March 7 2004

Steve Coppell

It was a Royal occasion at Selhurst today (March 6) when Steve Coppell brought his Reading team to the scene of the start of his great managerial career. Jamesey reverentially reports

First, apologies to the Hobbit-minded HOL poster who used my title on the boards. I had already thought of it before I saw his post so I am not really that much of a plagiarist.

Well. nostalgia came to the foreground again when the mighty Steve Coppell walked to the dug-outs to a standing ovation from all the Palace faithful.

That slight figure, modest and undemonstrative, made his way along the touchline, much thinner of hair and seemingly much less full of figure.

It was a shock to realise that he originally arrived at Selhurst 20 years ago as a 28-year-old rookie who had quit playing through injury.

It took a couple of seasons (take note you impatient, modern supporters) to get into gear but when he did, it brought the best years, in my opinion, of this club's history.

As for today's game itself (a 2-2 draw)...well, we all have differing views. Was Jules crap, was Derry rubbish, was Dougie ineffectual, etc, etc?

I thought we desperately missed Neil Shipperley who would have gobbled up all those high balls that AJ and Dougie couldn't reach or make use of. And I thought Julian Gray had a blindingly good game, so there.

As a journalist, I am wary of criticising other hacks because of the "people in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones" syndrome. But I was surprised to read Alex Warner's page in the Reading match programme.

I think Alex is a cracking writer but to call Steve Coppell a "Manconian" is a gross disrespect. For a start the word is "Mancunian" and, second, Steve is a Liverpudlian by birth and wouldn't appreciate the Manchester epithet at all.

And, on the subject of the match programme, was that truly our friend Palace Guard from Oz triumphantly gesticulating on the front? I had the great pleasure of attending an open HOL members occasion last week and Palace Guard was only one of the charming and interesting people who were there.

Apart from our mutual passion for CPFC here was little in generation, occupation or other interests to bind us.

But what a lovely atmosphere (not just the beer I hope!) prevailed amongst a group of disparate (and not desperate!) individuals. Hope to see you all again soon, and anybody who couldn't make it to that one.

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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