As a Norwich City fan born in Brighton, I’m a firm (if hypocritical) believer that we should support our local clubs. We live in Reading. I was never going to buy my son a Norwich City baby grow. I believed that he should choose the team he wanted to support. If it was Norwich, fine, but no pressure…
But I also know how important the first game is… Reading had a Kid for a Quid scheme. Bargain, kids cost loads more than that. Cheap? I prefer the term ‘cost-conscious’. I took my son at the age of 4 to his first game Reading v Sheffield United on 14 December 2002.
Too young?
I was worried he might be too young, but he coped with the crowds and the noise. In fact, he was more scared at a Keith Chegwin panto the next day. And who can blame him?
He liked the mascot, Kingsley, warming up with the players.
“Is the lion playing?” he asked.
The next time we went was also Reading versus Sheffield United. We were in the family enclosure again and there was a bit of fruity language, mostly from Blades’ manager Neil Warnock.
‘Oi, Shrek!’ was one of the politer crowd reactions (shouted at a shaven-headed winger) but at least my son understood the reference.
Go to Goater or support Sonko?
My son’s first replica shirt was a reduced Shaun Goater shirt. He liked the ‘Feed the goat and he will score’ chant. I knew that Goater was leaving, so I felt a bit cheap. But a bargain is a bargain.
In 2006, a friend of mine managed to get a signed Ibrahima Sonko shirt. He wore it at training, but it must have been a very light session as it still smelt quite good.
Glenn Little, superstar
In 2007, my son’s football team Caversham Tornadoes met Glenn Little. His reaction was: “I’ve never seen a superstar before.” I felt like saying you still haven’t. A Little Superstar maybe? Thanks for signing, Glenn.
In 2008, I knew I’d lost my son when we went to Reading v Norwich. Reading were awarded a dodgy penalty in the last few minutes. I asked whether he thought the ref should have given it. His reaction? “Yes.”
“What was it for?” I asked.
No response.
Why isn’t your son a Norwich fan?
So, when people asked me, “Why isn’t your son a Norwich fan?” I used to joke that I didn’t want him to report me to ChildLine.
Since 1871, the last 2 decades have been the best of times and the worst of times to be a Reading supporter. He’s been on the pitch after they won promotion with 106 points, and he had a season ticket in the Premier League for £100. We have been to Wembley twice to see Reading (although both times they lost). That’s when it started to go wrong or go Yongge.
Dai Yongge or Delia Smith?
Some Norwich fans used to complain about Delia Smith. But she has tried to hand the club over to someone who will be the next guardian of the club.
Reading shows what it is like to have an owner who has no connection to the local community and doesn’t care if your football club goes out of existence.
Dai Yongge may have spent £200 million but he is not a Reading supporter. My Kid For A Quid has more investment in his local club.
I hope that Reading survive. If not, I’m expecting a belated call from ChildLine.
Alex White writes 
Leave a comment