mschofield
12 Aug 2006, 03:09 PM
Just had a great day at the game (the game was nice, a tidy 2-1 preseason win) and thought this would be a spot for travelling Yanks (and hey, anyone really) to wax poetic about what I believe is one of the nicest outfits in professional sports.
My deal is that I'm stuck working in London over the weekend, but had a couple hour window free on a Saturday afternoon (okay, I made one) so I popped down to see the game. Of course, on the way, I stopped by willhill with one of those handwritten slips that you never believe they're going to honor, but they did, 60 pds to me. Hopped on the wrong train, took at hour from waterloo (paddington, paddington, always remember paddington) so arrived in Reading at 3:05. By the time I'd reached the Madjeski, the game was 25 minutes deep, and i got into an argument trying to pay for a ticket, while the Reading folks kept saying, "just go in, no charge."
It was more than simply not charging, though. Spoke to six or seven team employees, and they were all just happy, thrilled to have the new season start. Just charming.
Place was empty, which I wasn't expecting, but it was a friendly, but allowed me to take a seat next to the corner flag that convey would be working in the second half, right on the field, almost felt like goal-keeping again. Wonderful.
the team looked pretty sharp (though Reading is going to have issues in the middle. I didn't think so until this game, but once the players wearing single digits came on the field, they were carving the middle of the field open pretty easily. Still, the backline looked good, Murty and Shorey especially so, I thought. Seol is a very nice player, Convey was at great and Doyle and Kitson were working very well together.
Left the game feeling a bit chilly, so I went into the mob scene at the club store for a sweatshirt, They were on sale two for one, so my little son now also has one. Added a nice little practice jersey to that and bobs and bobbings and the total was 60 pds, so free. Caught a shuttle back, hopped on the right train, which meant 35 minute ride. and back to work in time to actually get everything done. Anyhoo, others?
My deal is that I'm stuck working in London over the weekend, but had a couple hour window free on a Saturday afternoon (okay, I made one) so I popped down to see the game. Of course, on the way, I stopped by willhill with one of those handwritten slips that you never believe they're going to honor, but they did, 60 pds to me. Hopped on the wrong train, took at hour from waterloo (paddington, paddington, always remember paddington) so arrived in Reading at 3:05. By the time I'd reached the Madjeski, the game was 25 minutes deep, and i got into an argument trying to pay for a ticket, while the Reading folks kept saying, "just go in, no charge."
It was more than simply not charging, though. Spoke to six or seven team employees, and they were all just happy, thrilled to have the new season start. Just charming.
Place was empty, which I wasn't expecting, but it was a friendly, but allowed me to take a seat next to the corner flag that convey would be working in the second half, right on the field, almost felt like goal-keeping again. Wonderful.
the team looked pretty sharp (though Reading is going to have issues in the middle. I didn't think so until this game, but once the players wearing single digits came on the field, they were carving the middle of the field open pretty easily. Still, the backline looked good, Murty and Shorey especially so, I thought. Seol is a very nice player, Convey was at great and Doyle and Kitson were working very well together.
Left the game feeling a bit chilly, so I went into the mob scene at the club store for a sweatshirt, They were on sale two for one, so my little son now also has one. Added a nice little practice jersey to that and bobs and bobbings and the total was 60 pds, so free. Caught a shuttle back, hopped on the right train, which meant 35 minute ride. and back to work in time to actually get everything done. Anyhoo, others?