Hall of Fame
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® STAR’S READING FC HALL OF FAME 2019 INDUCTIONS Welcome Good Evening We are pleased, honoured and privileged to hold the fourth I am delighted to be able to STAR’s Reading FC Hall of Fame, this evening. The Hall of lend my support to the Fame continues to grow as we induct 25 more people into fourth episode of STAR’s this select membership. Once again, there are a number of Reading FC Hall of Fame. people to thank for their contribution to this event. This annual event is very important to Reading Firstly, we thank our compère for this evening, Paul Allen. I Football Club. It enables also want to thank Nic Ide for work in setting up the our fans, young and old, presentation that you will see tonight. Thanks are also due to and our football community Reading Football Club and Reading Football Club’s Former to come together to Players’ Association for their great and invaluable help. I recognise and celebrate the would like to thank STAR Board Members, especially Kevin achievements of our Lenton and Roger Titford for their input to bring this evening many significant players, to fruition as well as the judging panel who have come up managers, supporters and with this selection for tonight’s Hall of Fame. staff in the first 150 years of our history. Lastly, I am very pleased that the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Debbie Edwards has agreed to join us tonight. I hope you enjoy the evening. Ian Maynard Chair, STAR Nigel Howe CEO Reading Football Club The Hall of Fame is a celebration and a record of individuals who have played an exceptional or distinctive part in the life of the club. It will include players, managers, officials journalists and supporters with the number of inductees evenly spread to represent each decade of the Club’s history. Our aim is to have 150 inductees by the point the club celebrates the 150th anniversary of its first match on 21st February 2022. So each year until then there will be a fresh set of names acknowledged and introduced into the Hall of Fame. The selection will reflect on the values that STAR endorses and applauds. The system of inducting 12 to 25 people a year means that their induction would be special or noticeable rather than being lost in a mass of names and thus creating interest in who will be inducted each year. For the 2019 selection more than twenty long-standing or highly committed supporters put forward their nominations (this element of the selection process has been open for all fans to participate in) and a final selection panel of eight - three STAR Board members and five others - made the decisions on whom to include this year. In the first instance STAR’s Reading Hall of Fame will be viewed on-line via STAR’s website www.star-reading.org after the launch celebration. At a later date, and as the numbers build, the Hall of Fame may have a more physical presence in and around the stadium. ® 1870s 1880s 1890s James Stanley Stan Simonds Hayward Justins President of the club and A Reading man, initially a Stan played full-back influential supporter right half back in 1875 but between 1887 and 1897 throughout its amateur converted to a goalkeeper having learned his football days (1871-1895). Often after two seasons and was with South Reading. His described in the early days a regular player until 1889. was an unusually long as the ‘father of Reading He was in Reading’s first career for those days. Stan FC’ or its greatest friend. Berks & Bucks Cup win in was acting captain of the He presided over the AGM 1879, played for the Berks club on many occasions. and helped with the & Bucks FA and was He was one of very few finances of the club in regarded in his prime as a players of the amateur difficult times. James also fine keeper worthy of Reading to successfully served for long periods on England consideration. turn professional. Stan was the town council and was a Hayward could be quite an always a level-headed man true Reading patriot from a attacking goalie, scoring 7 in a crisis both on and off long-established Reading times in over 200 the pitch and a member of family. appearances! the 1892 B&B Cup-winning team. Reading career 1871-95 Reading career 1875-89 Reading career 1887-97 First President of The c200+ appearances 194 appearances Reading Football Club c7 goals 2 goals 1890s 1900s 1900s Johnny Ernie Billy Holt Watts Henderson Johnny was an established Ernie was one of our first Billy made more and well-known international professional players. He appearances for Reading in when he signed for Reading signed from Tilehurst for the the 1900s than any other from Everton in 1898 – a princely sum of 2/6d (12.5p) player. He was a 5ft 4ins centre-half, reputed in 1896. ‘Big Wattie’ was a tough-tackling defender to have invented the sliding physical presence at either whose physical play saw tackle. right half or occasionally as him form an impressive full His form for Southern an emergency goalkeeper. back pairing with Herbert League Reading was good In between his three spells Smith. Billy missed only enough to earn him one for Reading, a strong one match in 1904-05 when more England cap – thus Southern League side then, Reading finished runners- becoming our first pro he played at First Division up in Southern League England international – and level with Notts County and Division One. He signed for he became the first man to Clapton Orient. Reading three times with play 10 times for England spells at Southampton without losing. and Everton in between. Reading career 1898-1902 Reading career 1896-1908 Reading career 1897-1906 112 appearances 177 appearances 177 appearances 2 goals 8 goals 0 goals ® 1910s 1920s 1920s Jack Bert Alf Smith Eggo Messer Jack Smith was captain A skilful right back from Alf signed in 1923 and and right back throughout Scotland Bert played 312 played almost every game the 1910s and into our first games for Reading, the until joining Tottenham in League season in 1920-21. most pre-WWII appearanc- 1930 for the large fee of He joined the club from es. Previously with Hearts £2,000. He was in the first Portsmouth for a mere £5 and Sheffield Wednesday he Reading side to win a in 1910. In December 1920 signed in June 1921 for our Football League promotion Jack became our first second League season. He in 1926 – the Division III player-manager and captained the side that won (S) title – and the first side guided the club away from promotion in 1926 from to reach the FA Cup the threat of having to Division III (S) and reached semi-finals the year after. A apply for re-election in our the FA Cup semi-final in dominant centre-half, Alf first League season. 1927 and was seen as the was reckoned to be the calm influence in the best uncapped player of dressing room. the day. Reading career 1910-22 Reading career 1921-29 Reading career 1923-30 252 appearances 312 appearances 295 appearances 0 goals 2 goals 19 goals 1930s 1940s 1950s Billy Joe Jimmy Butler Edelston Wallbanks Billy was a veteran winger Joe was appointed Jimmy had a short League with three FA Cup winners’ manager of Reading in career with Reading as a medals (all with Bolton) April 1939. When war centre-half, joining the club when he joined Reading in broke out in September in 1938 and continuing to 1933. On retiring he 1939 the club were top of play during the war. But he became an innovative Division III (S). He steered is best remembered as the manager in 1935, installing the club through the war long-serving trainer and a gymnasium at Elm Park years, winning the London physio, a position he first and taking players out into War Cup in 1941 and took up in 1953 and held the community. Billy came keeping club spirits high. H until his testimonial match close to winning promotion managed our first post-war in 1975, 22 years later. He several times, winning over season (1946-47) which delighted fans with his wise 50% of his League included our record 10-2 -cracking and his unusual matches in charge. League victory over high-stepping run onto the Crystal Palace. pitch to treat injured players. Reading career 1933-39 Reading career 1939-47 Reading career 1953-75 67 appearances Manager 58 appearances 16 goals 1 goal ® 1950s 1960s 1960s Jimmy Maurice Colin Wheeler Evans Meldrum Jimmy was born in Maurice was born in Colin signed from Watford in Reading and signed Reading and made his April 1963 for £1,300 and professional in August debut in October 1955 at became one of manager 1952. He started as a left left half. His strong but fair Roy Bentley’s best signings. winger but played across play, good character and He was a virtual ever the forward line and all-round effort made him a present from April 1963 to became a prolific scorer, firm favourite with the fans. October 1969 mainly at topping the chart four He was never booked or left-back. Colin was seasons in a row. After sent off in an 11-year Reading’s first Player of the injury in 1964 his new career. Maurice became Season in 1963-64 and role was player-manager manager in 1977, won the retained the trophy the next of the reserve side which Division Four title in 1979 season.