The Reading Way

Every football club has a way of doing things in a distinct style that is very specific to their club; many claim they do things with class, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United to name three though class is certainly not something that can be associated with big clubs these days, particularly the way these three intimidate referees, moan in post match interviews and general disrespect for both their opponents and the game itself. Even Barcelona, "mes que un club" and all that, are hardly beacons of all things sporting with play acting being one accusation that sticks.

Coming back from that tangent, where was I? Ah, yes, football clubs have an ingrained style of doing things. Man United, in the Premier League era at least, have a certain panache, on the field at least, when they are playing well, often with dazzling wingplay. Arsenal, under Wenger, have their unique passing style that, when it works, is undoubtedly the easiest style on the eye in English football. Chelsea, in the Abramovich era at least, often ground out results through steel and resolve, with honourable exceptions coming from the early Mourinho era.

These are all general observations from afar. The fans of these clubs will often have their own opinions after seeing their team play so often, particularly with lower league teams who don't get the same media coverage as the top teams. They know what supporting their club is really like.

For example, Reading often get given the tag of playing good football under Alan Pardew/ Steve Coppell/ Brendan Rodgers/ Brian McDermott and being a 'well-run' club with a good Chairman who supports the club financially but does not make them dependant on his cash. From a personal point of view, slight bollocks. Our football is nothing special, at times it is enthralling stuff full of passing and clever players on the wing (think Salako, Little, Kebe etc.) but at other times it has an element of hoofball to it, in keeping with the general standard of football in the second tier. The club is relatively well run with the Chairman putting his hand in his pocket when the club needs it.

But for me, the 'Reading way' is putting their fans through the wringer when it comes to the end of the season. For example, in the 15 seasons I've been supporting Reading, on 11 of those occasions, there has been something to play for on the final day of the season, whether it be the possibility of securing promotion, a play off place, a spot in the UEFA cup, setting a Football League record for points in a season (not quite so important) or avoiding relegation. There has very rarely been an occasion when there has not been something riding on the last game of a Reading season.

Furthermore, success or failure is never completed the easy way, aside from the truly exceptional championship winning year of 2005/06, heartbreak or heat attacks have been the order of the day. Promotion in 2001/02 only followed after a truly terrifying run (in context of course) of nine draws in the last ten games, blowing a huge points lead over Brentford in the process, culminating in a last day trip to Griffin Park where only a late Jamie Cureton goal secured a place in the then Nationwide Division One.

The season before that, after finishing third in Division Two with a team scoring goals for fun, a play off-semi final win against Wigan beckoned. A victory which only came about through a late, late Nicky Forster goal secured a final against Walsall which we contrived to lose only after a clearance from Barry Hunter rebounded off the head of a prone Tony Rougier in to the net from a full 15 yards. What followed on the motorway home, surrounded by coaches full of Walsall fans, still opens up wounds these days.

Relegation from the Premier League in 2007/08? Confirmed despite a 4-0 win at Derby, who promptly celebrated as if they had won the League, Cup and Britain's Got Talent all in one.

2004/05 and 2008/09 saw terrific starts to the season, only for the club's form to come down like the proverbial Christmas decorations in the New Year, leading to the bummiest of bum fights between us and West Ham for the final play off place in 2005 (which they won, both the play off spot and the final itself) and the Andre-Bikey 'inspired' collapse in the play off semis against Burnley in 2009.

So if you want to know the real Reading way, it's knocking a good ten years off your life expectancy through coronaries and infections from bitten fingernails. Which is why my hopes for our play off campaign this season are as high as a straight-edge Catholic priest. As they say, it's the hope that gets you, not the disappointment.