What? No Robin Friday?

[Gwylan]

Finally got round to looking at the programme for the Reading game and was staggered to see that the "all-time great" Reading team didn't include Friday. This would be like an alll-time great Brighton team not including Peter Ward.

The programme didn't give the names of the geniuses who compiled this team but if they think that Lawrie Sanchez (to name just one) was a more talented footballer than Robin Friday, then they must have taken some serious mind-destroying drugs in their time,

 

[Don Tmatter]

Finally got round to looking at the programme for the Reading game and was staggered to see that the "all-time great" Reading team didn't include Friday. This would be like an alll-time great Brighton team not including Peter Ward.

The programme didn't give the names of the geniuses who compiled this team but if they think that Lawrie Sanchez (to name just one) was a more talented footballer than Robin Friday, then they must have taken some serious mind-destroying drugs in their time,

Here,Here.Must have been written by someone who didn't appreciate his off-field activities.

 

[Screaming J]

Finally got round to looking at the programme for the Reading game and was staggered to see that the "all-time great" Reading team didn't include Friday. This would be like an alll-time great Brighton team not including Peter Ward.

The programme didn't give the names of the geniuses who compiled this team but if they think that Lawrie Sanchez (to name just one) was a more talented footballer than Robin Friday, then they must have taken some serious mind-destroying drugs in their time,

As indeed did the late Robin Friday! Agree with Gwylan on this.

Recommended reading on this is a book which was written about Robin Friday, called "The Greatest Footballer You never saw" by Paul McGuigan & Paolo Hewitt.

I used to watch Reading when I was at Uni and sometimes couldn't afford to get back to Sussex for Albion games; he was a legend at Elm Park.

And his last ever pro game was against the Albion at the Goldstone when he was at Cardiff. We won 4-0 and Friday got sent off for stamping on Mark Lawrenson.

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Re: Re: What? No Robin Friday?

And his last ever pro game was against the Albion at the Goldstone when he was at Cardiff. We won 4-0 and Friday got sent off for stamping on Mark Lawrenson.

No so. His last game was 3-6 defeat for Cardiff away at Bolton a few weeks after the 0-4 defeat at the Goldstone. I've still got the programme.

The book is an OK read, but it's very economical with the truth and not particularly accurate. Friday's time at Cardiff is barely touched on, but there are loads of very dodgy stories that should've been included from around that time. He is painted as a lovable rogue in the book, but the truth is that he was often a complete liability.

 

[Gwylan]

Re: Re: Re: What? No Robin Friday?

...but the truth is that he was often a complete liability.

He was often a complete genius as well. When he was on form he was breath-taking.

Oh and Penblwydd hapus i chi, TLB

 

[Screaming J]

Re: Re: Re: What? No Robin Friday?

The book is an OK read, but it's very economical with the truth and not particularly accurate.

Yes, in retrospect probably best not to rely on Oasis bass players for accurate biography. My attitude to it probably coloured by rose tinted nostalgia for my youth.

He was a bloody good player when he wanted to be though.

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Re: Re: Re: Re: What? No Robin Friday?

He was often a complete genius as well. When he was on form he was breath-taking.

Oh and Penblwydd hapus i chi, TLB

Diolch yn fawr!

One of my best mates used to share a room with Friday on away trips, and some of the stories about him defy belief. You are right when you say he was a quite brilliant footballer, but the fact that most of his team-mates were frightened of him says plenty about his contribution to squad morale!

The book fails to mention that he served a prison sentence while he was a Cardiff player for some reason. That's a bit of a glaring omission I reckon!

 

[readingstockport]

Whilst at Elm Park he allegedly used to nip out at half-time and head into the Spreadeagel for a swift pint instead of listening to the team talk.

 

[Wilts]

Paolo Hewitt has written to a few Reading fans now trying to help make a film of Friday's life... I think the idea needs to be put into the open to discuss (a) whether a film is a good idea or not, and (b) whether the family are willing to allow a film to be made full stop.

There are some cracking stories about Friday and his antics off the pitch. My favourite probably being when he was banned from Sindlesham Mill nightclub (my old hunting ground in '97 ish) for doing the "elephant", standing on a table, untucking the pockets out of his jeans and sticking his cock through the fly. Genius.

The book is good, if not a bit non-factual in places according to fans who were around at the time...

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

The book paints Friday out to be little more than a lovable rogue, but the truth is that he had a very dark side and he was obviously quite disturbed if even half of the stories about him are true (and there's no reason to believe they are not).

Still, the majority of the fans here loved him, as did some, but by no means all, of his ex-team-mates. And he could be quite brilliant on his day. His exceptional debut for Cardiff against Fulham is a part of CCFC folklore, and he was voted by Reading fans as the scorer of their best-ever goal a few years ago.