In celebration of Reading’s last title victory, and promotion to the ‘promised land’ The Reading Chronicle spoke with 10 figures from the side to find out one thing: How did it happen?

 

Brian McDermott

Manager

2000-2013 and 2016

 

"We recruited really well for little money. We got Gorkss and Le Fondre, really good recruits who fitted in perfectly. Ian Harte and Andy Griffin were great professionals. Then when we really wanted to push on, we recruited Jason Roberts. He was 33 at the time and what a signing he was- he made a huge difference to the side. They were easy as I knew them for years. My scouting network was vast, Nick was doing the deals, that’s really what I was about and that’s what I loved doing. I had 13 incredible years there, I am very fortunate to work with some incredible people and great fans. I look back on it now with real fondness.

Nobody knows [what makes a team successful], there’s just something that works in a team. We had an unbelievable belief that we would win. We would never go out to draw, we always tried to play to win. The sum of the parts made up for the individual. Everyone gave everything for the team. Jobi played in centre-midfield, Alfie, the most selfless guy ever, he was scoring goals off the bench and still not start, he’s a hero in my eyes, the way Noel Hunt would run for the team, Jem Karacan and Mikele Leigertwood the way they tackle and fought for the team, Jason and what he brought. Federici doesn’t get much publicity, but his distribution was incredible. I could go through the whole group, just an amazing team. Everyone was doing their job. It’s about the right people in the right places.

Without Manset we don’t win the league, every single person contributed. Whoever wasn’t playing was still jumping around wanting the team to win.

I had worked with them coming through, Eamonn was the best at bringing players through the first team. He wouldn’t bring up players he didn’t think was ready. He was tough with them at times, but he was fabulous.

When we beat Forest, That was the only time I let myself think. I didn’t think it was success unless we won the league. We’d come so far to not not win the league.

Leeds at home, West Ham away and Southampton away were real highlights. Our run in was very difficult. If you’re looking at our season with six to go you’re not having us as favourites to go up, but I never looked at the run it. I looked at the one-off games and that was the run in.

The ownership had changed so things were different at the club. It was becoming a different club; it was a difficult time. I felt that I had to win most of the games in the Championship to keep my job. We won 15 of 17 at the end and it was incredible to go and win it from there."