the last game at elm park

[spread eagle]

was against sheff weds


wasnt it ?

[RG30]

Friendly yes, won 3-0 and there was a pitch invasion IIRC

[spread eagle]

was it a testimonial for someone ?

[genome]

I woz there, as a young 9 year old. I seem to have a hazy memory of someone jumping up and breaking the goalposts during the pitch invasion.

I was also at the last competitive game against Norwich, where one Craig Bellamy (I think he was only 18 or 19) scored for the opposition.

[Sutekh]

Graeme Murty played v Sheff Weds as well. Didnt see him play again for about 9 months

[Fox Talbot]

Fred Neate's testimonial took place a little later - Tommy Burns played!

Then there was some reserve match on one weekday lunchtime.

[tmesis]

I woz there, as a young 9 year old. I seem to have a hazy memory of someone jumping up and breaking the goalposts during the pitch invasion.

There was a pitch invasion and some kids ran on and kicked the ball into the Tilehurst End goal. The kids then followed it into the net and one kid jumped up and swung on the crossbar. Then someone else joined him, then another, and very quickly it snapped.

Some kids then saw this great fun, and ran and did the same at the other end.

The club had apparently planned to use the Elm Park goalposts at the Madejski, but that rather scuppered that idea. For all the "last" games After that, we had to use a spare set that looked like they'd come free with a purchase of £60 of petrol at a garage.

I think the very last "last game" was a reserve match, I think v Barnet, when only the North Stand was open. Not many went.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Fred Neate's testimonial took place a little later - Tommy Burns played!

Then there was some reserve match on one weekday lunchtime.

^ something like this (wasn't the Reserve game actually a youth game?)

From memory

Sheff Weds
then
Fred Neate

Somewhere inbetween/before or after was the belated Michael Gilkes testimonial....great performance from Simon Sheppard including a penalty save iirc

[Emmer Green Royal]

The final football match at Elm Park was between the Internet Royals and a team of ex-Reading players, which was the last game of a 5 a side tournament. I can't remember the score (which probably means we lost), but the very last action of the last game was my athletic penalty save.

[comeonthebiscuitmen]

The last games played by professionals... After the ground was sold the turnstiles were left open for anyone to get in as were the directors boxes and dressing room. Before the pub on Tilehurst road opposite the garage became a Tesco, I was in there at closing time with some mates (We would have been 16/17) and for some reason it was suggested we visit Elm Park. Well others had already had that idea as there were people in the directors boxes when we arrived and climbed over the turnstiles. Sat in he dugout and ran on the pitch. One guy went up onto the south bank. Didn't hang around long but that was an unusual night....I wonder if anyone took a ball down for a kick about?

[Winston Smith]

I ran on, ripped up some turf and took it home. it went to shit in my back garden within a few days.

I remember them announcing they didn't want anyone on the pitch as they were auctioning some things off, then the masses charged on and ripped the place apart

[Zammo]

Fred Neate's testimonial took place a little later - Tommy Burns played!

Then there was some reserve match on one weekday lunchtime.

^ something like this (wasn't the Reserve game actually a youth game?)

From memory

Sheff Weds
then
Fred Neate

Somewhere inbetween/before or after was the belated Michael Gilkes testimonial....great performance from Simon Sheppard including a penalty save iirc

My memory has gone. Norwich being the last league, then Gilkes testimonial ? Did both. Don't think i was at the Neate game...or was I ?

[Barney]

I woz there, as a young 9 year old. I seem to have a hazy memory of someone jumping up and breaking the goalposts during the pitch invasion.

There was a pitch invasion and some kids ran on and kicked the ball into the Tilehurst End goal. The kids then followed it into the net and one kid jumped up and swung on the crossbar. Then someone else joined him, then another, and very quickly it snapped.

Some kids then saw this great fun, and ran and did the same at the other end.

The club had apparently planned to use the Elm Park goalposts at the Madejski, but that rather scuppered that idea. For all the "last" games After that, we had to use a spare set that looked like they'd come free with a purchase of £60 of petrol at a garage.

I think the very last "last game" was a reserve match, I think v Barnet, when only the North Stand was open. Not many went.

Yep. I went to that reserve game versus Barnet (I still have the one page printed sheet/programme). It was a Wednesday afternoon in late August 98, and there were 80 or so folks milling around outside the main South Stand.

The steward told us that RFC were not allowed to open the ground due to the fact that the club no longer had a valid safety certificate. After some debate, the steward opened one of the turnstiles and let us in.

[wally bassoon]

I remember Paulo Di Cannio getting pelted with loads of empty coke bottle as he took a corner in front of the south bank in the game against Wednesday.