
explain it here!

4
 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

READING FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS’ SOCIETY LTD

T/A STAR (Supporters’ Trust At Reading)
Minutes of 8th Annual General Meeting
26th August 2010 at 8pm at the Madjeski Stadium

Present:
Paula Martin (Chairman)
Gerry McGreevy (Treasurer)
Elected board members:
Colin Bishop
Helen Bullen
Paul Ellix
Michele Law
Wendie Wakefield
Chris Witcher
Minutes taken by Teresa Hicks (Secretary).

Apologies: from Sybil Ford, Jon Keen, Trevor Mossman,

Gordon Neate and Phil Parkinson.

1/ The chairman welcomed STAR members to the 8th annual gen-

eral meeting.

2/ The minutes of the 7th AGM held on 27th August 2009 were
approved as a true record of that meeting.
Proposed: Denny Fullbrook Seconded: Bryan Dennis

3/ Three candidates were standing for election to the board. Mich-

ele Law and Wendie Wakefield were re-elected to the board and
Nathan Wakefield was elected as a new board member. All were
elected unopposed. The chairman then introduced all the board
members to the audience and explained their individual roles and
responsibilities.

4/ The chairman gave her report for the year ended 30 June 2010.
STAR had fulfilled most of its usual roles, including the following:
four fans’ forums;
- a quiz night;
- campaigns (a dossier was produced following the fracas at
West Bromwich);
- ESTAR (increased frequency and electronic distribution
where possible);
()

5
 - website improvements;
- issues of Reading Matter;
- coach travel to away matches;
- representation at RFC senior management meetings.

The chairman thanked all the board members and volunteers for
their help throughout the year which is vital and very much
appreciated.

This year’s award for services to supporters of Reading football

club was given to Graham Loader for his work with ‘Hob Nob
Anyone?’ the unofficial fans’ website.

5/ Treasurer’s report. Gerry McGreevy gave his report and pre-

sented audited accounts for the year ended 30 June 2010. There
were no questions and the accounts were accepted.
Proposed: Chris Wilkins Seconded: Andy Povet

6/ It was proposed that Vale and West were reappointed as

auditors and this was carried unanimously.
Proposed: Nathan Wakefield; Seconded: Melanie Bishop.

7/ A resolution to amend the Rules as follows:

a/ Amendment to Rule 2.
Proposed by Paul Ellix; Seconded by Dave Strawn.
Delete full stop at the end of the rule and insert the following
paragraphs:
viii) to develop links with supporters of other football clubs in the
furtherance of the enjoyment of the game for all supporters
ix) to campaign in support of bona fide supporters’ organisations on
football-related matters of mutual or unilateral interest or concern.
b/ Insert a new Rule 12A.
Proposed by Michele Law; Seconded by Gordon McGhee
The Society will have power to reward any person who is a member
of the Society that it considers has made a creditable, long-term
and noteworthy contribution to the Society by conferring life
membership of the Society. Life members will not be required to
pay an annual membership subscription but will be entitled to vote
at any general meeting of the Society as they are a registered
holder of a fully paid up share in the Society.
c/ Amendment to Rule 67.
Proposed by Helen Bullen; Seconded by Peter Matthews
(

6
The current rule 67 is:
Meetings of the Society Board may be called either by the Secre-
tary, or by a notice in writing given to the Secretary by the chair of
the Society Board, or by two Society Board members who are not
both elected by the members of the Society or both co-opted Board
members, specifying the business to be discussed. The Secretary
is to communicate every such notice to all Society Board members
as soon as possible and the meeting is to be held at a venue
decided by the Secretary not earlier than seven days and not later
than fourteen days after the receipt by the Secretary of the notice.
Should the Secretary fail to convene the meeting, the Chair or the
two Society Board members who have given the notice in writing
may call the meeting. No business is to be done at the meeting
other than the business specified in the notice.
The proposal is, in the first sentence, to delete the words:
who are not both elected by the members of the Society or both
co-opted Board members
The revised rule 67 to read:
Meetings of the Society Board may be called either by the
Secretary, or by a notice in writing given to the Secretary by the
chair of the Society Board, or by two Society Board members,
specifying the business to be discussed. The Secretary is to
communicate every such notice to all Society Board members as
soon as possible and the meeting is to be held at a venue decided
by the Secretary not earlier than seven days and not later than
fourteen days after the receipt by the Secretary of the notice.
Should the Secretary fail to convene the meeting, the Chair or the
two Society Board members who have given the notice in writing
may call the meeting. No business is to be done at the meeting
other than the business specified in the notice.

All rule amendments were agreed unanimously.

8/ Any other business: It was asked whether the dossier compiled

following the WBA stewarding problems would be given any wider
publicity. The chairman replied that probably not but that Jon Keen
was dealing with it and he was not present at the meeting to
comment.

The chairman closed the meeting.

7
 FANS’ FORUM : BRIAN
26th August 2010

Wendie Wakefield welcomed Brian McDermott (BM) to the forum

and began by asking some questions sent in advance.

How have you enjoyed being manager of Reading so far and

what have been the highlights and lowlights?
BM: I’ve loved it and obviously I really loved it on Tuesday night
[against Northampton]!! Actually that was the worst. It was horrible.
I know we weren’t very good but that last two or three minutes – the
ref missed a stonewall penalty and then came up with over four
minutes of extra time. When the ball went out for a corner he said
carry on. The fourth official told him the three minutes were up and
he could blow for the end of the game and he carried on. I know we
didn’t play well but we should have won 3-2. The highlights are
winning and losing is the worst. The best for me was the cup game
at West Brom. We needed a goal and I could hear everyone saying
put on another striker, the fans were saying it, the coaches were
saying it, the team were saying it but I felt something special would
happen. Then Brian got that equaliser and Gylfi got the winner.
Then there was the row on the pitch afterwards.

How irritating is it to see clubs with financial problems living

beyond their means, do you think the FL rules in this area are
strong enough, would you change them if you could?
BM: Yes I would. How Cardiff can sign Craig Bellamy and Jason
Koumas... and Portsmouth signed Sonko... and Hull. It keeps
going on. It wouldn’t happen in business. I think it’s completely

8
wrong.

It’s not ideal but are you secretly hoping that a big bid is made
for one of our players, and if one is made would you see any of
the money coming into team rebuilding?
BM: If a big bid came in the club would have to look at it. It could
happen at the weekend but there wouldn’t be much time for us to
do anything. It would have to be a big bid, then we could react. We
are just waiting at the moment.

Why has there been no move to bring in a central defender?

Are there any youngsters coming through who you think could
make it as a centre back at this level?
BM: It comes down to money, I’ve already spoken about that.
Centre backs need to have some experience. That’s why I got
Khizanishvili and Andy Griffin in last season. Pearce is young and
playing.

Marcus Williams has yet to really catch the eye, how long
would you expect it to be to start seeing more of what he is
about?
BM: He needs to get better. I watched him at Scunthorpe. He’s a
good athlete but he is not playing at the level he can yet. But we
are working on him and working on his understanding with Jobi.

If Marcus Williams and Chris Armstrong were fully fit, who

would you play?
BM: Hands up!

What was the thinking behind advising Scott Davies and Dave
Mooney that they are free to move one? General consensus
on Scott is that he looks a promising player and Dave Mooney
has never had a real chance at Reading.
BM: Scott needs to move on for his career. As did James Henry.
We are quite strong in the centre of pitch, we’ve got Jake Taylor
and Tabby. As for Dave, I know him well. He needs to play games
and he doesn’t fit into my plans at the moment.

Where do you think the best positions are for Bell-Baggie,

Jake Taylor, Bignall and Hal Robson-Kanu?
BM: Abdulai – on the right wing. Jake – off the striker, Bignall also
off the striker and Hal on the left wing.

9
 It’s great to see youngsters like Jordan Obita and Lawson
D’Ath given squad numbers. How much more development is
needed before they would be considered for a league match?
BM: With youngsters you can’t blood a lot of them at the same time.
You have to put them in when they are ready, as with Simon and
Alex. We are in good shape regarding youngsters.

And good shape regarding goalkeepers?

BM: Yes – we’ve got really good keepers as you have seen in the
last two games!! Both of them have been devastated. Adam has
been fantastic for us, I told him and showed him clips. Ben Hamer
was really distraught. But I told him it wasn’t down to just him, it
was everyone, manager, staff, everyone.

27 of our goals in 2010 have been scored by midfielders and

only 22 by our strikers. This is a fairly poor return and this
season only Rasiak has scored and he’s no longer here. Is
Noel Hunt really going to make a difference or do we need
another striker?
BM: Strikers are not easy to get and they are also expensive. I
think we will score goals from all over, especially our midfield and
wide players. But yes, the strikers need to chip in with more goals
and Noel will make a difference.

When is Shane Long going to score?

BM: When the ball crosses the line! On Saturday! Our strikers get
some stick up against big defenders, Church at Portsmouth and
Shane against Morgan and Wilson.

How did you feel about having to play a Carling Cup game the
same week as an international break and on the same day as
the home nations were playing?
BM: It was quite ridiculous. We had half our team missing for the
Torquay match and they tell us to take the cup seriously.

International breaks, welcome or unwelcome?

BM: I’m glad this time as we’ve got so many injuries and knocks so
it’s a good time this time. But not always.

Can you explain the use of 4-5-1 or 4-2-2-1-1 or whatever you

want to call it? Last season it made us solid and difficult to
beat but its continued use in some games seems strange as I

10
don’t think it brings out the best use of the strikers we have. I
think we would get more out of 2 up front allowing the strikers
to play off a target.
BM: I think if we’d played 4-4-2 against Forest we would have lost.
It’s not all about the system. We’ve got Gylfi and last season we
built the team around him. Our wingers were flying. So no
preference, not really. I am just trying to win games. We would
have struggled against Forest if I had taken off a midfielder.

Questions from the floor.

Are there some referees who have something against us?

BM: I don’t like to whinge about referees. When I see them before
a match I don’t usually recognise their face, that’s how it is.

I think we all enjoyed last season when we were passing it on

the ground, but why oh why does Federici keep kicking it up in
the air? We’ve got Shane Long up against massive defenders
and they keep humping it up so why 5 in midfield? Why has
the system changed this season, it reminds me of the last year
of the Steve Coppell era. Everyone goes across to one side of
the pitch at goal kicks. I’ve had enough of humping, what is
your reason, I’m struggling to understand.
BM: So am I! Give us some time. I know what you’re saying and I
don’t want to hump it up. At the moment we have not got the
stability in the team with lots of injuries. Griffin’s picked up an
injury, Marcus is brand new. I don’t disagree but it will come. We
need to get it to wide areas and crosses in, that will come, but it
didn’t the other night. I don’t want long balls. Federici might have
to vary that. Shane Long can flick it on to Jimmy or Jobi.

Judging by the start we’ve made do you think a lot of teams

have sussed us out?
BM: Let’s see where we are in 20 games time. Come back and see
how we’re doing at Christmas.

But would there be time or would it be loans?

BM: We will see. If it is Sunday that gives us 2 days.

Other clubs are spending money, are they stronger with their
chairmen?
BM: This is how it is. If you want me to go down the Billy Davies

11
 route, well it’s not me, and he doesn’t last long at clubs.

When John Barnes was at Liverpool he used his big backside

to shield the ball. We’ve got Hal Robson-Kanu and I can see
the same thing in him. Didn’t Nigel Gibbs used to play with
John Barnes at Watford, can’t he work with Robson-Kanu?
BM: I’ll give him a shout!

What is a realistic expectation this season?

BM: All I can concentrate on is winning the next game and the next
game is Leicester. On the 1st September I will know the squad I’ve
got. I am ambitious and I want us to do very well. The last couple
of games have galvanised me even more. I’m sure we will do well.

At games there is a lot of banter with the fans, are there any
chants you like or don’t like?
BM: I can’t hear a lot of it but we do hear the pre-match build up.
Do you remember the video that was played before games in the
05/06 season, well my brother is a big Spurs fan and he came here
and said it was the best match build up he had ever seen. We are
trying to get that back, when we hear URZ in the tunnel it gives the
players a buzz. We must win games at home. You should be
careful what you say, the players hear a lot and when some bloke
tells Kebe ‘you’re useless’ he often knows he is! Even if everyone
else is cheering they only hear that.

Do you hear ‘Brian give us a wave’?

BM: Yes.

You seem to have a genuine relationship with the fans, it was

noticeable at Torquay.
BM: That wasn’t the best game of football. When the wall
collapsed, it was like going back to the 80s. I’m embarrassed when
we don’t win. After Tuesday the last thing I want to do is come here
and face you lot. I take on board what you say. Losing spurs me
on. I didn’t sleep Tuesday night. I was as irritated with the referee
as much as our performance.

What do you think of the goal celebration music?

BM: I don’t mind what it is as long as we score goals. Do you like
it? [General response of ‘No’.] BM: OK I’ve got the message.

12
John Madejski says he want to get us back in the premier
league. He won’t do it with this budget.
BM: I can’t speak for him. Just have to wait and see.

When we got into the premier league it was a combination of

factors and making the best use of what we had. Can you
understand fans’ frustrations. We want to build a cohesive
side where everyone knows their jobs and who supports who
– is this is more important than getting players in?
BM: Consistency is key. We had a very consistent team at the
back end of last season. The team picked itself more or less every
match. That’s how I want it and how I want to build a team.

Steve Sidwell – would you sign him?

BM: It would be nice, but no probably not.

What happened with Steve Coppell?

BM: I spoke to him. I know the story.

How much pressure do you put yourself under to get results?

BM: I think we are not ‘not doing well’ but we have not got the
points. We have to win the next game against Leicester. Defeats
are very hard to take, and they are ten times as bad as victories are
good. A defeat ruins a weekend, but you have to try to move on as
quickly as possible.

Thank you for coming along and joining us this evening – we are all
looking forward to the rest of the season.

13
 EX-PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
Richard Wickson

The Association

The Association was founded in 1997. It includes Ex-players and

managers of Reading Football Club having played/managed at
Football League level. The Association currently stands at over 160
members, having made over 17,500 league and cup appearances.
Its members span six decades from the 1940’s to the present day.
Almost half of Reading FC’s 139 year existence.

The Association is a charitable, non-profit making organisation. Its

funding relies on sponsorship and donations from private and
commercial patrons.

During our ten years existence, we have successfully raised over

£40,000 towards local and national charities and needy causes.

In 2002 Sir John Madejski OBE DL agreed to become the

Associations’ Patron.

In 2003 we received acknowledgement and official recognition from

the Professional Footballers’ Association (P.F.A.)

In 2010 the Association became Founder Members of British

Alliance of Former Player Associations (BAFPA).

The Associations chosen charity for 2010 is the Duchess Of Kent

House Charity . (see www.dokhc.org.uk)

Its Aims

 To reunite ex-colleagues and team mates. Through social

events such as reunions; Golf days etc.
 To support and promote Reading Football Club. Through
promotional activities i.e, book signings; appearances,
pre-match hosts, etc.
 To raise funds for local and national charitable organisa-
tions. Through our own Ex-Players XI football team;
reunions, social events etc.
 To support and promote the welfare of its members.
Through its links with the P.F.A and other professional
bodies.

14
OUR LAST GAME : UNTIL NEXT TIME

Royals shot down by The Gunners

Sunday, 12 September 2010

The Second Annual Charity Football Match in memory of Reading

fan Sean Leahy helped raise much needed funds for two very
worthwhile causes, The Duchess of Kent House Charity and the
Teenage Cancer Trust.

Sean passed away after a brave fight against Bowel Cancer at the
age of just 27 in October 2008. Sean's brother, Danny, organized
the afternoon's event and said, "Sean passed away in the Duchess
of Kent House in Reading and this is only a small way in which my
family and I can show our appreciation for the great care he
received."

Arsenal won 3-2, despite Reading fielding a team that read like an
A-Z of Reading football legends. Reading took an early lead when
Andy Gray, rounded Arsenal keeper and "Big Brothers" star,
"Ziggy" and scored after only two minutes. Gray extended The
Royals lead on 20 minutes only for Arsenal to pull one back through
Tony Murtagh close to half-time.

Arsenal, containing former Arsenal players and stars from TV,

stage and screen, equalised through another Murtagh effort. The
game looked to be heading for a draw until "Damned United" actor
Giles Alderson, drove a low shot passed the Reading defence to
give The Gunners the win. But the true winners of the afternoon
were the Duchess of Kent House Charity and the Teenage Cancer
Trust.

The Ex-Reading XI were: John Bates, Tim Dellor (BBC Radio

Berkshire), Mark Matthews, Mick Gooding, Andy Gray, Jordan
Norris, Keith Scott, Adie Williams, Johnny Fordham (Reading Post),
Matt Stowe

15
 AWAY GROUNDS : YOUR VIEWS
Everyone who contributed

We’ve been compiling an Away Grounds guide at www.STAR-

Reading.org to help those who travel to see our team play.
Now it’s your turn to tell us exactly what you thought. Here’s a
selection of your comments.

Torquay
What can you say about Torquay - well, the walls could be
stronger. Three modern stands, terraced, fairly basic facilities, one
little refreshment kiosk (that's giving it some grandeur that it doesn't
deserve!). View was good, but it was a shallow terrace too low
down. Stewarding was almost non-existent - they wouldn't let
people take pictures of the wall but were generally good natured
and professional. Fewer toilet facilities than elsewhere. Torquay
is a perfectly good ground for their division so for the facilities
a 5 out of 10.

Portsmouth
Portsmouth - in my opinion it is one of the worst grounds in the
country but has some of the best atmosphere, no leg room but that
didn't matter as everyone stood up. Pompey is an experience, if
you can blot out the bell and the shoddy facilities it is an ok
experience, if you hate the bell you won't enjoy the day. It felt very
safe wandering around. Pompey's facilities are held up on breeze
blocks!! Although it had three times as many cubicles in the ladies
at Pompey than Torquay, the gents at Portsmouth are totally
inadequate. The stewarding was almost non-existent. Portsmouth
need a new ground, but their fans are brilliant. Portsmouth gets a
4.5 out of 10.

Leicester
I love Leicester, most people complain that you are in the corner so
you get a strange perspective, and also some people say there is
insufficient leg-room - I do not have that problem!! Very nice new
modern ground, clean and great view, a good, noisy passionate
atmosphere that is not threatening. Leicester’s facilities are as you
would expect at a new modern ground, - Leicester’s toilets were a
bit cramped which is unusually for a new stadium. Leicester always
seems a great away day for all types of fans, a brilliant day each
time, and really pleasant hosts. Stewarding at Leicester fairly
relaxed. Slight issue with the safety at Leicester but generally very
friendly and felt more than safe in the local areas. They also have
slightly cheaper prices. Leicester gets an 8 out of 10.
(

16
Millwall
Not a bad ground. Had the crack with a few of their bruisers in their
club shop before match. No problems at all. No atmosphere, no
trouble, rubbish fans. It wasn’t a scary place to go in the slightest.
Good policing, good "low-touch" stewarding, no problems at all.
Food is always popular with the curry and chips. The view is ok but
I hate heights. Pretty standard ground, decent leg room but I am
short, and there is not a lot nearby to the ground. The facilities are
spacious and clean!! Programme and food were standard prices,
even for London. For value for money, we give Millwall a 6 out
of 10.

Middlesbrough
After 5+ hours of travelling it's not exactly the greatest ground in the
country, there is a decent selection of food, pretty good view,
helpful and friendly stewards. Again there is little to do in the area
unless you want to look at the boats! The locals are nice and it's
great unless you concede after 24 seconds and lose the match!
Value for money, considering the cost of travel, tickets - and
losing - it has to be a 4/10 for ‘Boro.

Preston
Atmosphere was cool - cold though! One steward who was near me
had a bit of an attitude, but other than that it was ok. Shocked I
could buy Stella in the concourse! Stewards - personally didn't even
notice they were there. Game - probably deserved all 3 points but
c'est la vie (especially as Preston could have had a penalty in the
last minute). Karacan's goal is definitely one of the best goals I've
seen a Reading player score. Chavvy Preston supporters to our
right – ‘nuff said: rolls eyes’. Preston is probably a 7 out of 10.

Thank you. There will be more in next issue. Keep them coming.

17
 THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP
Paul Ellix

The 2008 tournament was held in Melbourne, Australia, from 1-7

December. National Teams from 56 nations gathered competed.
Amongst them, for the first time, eight all-female teams competed in
the Homeless Women's World Cup. Afghanistan won the men's
title, defeating Russia 5-4 in the final. Zambia won the inaugural
Homeless Women's World Cup, defeating Liberia 7-1 in the final.

In 2010, in Rio, 64 teams will participate.

Players must:
Be at least 16 years old at the time of the tournament;
Have been homeless at some point after the previous year's World
Cup;
OR
Make their main living income as a street paper vendor;
OR
Be asylum seekers (who have neither positive asylum status
nor working permit).

Games are 14 minutes long (2 halves of 7 minutes) with squads of

eight players; teams of 4 (3 outfield players and a goalkeeper)
being on the field at any one time, with rolling substitutions allowed.

The field is 22m (long) x 16m (wide), with a boundary fence 1metre
high. In each group game the winning team gets 3 points. In the
event of a draw there is a penalty shoot out with the losing team
getting 1 point.

The Impact

The Homeless World Cup demonstrates a remarkable impact on its

particants. Over 70% of players significantly change their lives as a
result of being involved.

Research conducted 6 months after the Copenhagen 2007

tournament reveals that from the 381 players involved :
• 93% have a new motivation for life (354players);
• 83% have improved social relations (316 players);
• 71% have significantly changed their life (271 players);
• 29% found employment (110 players);
• 38% improved their housing situation (145 players);
• 32% went into education (122 players);

18
• 118 players addressed a drug or alcohol dependency; and
• 71% now play football on a regular basis (271 players).

Changing Hearts and Minds

The Homeless World Cup has been a successful means to raise

awareness of homeless issues and improve the image of homeless
people in the general public.

Media coverage around the whole Copenhagen event was

excellent with people who are homeless portrayed in a positive
light. CNN ran a Public Sector Announcement two weeks before
and during the tournament to the value of $600,000, which was
also supported by MTV in Copenhagen to the value of $150,000.

Interest in attending the tournament in Copenhagen was great.

Approximately 100,000 people watched the Homeless World Cup in
the Town Hall Square throughout the week.

From 160 spectators surveyed before watching a game at

the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup 20% admitted a
negative perception of homeless people, 21% stated no opinion
and 58% claimed a positive view. After watching a game their
views had shifted significantly with 85% claiming a positive
perception, 12% had no opinion and only 1% shared a negative
view.

Government and public opinion in Copenhagen declared the

tournament a resounding success.

If you want to know more STAR will be inviting a representative

from the Homeless World Cup to a Fans’ Forum later this season.

HOMELESS
WORLD CUP
The next Homeless World Cup will be Paris 2011
The Homeless World Cup website is http://hwc.loft-dev.com

19
 TRIBUTE TO ROY

A Plaque to commemorate the life of Roy Tranter a former

Reading Football Club Director and STAR President who died in
2008 was unveiled by Joan Tranter and Sir John Madejski before
the Ipswich game on Tuesday 28th September.

Located by the stadium Megastore, the plaque is a reminder of a

man who many supporters regarded as a legend, particularly for
preventing the merger of our club with Oxford United. To
Reading Football Club and Reading Fans he was a David to
Robert Maxwell’s Goliath. Robert Maxwell believed that ‘Might was
right’, Roy taught him that ‘Right was Might’. We are richer for
knowing Roy and poorer for his passing.

20
 OUR QUESTIONS COUNT

STAR are always being asked by supporters to convey situations

and grievances to the club. We have various ways of doing this.
One way is raising them during our monthly management meeting
between Reading Football Club and STAR.

Recently we questioned why the four bus routes were cancelled at

the beginning of the season and pointed out the problems a lot of
supports were having as they relied on those buses. RFC were
forced to question the decision and the buses on these routes are
now back in place.

We also asked if RFC were going to ban vuvuzelas after their popu-
larity (or unpopularity) during the recent World Cup. RFC answered
was that they were not keen on vuvuzelas, but saw little mileage in
banning them and did not anticipate any problems with them. This
decision proved correct.

We were also asked to comment about the design of the shirts

changing yet again. We asked what the decision process was in
coming up with a new shirt . The club responded that the process
starts in October, when they are shown a range of new designs by
Puma. A number of these won’t be suitable for our hooped shirts
and the club like to have a design that is talked about. The playing
department then also have an input, and the Chairman also likes to
approve the final design. Last year’s design made it difficult for
supporters and players to see names and numbers on the back of
shirts so that was a consideration this year. These processes have
to be completed 16-20 weeks before the July launch. Puma’s
contract runs for another two seasons and the club feel that they
have a high quality product whilst producing one of the lowest
priced shirts in English Football.

We have also questioned the change to the music after we score a

goal. Initially RFC’s response was that no music didn’t seem to be
an option and they had already vetoed the option of each player
having his favourite tune. RFC said that they were not going back
to Tom Hark as everyone used that now so new tunes were tried.
We let them know that Jump Around was disliked. Now to due to
popular opinion we have gone back to Chase the Sun, music that
most of us can live with… if not all.

Make your voice heard by contacting us at info@star-reading.org

21
 LIVING NEXT DOOR TO IVAR
Esther Madden

“Ivar is the perfect neighbour,” says Graham Stirling when I meet

him at his house in Crowthorne. He’s lived here for seventeen
years now since moving from Norfolk and “the neighbours from
hell!” Luckily for him, for the last three years he’s been living next-
door to Ivar Ingimarsson and his family. When Ivar appears they
chat together like old friends.

“I like to have a word after a match,” says Graham.

“But depending on how the game went, I might not answer back,”
jokes Ivar.

Graham didn’t know who Ivar was when he moved in as he wasn’t

a Reading supporter. He and his wife, Shelagh went round with a
bottle of wine and a card and they’ve been chatting over the fence
ever since. Graham is Secretary for the Forest Green Rovers
Supporters’ Trust, so football naturally came up in their conversa-
tions. Now Graham likes to know how Reading are doing and Ivar
looks out for the Forest Green Rovers’ results.

“But I’m not a Forest Green fan,” adds Ivar, quickly. “I wouldn’t go
that far.”

Like all good neighbours, they take in parcels for each other, pet

22
each others’ cats and do odd jobs for each other.

“If Ivar ever wants another job after football, he could become a
tree surgeon,” says Graham. The Reading centre-half has been
known to climb ladders to trim the tall trees that surround his home,
a job that Graham is happy to let him do. These same trees also
save Ivar from going round to Graham’s house to ask for his ball
back – although Shelagh says only that morning she threw back a
few balls that came from Ivar’s kids who were playing in the garden.

Graham and Shelagh love to spoil the children. When Ivar’s son
wanted sponsoring for a school charity project, they were only too
happy to put their names down and Ivar was with him when the
young boy called round to collect his money.

“We hear them in the garden,” she says. “Ivar talks to the children
in Icelandic but they answer in English.” Ivar’s aim is to bring them
up to speak both languages and Shelagh agrees that this is the
best way for them to learn to be bilingual.

The children go to the local school and Ivar can sometimes be seen
out with them as the children cycle around the roads where they
live. Cycle paths are something he feels passionately about. “You
have to be brave to cycle here. Back in Iceland you can cycle to
work in any neighbourhood without crossing a road. If more cycle
paths were built it would solve several problems: creating jobs to
build the infrastructure, less pollution, children wouldn’t be so obese
and maybe it would get Graham to exercise more instead of just
talking about it.”

Graham laughs but he agrees.

Another good thing about having Ivar living next door is that
Graham can learn about a different culture. There not being many
Icelanders in the world means Ivar likes to tell others about what
Iceland has to offer. Already it looks like he may have persuaded
Graham to get out his walking shoes and take a holiday there.
Graham has been reading up and is intrigued by the Icelandic food
- especially a delicacy made from shark meat buried for a few
months then hung up to dry for several more months. It turns out
that Ivar’s children like too although his wife doesn’t and makes him
keep it outside because of the smell.

23
 “It’s called Hákarl,” says Ivar. This turns out to be another benefit of
having an Icelander living next door as he can teach Graham how
to pronounce Icelandic words. Although, whilst Ivar can say
“Eyjafjallajökull” (the Icelandic volcano which erupted recently)
Graham and I just stand in awe. Ivar doesn’t think it’s worth
Graham learning Icelandic. “You’d only be able to speak to 300,000
people. If we were polar bears we would be a protected species.”

Ivar has got Graham to read some Icelandic literature. On finding

out that Graham liked crime fiction, he leant him a book by Arnaldur
Indriðason. Graham now has a whole set of his books and the two
have swapped dvds of dramatisations of his books. Halldór
Laxness is another Icelandic author Graham has read on Ivar’s
recommendation, one whom Ivar is particularly proud of as he won
the Nobel Prize for Literature. “So of course I am going to tell my
neighbour about him.”

Ivar has moved around a bit since coming to England from Iceland
to join Torquay, so, does he think neighbours are different here to
anywhere else he has lived?

“No,” he says at first, but admits that back in the small fishing
village he comes from in Iceland everyone knew everyone as they
all worked together, went to school together and were always
dropping by for a drink or a chat. Kids knocked and ask friends out
to play. “Here, it sometimes feels like you have to have an
invitation.” Maybe that will come when his kids get older.

“We don’t like to invade your privacy,” says Graham. “We respect
that you’ve got your own life. You could live in a gated house like
David Beckham, but you don’t.”

“I’m not that famous,” says Ivar. “If I cut myself off, people would
only ask more questions.” The few kids who knock at his door
asking for autographs have never bothered him.

In fact, Ivar sees himself as no different to anyone else just

because he’s a footballer. “You are your neighbour,” he says. “It’s
good to know your neighbour; it’s good for communities.”

He also believes in coincidences, that they happen for a reason

and it appears no coincidence that Graham and Ivar have ended up
living next door to each other as they both clearly get a lot out of it.

24
 STAR EVENTS

As usual we are beginning to put together a series of events for

your diary. So far the provisional list looks as follows:

Tuesday 23rd November 2010

Fans’ Forum : Stewards and Policing.
This will be held Madjeski Stadiums BAR 1871, which has excellent
views over looking the pitch from the southwest corner.

Thursday 27th January 2011

Fans’ Forum : Players
This will be held in The Princess Suit with some of our top players
coming along to answer your questions.

Thursday 24th February 2011

‘ A Question of Sport’

Thursday 17th March 2011

Fans’ Forum : Ex-Players
We are again hoping to hold this in BAR 1871 with its pitch side
views once again on view.

Wednesday 20th April 2011

Our Famous Quiz Night
All the usual interesting questions, hopefully easier than last year.
This again is due to be held in The Princess Suit.

FLAG RUNNING

Our Number 13 flag is due to be run before the following games:

Saturday 13th November 2010 - Norwich City

Sunday 26th December 2010 - Bristol City
Saturday 5th February 2011 - Queens Park Rangers
Saturday 2nd April 2011 - Portsmouth
Sunday 8th May 2011 - Derby County

If you sit in the East Stand, are over sixteen and would like to come
and give us a hand, come along to STAR Base and ask for
Pete Vickery. If I’m not there leave your name and telephone
or seat number and I’ll get back to you.

25
 COMMITTALS, COMMUNITY AND CLUBS
Steve Prince RFC Chaplin

What on earth has a service of committal got to do with football?

You might well ask! The introduction of seating in most of our major
stadia around the UK has enabled a growing sense of community
among football supporters. We find ourselves sitting around
the same faithful people, week after week. New relationships are
formed and lives are shared as games are watched, digested and
talked about.

About four years ago a TV series was made for ITV about the kind
of things football supporters get up to at their clubs. Sure Fans
United was about what seemed to be the eccentricities of fans. The
series covered weddings, christenings and a range of life
celebrations. Reading FC and the Madejski Stadium were featured
as a service of committal was shown.

Since I have been Chaplain at Reading since May 2004, I have

been involved in over 20 committals. Up to 18 months ago we were
actually able to place the ashes of people into the pitch, just behind
the goal in front of the North Stand. These services have been very
special times and greatly appreciated by the families and friends of
those involved. The club ground staff have always been helpful and
supportive as they have prepared to pitch for these.

Due to a combination of the increasing requests for committals

(I don’t think more RFC supporters are dying!) and the nature of our
pitch constitution (part synthetic), the decision was taken to no
longer hold committals on the pitch itself.

Since this decision was made there have continued to be requests

from supporters for committals and so in partnership with Reading
FC, we have been able to establish a “Garden of Remembrance”
between the Training Dome and the Carp Park. I am grateful to
Dave Strawn of STAR for the incredible amount of work he is
putting in to developing and nurturing the garden. We are hoping to
be able to formally ‘dedicate’ and ‘open’ the garden before the end
of 2010.

The Garden of Remembrance will become a special place where

not only the ashes of people associated with Reading FC can be
laid to rest, but also people will be able to sit and reflect on one of
the two benches being kindly provided for the Garden.

26
As there are two or three families still awaiting services of
committal, I am hoping that normal ‘service’ will be resumed as the
Garden gets established as soon as possible. Many thanks to
members of STAR and others associated with The Royals who
have generously offered support, ideas and help with the establish-
ing of the Garden of Remembrance.

Steve Prince is Reading Football Club Chaplain. Most football clubs

in the Premier and Football Leagues, as well as many Rugby and
Cricket Clubs now have chaplains. There are even chaplains
working within horseracing. The role of a chaplain is to be a friend
to the sports club and its supporters. Chaplaincy is a voluntary role
and the charity SCORE is a growing resource offering support to
chaplains and their clubs.

27
 EIGHTY YEARS YOUNG
Alan Sedundary

Berkshire Chronicle, December 1930

Eighty years ago, on 6th. December 1930, Reading Football

Supporters’ Club was formed, strangely, against the Football Club
directors better judgement. There had been several attempts to
form a supporters’ club but in 1920 and 1924 the directors had
turned the idea down.

However, in December 1930 the board had bigger problems. With

the club rooted at the foot of the old Second Division, angry
shareholders forced the board to call an extraordinary general
meeting. Held on 1st December, the directors faced a series of
pointed questions, ranging from the fact that the team featured too
many Scottish players to, again, the formation of a supporters club.
With so much animosity towards the board, they threw the meeting
a carrot by agreeing to allow a supporters’ club to be formed.

The fans wasted no time and a week later a meeting was held to
set up the fledgling club. Even then, the directors did little to help,
the meeting being held in the Highways Social Club, Greyfriars
Road, because the football club chairman wanted to charge five
guineas for it to be staged at his Olympia venue. The meeting had
been publicised and supported by the Berkshire Chronicle and so it
was appropriate that the Supporters’ Club’s first chairman should

28
their sports editor, Mr H Sirrett. 50 fans paid the agreed 1/- (5p)
membership fee that night, by the end of the month that number
was up to 300 and by the end of that first season the membership
was a healthy 1,100 despite the fact that 1930-31 ended in
relegation from the Second Division.

One of the first roles of the Supporters’ Club was to appeal to fans
to stop barracking certain players. Strangely, one of the victims was
centre forward Alf Bacon who could hardly have deserved much
criticism as he ended with 29 goals in 32 League games during that
relegation season. By coincidence, it was Bacon who caused the
Supporters’ Club one of their first problems. Their first money-
raising scheme was a penny on the ball, the lucky winner being
given the match ball. All went well until Good Friday when Bacon
turned on the performance of a lifetime by scoring a club record six
goals against Stoke. Not surprisingly, Alf wanted to keep the match
ball, but fortunately the holder of the winning ticket agreed to accept
a cash alternative.

That matchday raffle, plus a smoking evening, saw the Supporters’

Club hand over £250 to the Football Club at the end of the season.
That may not seem much nowadays but in 1931 it was enough to
by a good player. Not surprisingly, donations like that soon saw the
parent club’s misgivings quickly disappear and from then on the two
organisations worked in harmony.

That first summer saw the Supporters’ Club come into its own,
paying for improvements to the Town End terracing, opening a car
park in Suffolk Road (6d for cars, 3d for cycles), organised
matchday community singing, took over the sale of the club
programmes and started a pay-by-instalments scheme for season
tickets.

From then on the Supporters’ Club became a major factor in

Reading Football Club’s very survival. Most ground improvements
up to the 1960’s were funded in the main by them and they
even contributed to the purchase of several players, most famously
making up the difference in the fee paid for Tommy Tait, who
promptly repaid the fans by scoring a hat-trick against Aldershot on
his debut.

By the late 1950’s membership was up to an amazing 4,700 but, in

29
 truth, many of those only joined so that they could take part in the
club’s popular lottery schemes. Not that anyone minded as those
lotteries raised a life-saving £500 a month. Those lotteries,
in various forms, grew throughout the 1960’s and under the inspired
chairmanship of the likes of Les Lewendon and Jim Brookes the
Supporters’ Club were handing over huge amounts to the Football
Club each season

Not everything was a success. A Sunday market and a pop

concert, starring Freddie and the Dreamers, both lost money but
the mid Sixties saw the start of Supporters’ Club away coaches.
Started by a group of enthusiasts, the coaches were so well
supported in those early seasons that trips were even run to
reserve matches, something that Colin refuses unhelpfully to
consider nowadays!

In 2001-02 the Supporters’ Club made the big decision to change

its structure to trust status, but again, this was nothing new. In
1957, with the football club facing another financial crisis, the
Supporters’ Club had considered changing its status to a trust after
Norwich City’s supporters’ club had achieved great financial
success following such a move, but nothing came of it then.
Named, Supporters’ Trust At Reading one of the new body’s
decision was to honour the scorer of Reading’s promotion-winning
goal by naming a star after Jamie Cureton.

Although much has changed over the 80 years since the original
Supporters’ Club was formed, the current board of STAR still share
the same ideals of those founding members - all volunteers, those
fans, now and then, simply want the best for their team, their club
and its supporters.

30
MEET THE BOARD

Paula Martin Esther Madden

Chairman

Michele Law Trevor Mossman

Vice Chairman

Gerry McGreevy Pete Vickery

Treasurer

Colin Bishop Nathan Wakefield

Travel

Helen Bullen Wendie Wakefield

Paul Ellix Chris Witcher

Ian Holt Teresa Hicks

Secretary

31
THE VIEW FROM STAR BASE
STAR BASE IS LOCATED BEHIND EAST STAND

WINTER NIGHTS ARE DRAWING IN

Days are getting colder.
Do you really fancy driving those long distances?
We have lots of warm, comfortable seats
on our friendly coaches just longing to be snuggled into.

BOOK YOURS ON MATCH DAYS OR

TUESDAY NIGHTS