Six Of The Best: My Favourite Reading FC Moments - TalkMurtyToMe

Player

As a relatively young fan, my memory of any Reading player only stretches back to about 2005, so apologies in advance to anyone who is outraged I haven't gone for Ady Williams, Nicky Forster, Phil Parkinson et al. For me, I have to judge this on who my favourite player was at the time, and for the longest period of time, so I have to go with Nicky Shorey.

Shorey played 267 times for the club in his first spell, and 17 in his second, but his appearances don't quite tell the story of why I loved the left back. Shorey always remained grounded, even when he was called up to the England squad in 2007, and took a majestic free-kick.

Every player that sprung to mind when I sat down to think about this was in the 106 team, so it was only right that I opted for the guy who was the undisputed left back throughout the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons - the most successful in the club's history. Shorey was always the player I wanted to be when I grew up, he was the reason I played through amateur level wanting to be a full back, and he epitomised the 'Reading Way' that I loved back then.

Manager

Similarly, being a fan since 2005, there are only two possible managers to pick from here, Steve Coppell and Brian McDermott. For me there's only one guy it can be though, and that's Sir Steve. Coppell managed the club through its most successful period in its history, and there isn't really a lot else to be said about that. Legend.

Goal

There have been so many memorable goals that spring to mind here. Marek Matějovský's thunderbolt at Anfield, Shane Long's header against Liverpool in the FA Cup, Alfie's second against Southampton, and of course Garath McCleary's goal at Wembley.

However, I'm going to have to cheat a little to find my favourite ever Reading goal. Jamie Cureton's chip against Brentford back in 2002 gave us the point we needed to secure promotion back into the old Division One (now the Championship). That goal gave us the stepping stone to then play in the Premier League just four years later, and when you look back, you can't help but feel that goal was the start of something very, very special.

Match

Friday. April 13th. 2012. Adam Le Fondre scores twice to all but secure promotion to the Premier League. It was in essence the title decider in the 2011/12 season. We'd gone on a run of one defeat in 15, and increasing that to 16 games would all but seal our place in the Premier League next season. Jason Roberts puts us ahead, before Rickie Lambert equalises just after half-time. Our super-sub comes off the bench in the 64th minute, and in the 72nd minute..

"Leave it to me says Le Fondre, AND HE DOES THE BUSINESS AGAIN. This fella has struck some extraordinary blows for Reading this season, but none as important as that."

When he added the third in stoppage time, we'd taken our run to one defeat in 16 and all but guaranteed promotion. Absolute scenes, an unforgettable night.

Kit

To be honest, as long as it has blue and white hoops, I'm not overly bothered. I do like to moan when I don't like it though, but that's just football.  The first one I ever bought is the 2006 shirt with Shorey on the back, I still have it somewhere, I don't think it'd fit any more though for some reason. As for my favourite though, I have a signed 1998/99 one at home, so I'd have to go with that one.

Away Ground

Coming from Leeds, I can't make it down to Reading as much as I'd like, so to try and get my football fix I'd often go to Elland Road with my Dad as a kid. That ground just oozes history, and when the fixtures are released, the first match I always look for is Leeds away.

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