☝ My Photo
With today being FA Cup Final day, it feels fitting that today's Away Day Tale is a trip to Wembley. It might surprise you to hear that I've been to Wembley 3 times to support Reading. First in 2011 when we played Swansea in the Play-off final, losing 4-2 and Scott Sinclair tearing us a new one. Then most recently in 2017 when Jaap Stam bored whoever was unfortunate enough to watch the game to a drab 0-0 draw against Huddersfield, then for us to lose on penalties.
It is my trip in 2015 that I'd like to share with you though, an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.
Wembley
For those that have been to Wembley for a big game, there's something special about Wembley Way. Stepping out of Wembley Park Tube station and seeing the arches for the 1st time is something special. Then you experience the good natured mixing of fans and stalls selling all manner of shit - it's a party atmosphere that needs to be experienced to be understood. Sadly, it appears that I only took 2 photos of that day, and I've already shared the good one!
☝ My Photo Cropped to hide it's from Reading v. Huddersfield
☝ My Photo unable to hide it's from Reading v. Huddersfield
We'd had a reasonable route to the semi-final with Cardiff being the only team capable of keeping 11 players on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.
Route to the Semi-Final
| Round | Arsenal | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Hull (h) | Huddersfield (a) |
| 4th | Brighton(a) | Cardiff (a) |
| 5th | Middlesbrough (h) | Derby (a) |
| Q/Final | Man Utd (a) | Bradford (h-replay) |
I think we had the harder run 😉
The Build Up
We got there reasonably early and because it was an important occasion for us (2 photographs important), the club had bought us all a T-shirt which had been left on our seats. Suitably alternative blue and white so that once donned before kick off, our end looked pretty cool.
We went with little hope. Arsenal always beat us. ALWAYS. Even if we go 4-0 up, we lose. So I was determined that no matter what happened, I would avoid having any hope. It's the hope that gets you in the end.
The Match
Arsenal picked a strong team, reigning champions and not wanting any slip-ups at this stage of the competition. These were the days when Mertersacker, Koscielny, Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez and Ramsey were at the top of their game and were certainly to be feared. the-mrs-gorilla's team (Hull City) had been beaten by them in the Final the previous year.
We had a fairly poor team, sitting 19th in the Championship which helped to keep the hope to an absolute minimum.
Reading (4-4-1-1): 1 Adam Federici; 2 Chris Gunter, 5 Alex Pearce (captain), 15 Michael Hector, 11 Jordan Obita; 12 Garath McCleary, 14 Nathaniel Chalobah, 23 Daniel Williams, 9 Hal Robson-Kanu; 19 Jamie Mackie; 7 Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): 1 Wojciech Szczesny; 2 Mathieu Debuchy, 4 Per Mertesacker (captain), 6 Laurent Koscielny, 3 Kieran Gibbs; 34 Francis Coquelin, 19 Santi Cazorla; 17 Alexis Sanchez, 11 Mesut Ozil, 16 Aaron Ramsey; 23 Danny Welbeck.
Our best player that season, and subsequently our player-of-the-season was Adam Federici, our goalkeeper and we knew we'd need a big game from him if we weren't to be embarassed.
The 1st half was fairly tight with neither side really creating much and we were reasonably content going in 1-0 down. A typically clinical Alexis Sanchez goal from a typically brilliant (at the time) Ozil pass, Federici a bit unlucky not to keep it out. Such a shame but 1-0, we were happy with that.
The 2nd half was different though, we had nothing to lose and played with more freedom and from kick off, we got at Arsenal. And that's when the hope started to creep in. McLeary scored despite Szczesny's best efforts to deceive the officials. We were right behind it, we knew it was in and we couldn't believe it, we'd equalised.
Unlike the 1st half, we didn't defend. This was our chance, get at them and beat them. Koscielny catching the ball in the Arsenal area being as clear cut a penalty as Vidic's push in my Old Trafford Tale.
But as any fan of a smaller club will tell you, you just don't get these decisions. Especially in big games.
Arsenal livened up again at this point and could and possibly should have taken one of their chances. Ramsey in particular hitting the post having beaten Federici.
Just before the full time whistle though, one of the moments that I will never forget as a Reading fan. One of the biggest "what if" moments that you dream about how it could have gone differently. It's a moment that doesn't appear in any highlights I can find. A ball was played over the top and the world's slowest player, Pavel Pogrebnyak was through. He had Jamie Mackie up with him and Koscielny had managed to track back. As strikers, 2 on 1, you practise this all the time. But Mackie failed to make a meaningful run. He failed to move away from Pogrebnyak and force Koscielny to make the decision. Both Mackin and Pog were good finishers. But they got in each other's way. Pogrebnyak eventually scuffing a weak shot straight at Szczesny. Chances don't come bigger than that and that's the difference between the Championship and Premier League. Those moments.
The only mention I can find in the archives is this -
Pogrebnyak sent clear, chose to continue forward on his own instead of pushing a pass through to the supporting Mackie Source
And so we went to extra time.
Despite all the endeavour as extra time progressed, neither team looked to have the energy to go and win the game. Stray passes from tired legs became the blueprint of play. Penalties seemed the inevitable outcome, the final curtain call on an entertaining and enthralling occasion Source
But there's never anything "inevitable" about football. Approaching half time in extra time, in added time in fact, we saw the mistake that would end Adam Federici's Reading career. Having said he'd saved us that season and somewhat a hero to us, for him, this mistake was too much and he left that summer. A weak shot by Alexis Sanchez, straight at him, squirmed through his legs and creeped, agonisingly slowly, millimetre by millimetre over the line, right under our noses. Gutted. The half time whistle should've already gone.
The ever so generous Daily Mail providing a photo montage of this moment for him to remember for ever.
It was a bitter blow just before half time but this was our big day out. We were going to lift our team and drag them kicking and screaming to the final whistle.
But there was to be no more joy that day. It was a gallant effort but in the end, we lost. Whereas I've highlighted the magic of Wembley Way on the way to the game, there's nothing more depressing than Wembley Way after the game, having watched your team lose.
Memories from a Reading Perspective
☝ From Reading Football Club's YouTube Channel
Highlights
☝ From England's YouTube Channel
Artistic Highlights (you can stop it at 2 minutes and turn it off)
☝ From England's YouTube Channel
As usual, if there are any teams or grounds you'd be interested in hearing my story from, then please let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading.
Previous Away Day Tales
Episode 1 - Anfield (20th October 2012)
Episode 2 - The Manor Ground (17th March 1998)
Episode 3 - Griffin Park (20th April 2002)
Episode 4 - Upton Park (31st March 2012)
Episode 5 - Old Trafford (16th March 2013)
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