Reading PodJockey Alan West wants to bring back the Royal’s anthem.

Football a tribal game that can separate friends neighbours and family, with fierce loyalty. A sense of belonging that is unrivalled (in my opinion) in any other sport. But what is it that makes football so special to the masses’? Is it the history? Is it the players? Or is it the togetherness? In my opinion it’s all of the above but mainly it’s that sense of belonging. The feeling of being a part of something.

On my travels around many grounds over the years .One thing that binds people to together is a common goal and a song. Take for example, Liverpool, Leeds, and Chelsea to name a few. Before every game, They each have a song played that they use as a rallying call . A battle cry if you will. Is there any sound better than the Anfield crowd belting out ‘Your never walk alone ’ Leeds singing ‘Marching on together’, no, imagine being a player in the tunnel hearing this crescendo or noise roaring out these anthems.

Many years ago as a boy, my team Reading had this song, it was sung by Kevin Girdler. It was called the Royal’s anthem. It was catchy; it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It was our song. When we moved ground the club in their wisdom stopped playing it, sighting a new more modern approach. Where they right to do this? I say no. I say clubs are built on history, belonging and togetherness. An army needs a banner to march under a Anthem to glue them together. We had that and it was stripped away. That’s why I’m saying bring back the Royals anthem give the fan’s that missing piece of the jigsaw. So what if it mentions Elm Park. That’s from whence we came.

Please support the Reading FC FanCast’s campaigns to get the song back by putting pressure on the club to play our song again.

Related articles

• Panto Season? Reading Football FanCast 056