Reading - The 20 Questions

What was your first game?
Reading v Brentford – Saturday 11th March 2000.

Describe the most memorable and worst game you've seen and why?
Coming from 1-0 down in the last five minutes against Wigan in the Division Two play-off semi-finals in 2001 is probably the greatest game I have seen. We had been denied automatic promotion to the First Division by Rotherham, and looked set to be going out of the play-offs until Martin Butler and Nicky Forster intervened in front of the Madejski Stadium’s first ever sell-out crowd.

The worst game was perhaps the First Division play-off semi-final of two seasons ago. 2-1 down against Wolves from the first leg, we lost the second leg 1-0. We didn’t play badly, but the result was heart-breaking. Being spanked 5-1 by the Merry Millers last season was also a bit of a downer…

Who do you consider as your current local rivals, and why?
Oxford and Swindon, who together with us form the ‘Thames Valley Triangle’ are our traditional hated clubs. But alas, we are currently quite literally leagues apart. Other rivals include Bournemouth, Wycombe, Aldershot and Bristol City, so it can be hard to find somebody to hate. Our meetings with the ‘fake hoops’ (QPR) this season could be explosive though.

Who are the best and worst players you have seen?
In my short time watching the club I would have to say that Phil Parkinson was probably the best player, and Keith Jones probably the worst. Older fans will tell you that Robin Friday or Steve Death were the best players they’ve seen – and just about anyone who played under Tommy Burns (1997-99) the worst.

Ex-Royal Martin Butler

Which current or former Rotherham player impressed you most?
Martin Butler.

How did you fare last season?
Had the departure of Alan Pardew in September not happened, we would probably be in the Premiership right now. But his exit disrupted out campaign, and in truth we never really looked like the confident and able side we appeared to be in the first six games. This considered, we did well to only narrowly miss out on a top six spot.

How do you think you'll do this season?
If we can stay relatively free of injuries, the top six awaits.

What's the local drink and snap?
The Madejski Stadium is located a bit out in the sticks – so if you want a drink before the game, try the overpriced hotel attached to the Stadium, or the concourse bars. There are also a variety of fast food restaurants located in the immediate vicinity of the ground. However, the town centre is just a £2.50 return bus ride away, this is perhaps your best bet.

Oh Yeah

If Reading were a TV personality, who would it be and why?
Gabby Logan – aesthetically pleasing, yet never quite good enough to become a real star.

So what do you think of Rotherham?
A small Northern team who are lucky to have an excellent manager at the helm. Under his guidance you have done well to establish yourselves in the ‘Championship’. Equipped with some clever signings you can turn anyone over on your day, so we will be aware.

Is your manager barking mad?
No, Steve Coppell is a quiet thinker. If you want a madman, watch out for his assistant Kevin Dillon on the touchline on Saturday.

Are you happy with your Chairman/Backroom staff?
Whilst we criticise chairman John Madejski for paying only peanuts on a new centre-forward, yet at the same time investing millions of pounds in artwork, we have little reason to complain. The former Auto Trader owner has saved us from the verge of oblivion, hauled us up the leagues and seated us in the flash Mad Stad. We spent £800,000 on winger Bobby Convey this summer, so the chairman certainly has ambition, even if we sometimes suggest otherwise.

Which team do you want to beat the most this season and why?
West Ham – because scores still need to be settled with former boss Alan Pardew,

What sort of line-up can we expect from you?
We will play 4-4-2 and the probable line-up is as follows:
Hahnemann; Shorey, Williams, Ingimarsson, Murty; Convey, Harper, Sidwell, Little; Forster, Kitson

Predicted score?
3-1 to Reading.

Who's going up?
West Ham, Wolves and Leicester

Who's going down?
Gillingham, Burnley, Derby

MillersMad would like to thank Rob for his time in answering the 20 questions, If you would like to visit www.Reading-Mad.co.uk for all things Reading, Reading-Mad is a sister site of MillersMad in the FootyMad network.