There’s no need for much of a preamble about tomorrow’s trip to Reading. From a City point of view, it’s the same as it’s been for a week or two – promotion is within touching distance, but we’re making harder work of it than looked likely back in the early months of 2026.
As for Reading, a run of one point from their last three matches, including consecutive defeats against Lincoln and Doncaster, almost certainly means that they cannot afford to drop any more points in their remaining three games if they’re to finish in the top six (even then they’ll need quite a few teams to finish the season poorly). That said, a trip to relegated Rotherham and a home game with a Blackpool team that will probably be safe by then offer a good opportunity for a maximum return if they could beat us.
On to the quiz then – as usual, I’ll post the answers to the seven questions on here on Sunday.
60s. You’ll definitely need to do some research on this winger who played just two games for Reading during this decade (even Reading fans had never heard of him when his name came up on the HobNob messageboard) – he sounds like a combination of one of the school lessons I used to look forward to and a character from, very, early Eastenders!
70s. Before injury ended his career at thirty, this busy London born midfielder with a surname that brings to mind toxophily turned out for three clubs based in the south east corner of England. He was born on the same side of the River Thames as the club he started out with. He was a regular selection for three years before signing for Reading in the middle of the decade and was a mainstay of their team for five years as he clocked up over two hundred appearances – he also was a member of a promotion winning squad. His final transfer took him to a club from the county of his birth who were managed by a former team mate from his first club at the time, but he’d barely got started with them when he sustained the knee injury which, effectively, ended his career in an FA Cup tie. Can you name him?
80s. Sounds like he understood scuffling!
90s. Initially get Royal Ordinance leader to try and remove this forward. (6,6)
00s. This full back sounds like the Creator of the Trojan Horse from the cross and he played for Reading before going on to become a member of the National Assembly for the country he represented 101 times. Who is he?
10s. After being loaned out by Reading to eight different clubs, he became the first product from their Academy to be called up to an England senior squad – although it took him another five and a half years to win his one and only cap for his country. All four of the clubs he’s had permanent contracts with wear either hoops or stripes and he has played seven times in the league this season for his current club. Who is being described here?
20s. Scottish doctor from ancient TV series meets ruthless cartoon businessman by the sound of it!
Answers:
60s.Jim (Gym) Lofty.
70s. Lewisham born Richie Bowman started his career at Charlton before moving on to Reading and then to Kent to play for former team mate Keith Peacock at Gillingham, but he’d only been with them for a few months when he sustained an injury which ended his career in 1981.
80s. Roger Joslyn.
90s.Trevor Morley.
00s. Ulises De La Cruz (Ulysses was the Roman name for the King of Ithaca and De La Cruz means of or from the cross in Spanish) played for Hibs, Aston Villa, Reading and Barcelona among others and won over a hundred caps for Ecuador, the country thats National Assembly he has been a member of since 2013.
10s. Alex McCarthy made his sole England appearance in 2019 when he played the second half of a match against the USA and he kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win. Besides, Reading, McCarthy has had QPR, Palace and Southampton as parent clubs.
20s. Finley Burns (Dr Findlay’s Casebook was staple viewing for my family on Sunday nights in the mid 60s and Mr Burns is the Simpson’s version of Elon Musk!).
