Gav
@gavanelli.bsky.social
Reading FC, punk rock, dogs, music production. Stuff like that.
I’m one. Stopped wearing it after a friend didn’t survive a trip to Afghanistan. The unwelcome proximity to its message really brought into sharp focus how performative and loaded it has all become. I don’t need a poppy to remember, nor do I need to demonstrate my remembrance to others.
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 AM
I’m one. Stopped wearing it after a friend didn’t survive a trip to Afghanistan. The unwelcome proximity to its message really brought into sharp focus how performative and loaded it has all become. I don’t need a poppy to remember, nor do I need to demonstrate my remembrance to others.
It’s incredible. I asked mum if she’d seen it and she said “I’ve been crying to it all week”… ‘nuff said.
As an aside, as an aging grunge-head, it’s also nice to hear Hole front and centre on normal telly.
As an aside, as an aging grunge-head, it’s also nice to hear Hole front and centre on normal telly.
November 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM
It’s incredible. I asked mum if she’d seen it and she said “I’ve been crying to it all week”… ‘nuff said.
As an aside, as an aging grunge-head, it’s also nice to hear Hole front and centre on normal telly.
As an aside, as an aging grunge-head, it’s also nice to hear Hole front and centre on normal telly.
I’m from southern England. I hear it how a Californian would hear it.
November 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I’m from southern England. I hear it how a Californian would hear it.
Unfortunately they were calling for his dismissal on Saturday. Loudly. He was definitely still popular in some sections of the fanbase, but far too many enjoyed rubbing his nose in his struggle. It was already clear his tenure was on the ropes and getting a kicking from his own fans was unnecessary.
October 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Unfortunately they were calling for his dismissal on Saturday. Loudly. He was definitely still popular in some sections of the fanbase, but far too many enjoyed rubbing his nose in his struggle. It was already clear his tenure was on the ropes and getting a kicking from his own fans was unnecessary.
Instead of getting behind the team and willing them to dig the results out, it seems the fans are more intent on creating a hostile atmosphere for them to try to perform in. When has that ever helped anyone who’s struggling to find form? With friends like these, right?
October 26, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Instead of getting behind the team and willing them to dig the results out, it seems the fans are more intent on creating a hostile atmosphere for them to try to perform in. When has that ever helped anyone who’s struggling to find form? With friends like these, right?
There’s time to turn a lot around and people are kidding themselves if they think that the inevitable appointment of Ainsworth is suddenly going to yield dramatic on-pitch improvements. If Couhig pulls the trigger then so be it, but the least we can do as a fanbase is treat Hunt with respect.
October 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM
There’s time to turn a lot around and people are kidding themselves if they think that the inevitable appointment of Ainsworth is suddenly going to yield dramatic on-pitch improvements. If Couhig pulls the trigger then so be it, but the least we can do as a fanbase is treat Hunt with respect.
Exactly. I can remember sitting in the north stand on Boxing Day watching us slump to a third 3-0 defeat in a row against Wimbledon under Steve Coppell, looking utterly hopeless and people wanting him gone then too. I think the fanbase needs a bit of a reality check. Managers go through bad periods.
October 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Exactly. I can remember sitting in the north stand on Boxing Day watching us slump to a third 3-0 defeat in a row against Wimbledon under Steve Coppell, looking utterly hopeless and people wanting him gone then too. I think the fanbase needs a bit of a reality check. Managers go through bad periods.
I’m absolutely fuming about it. I don’t care if people want him out or not, that’s football, but for them to treat someone who’s given so much to this club in that way is *disgusting*. Petulant wankers.
October 25, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I’m absolutely fuming about it. I don’t care if people want him out or not, that’s football, but for them to treat someone who’s given so much to this club in that way is *disgusting*. Petulant wankers.
Let’s hope it was something misheard, but if it happened then I hope they get a lifetime ban. Absolutely no place for that at our or any club.
October 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Let’s hope it was something misheard, but if it happened then I hope they get a lifetime ban. Absolutely no place for that at our or any club.
FFS. Do we know if it was our fans or theirs?
October 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
FFS. Do we know if it was our fans or theirs?
I just spent 45 actual seconds wondering what the hell you were talking about until I realised Americans say ant-eye not ant-ee.
Maybe she’s secretly British. Hope not, we don’t want her.
Maybe she’s secretly British. Hope not, we don’t want her.
October 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I just spent 45 actual seconds wondering what the hell you were talking about until I realised Americans say ant-eye not ant-ee.
Maybe she’s secretly British. Hope not, we don’t want her.
Maybe she’s secretly British. Hope not, we don’t want her.
…But the combination of Ingimarsson and Sonko in front of him shouldn’t be ignored! They did more than their share of protecting the goal too. We had a very steady back line, and I don’t recall many enforced changes so that helped our defence build a rapport.
September 26, 2025 at 2:43 PM
…But the combination of Ingimarsson and Sonko in front of him shouldn’t be ignored! They did more than their share of protecting the goal too. We had a very steady back line, and I don’t recall many enforced changes so that helped our defence build a rapport.
He scores pretty highly on all of those by virtue of being our most successful ever keeper, but my overwhelming memory of him (nearly 20 years later!) was his general command of the area. He was strong on crosses, a big character and an excellent shot stopper. Consistent, yes, absolutely…
September 26, 2025 at 2:43 PM
He scores pretty highly on all of those by virtue of being our most successful ever keeper, but my overwhelming memory of him (nearly 20 years later!) was his general command of the area. He was strong on crosses, a big character and an excellent shot stopper. Consistent, yes, absolutely…
Marcus Hahnemann was incredible. What a keeper!
September 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Marcus Hahnemann was incredible. What a keeper!
I’m probably not the best person to ask on that one… it’s a little bit before my time following Reading, but I don’t think either of them set the world alight. I’m not sure Hammond even ever made more than a few appearances!
Adding #readingfc to see if anyone on the hashtag has any knowledge!
Adding #readingfc to see if anyone on the hashtag has any knowledge!
September 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I’m probably not the best person to ask on that one… it’s a little bit before my time following Reading, but I don’t think either of them set the world alight. I’m not sure Hammond even ever made more than a few appearances!
Adding #readingfc to see if anyone on the hashtag has any knowledge!
Adding #readingfc to see if anyone on the hashtag has any knowledge!
Nope, he was goalkeeping coach. Our main goalkeeper was Marcus Hahnemann
September 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Nope, he was goalkeeping coach. Our main goalkeeper was Marcus Hahnemann
Sal Bibbo was goalkeeping from 2006ish, and Nicky Hammond was director of football, responsible for bringing in all our most famous bargains of that era (Doyle, Long, Kitson etc), as well as negotiating huge fees for players after they moved on (arguably much more than they were really “worth”)
September 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Sal Bibbo was goalkeeping from 2006ish, and Nicky Hammond was director of football, responsible for bringing in all our most famous bargains of that era (Doyle, Long, Kitson etc), as well as negotiating huge fees for players after they moved on (arguably much more than they were really “worth”)
And both Sal Bibbo and Nick Hammond ended up as key components of our most successful ever period. Wild.
September 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM
And both Sal Bibbo and Nick Hammond ended up as key components of our most successful ever period. Wild.
Matt Ritchie was the difference. Absolutely phenomenal when he came on, and never stopped organising. Seriously. He didn’t stop. At all.
September 22, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Matt Ritchie was the difference. Absolutely phenomenal when he came on, and never stopped organising. Seriously. He didn’t stop. At all.
Yeah, that’s fair enough. I’d hate it if they weren’t such an important part of our story (the owners of SCL are Reading fans too)
September 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Yeah, that’s fair enough. I’d hate it if they weren’t such an important part of our story (the owners of SCL are Reading fans too)
Just the SCL… although I still call it the Madejski cos old habits die hard!
September 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Just the SCL… although I still call it the Madejski cos old habits die hard!
That may as be, but they paid our bills when our owner wouldn’t and without them we likely wouldn’t exist, so I’d be happy to name my seat after them an’ all.
September 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
That may as be, but they paid our bills when our owner wouldn’t and without them we likely wouldn’t exist, so I’d be happy to name my seat after them an’ all.
Standing tall against fascism was the defining characteristic of Britain in the 20th century. Let’s make sure capitulation to fascism isn’t the defining characteristic in the 21st century. You have our backing. Shut them down.
September 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Standing tall against fascism was the defining characteristic of Britain in the 20th century. Let’s make sure capitulation to fascism isn’t the defining characteristic in the 21st century. You have our backing. Shut them down.