Former Reading captain Alex Pearce labelled his academy chief Eamonn Dolan 'instrumental' after the Royals and Exeter City gave him an emotional tribute on Saturday.
Pearce was one of 32 youngsters who broke through the youth set-up under Dolan- personally making his in 2007 and playing nearly 250 times for the Reading first team before his departure to Derby County in 2015.
Now with AFC Wimbledon, the 34-year-old is still 'eternally grateful' for the guidance from Dolan.
“Eamonn Dolan was instrumental for me as a 16-year-old boy," the former Republic of Ireland international said. "I got a scholarship at Reading and had two years under Eamonn from aged 16-18 and I learnt a lot in those years. He had the method of breaking you down and rebuilding you, to turn you into a success.
“He gave you the right tools to be able to succeed within football, and I'm eternally grateful for him, and he is sadly missed. He lives long in the memory of me and many other Academy graduates who came through the club.”
Reading lost 2-1 at Exeter City, another of Dolan's former clubs, on Saturday.
A first meeting between the sides since Dolan's tragic passing in 2016, all four corners of the ground joined in a minute's applause in the 48th minute as a mark of respect.
Interview courtesy of Sky Bet.
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