14 Years Ago Today: Play-Off Semi Final Vs Reading

[Rowls]

It almost certainly feels like yesterday that we were there but it's 14 years ago that we won away at Reading to book our place at Wembley and, ultimately, the PL.

Paterson's wonder strike is still a thing of beauty for the ages. It still makes my heart leap with unbridled joy to watch it hit the net and witness the Claret end explode in ecstasy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1LZ3q28AdE

[giveusaB]

Fantastic goals.Couldn’t get there but remember watching it on sky.
I think this song was from around that time?

https://youtu.be/XgPNIzyeOxs

[Burnley1989]

Up until this season it was my favourite ever away day along with Scunthorpe and Wembley, there's a few jumped above it now

[LeadBelly]

Aye, two fabulous goals and then another (from Wade) in the final. Makes you think there was some sort of magic at play.

[Rowls]

Up until this season it was my favourite ever away day along with Scunthorpe and Wembley, there's a few jumped above it now

Agree with this. It'll take something truly universe-ending to beat winning the league at Ewood but I fully expected us to win against b&st@rds on the night.

Reading is special because it was more unexpected and the goals so stunning.

[PremierLeagueClass]

That season will always be the most special to me.

Mainly because it brought the first major success i’d experienced in my lifetime. Chelsea away started it all and Reading away is still probably my favourite ever game. It was one of the most pivotal seasons in our history make no mistake. It was the start of a journey we are still on now.

Unless Vinny goes and does something daft like getting us into the Champions League

[evensteadiereddie]

In my top give favourite games without a doubt.

[edlass]

I shouted "Don't Shoot" when Pato went on that run.

[IPAclaret]

Quite simply, 2 stunning strikes that get better every time you watch them.

UTC

[claret wizard]

Full game here, SKY commentry streets ahead of Claretsplayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyZ83cyXkt4

[CoolClaret]

The season that started it all off really - it was the catalyst... We dared to dream and we actualised it!

Never would I ever as a nipper in the 90s/early 2000s did I think we'd ever play in the PL

It's crazy what one season getting yourself over the line can do, it has a lasting effect IMO

[gawthorpe_view]

May's generally been quite a good month to be a Claret recently!

[Silkyskills1]

I shouted "Don't Shoot" when Pato went on that run.

And thousands of others too including myself. What a gol nd what a night.

[Rowls]

I shouted "Don't Shoot" when Pato went on that run.

Aye. You, silkyskills, me and about 2000 others!

"Don't shoot!"

"Pass it to Blake!"

"No! Don't shoo-"

The rest is history.

[No Ney Never]

Shame Patto spent so much time injured, when he played, he was generally very good. One player from yesteryear that would thrive under VK.

[Woodleyclaret]

Living near Reading and working at the time at The John Madejski Academy it was a special moment. We were on a roll that season and our winning at Wembley was never in doubt

[CoolClaret]

Shame Patto spent so much time injured, when he played, he was generally very good. One player from yesteryear that would thrive under VK.

One of my good mates was in the youth team at this time - and also had some devastating injuries so spent a lot of time with Pato -

Said he was one of the best pros he's ever seen - in terms of work rate, diet/nutrition choice and overall manner/approachability. Used to really give all his insight and all he could to help him get over his injuries and put him in touch with some good agents/managers/people in football when he got released... like stuff that he really didn't have to do.

[ClaretAndJew]

Thompson, gets a touch past Duberry

[whiffa]

Full game here, SKY commentry streets ahead of Claretsplayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyZ83cyXkt4

You cannot argue with that, can you?

[Rowls]

You cannot argue with that, can you?

Thanks whiffa!

[I'maclaret]

14 years? Where does the time go? I can still hear someone's desperate shout of 'no don't sing that, we sang that against Spurs at the turf' when a chorus of Wembley, Wembley, we're the famous Burnley FC and we're going to Wembley broke out after Thommo's goal.

[Stalbansclaret]

It's taken until Benson's winner at Ewood to challenge Paterson's goal as the most exciting I've seen supporting us. And I enjoyed Paterson's more because I was in the away end so could go bonkers unlike at Ewood where I, and some other undercover Clarets, were surrounded by home fans so couldn't celebrate (I was in Blackburn hospitality).
The atmosphere in the away end at Reading that night was pure unadulterated euphoria. I'm sure others will also remember Kevin Blackwell the Sheff U manager was in TV commentary box behind us in the roof of the stand and the whole end chanting "Blackwell, Blackwell you are next" at him.

[Rowls]

It's taken until Benson's winner at Ewood to challenge Paterson's goal as the most exciting I've seen supporting us. And I enjoyed Paterson's more because I was in the away end so could go bonkers unlike at Ewood where I, and some other undercover Clarets, were surrounded by home fans so couldn't celebrate (I was in Blackburn hospitality).
The atmosphere in the away end at Reading that night was pure unadulterated euphoria. I'm sure others will also remember Kevin Blackwell the Sheff U manager was in TV commentary box behind us in the roof of the stand and the whole end chanting "Blackwell, Blackwell you are next" at him.

Yes, there were a number of suspicious looking people in the home stands who decided to linger after the final whistle at Ewood...

[Winstonswhite]

Pato’s goal, the best I’ve seen live. Don’t think it’ll ever be bettered tbh

[SlidingTackle]

Whenever the whole beauty of Pato's goal that night is discussed, I always flag up Wade Elliot's lung bursting run that took half the Reading defence out wide to the right leaving a 'massive gap' (TM Jamie Carragher) for Pato to continue on into. Not taking ANYTHING away from the run and shot, but if ever there was an example of an unselfish run paying off, this is it.

Oh, and still unchallenged for me in terms of complete euphoria after many, many dark days.

[boatshed bill]

Pato’s goal, the best I’ve seen live. Don’t think it’ll ever be bettered tbh

Both goals were brilliant.
i could hardly believe Thomson's.

[Cornwallclaret]

Watched this in the rashleigh arms in Charlestown Cornwall on my 2nd date with my now wife and a bloke who was cheering on for reading sat next to us,when Pato banged in ‘that’ goal I leapt up out of my seat and knocked the fellas beer all over him next to us …oops…was still fist pumping etc as I went the bar to replace his pint …I remind the wife regularly she knew what she was getting into lol

[boatshed bill]

Watched this in the rashleigh arms in Charlestown Cornwall on my 2nd date with my now wife and a bloke who was cheering on for reading sat next to us,when Pato banged in ‘that’ goal I leapt up out of my seat and knocked the fellas beer all over him next to us …oops…was still fist pumping etc as I went the bar to replace his pint …I remind the wife regularly she knew what she was getting into lol

Do you live in Chatestown,famous for "The Onedin Line" wasn't it? I've visited many times.

[NottsClaret]

The season that started it all off really - it was the catalyst... We dared to dream and we actualised it!

It's crazy what one season getting yourself over the line can do, it has a lasting effect IMO

It definitely was. There’s been some fantastic mangers and players since those playoffs, but without those 3 games they’d never have been here. I’m absolutely certain we’d have been another PNE for the last 14 years instead of this unbelievable era we’ve seen. A proper sliding doors moment for the club.

[CoolClaret]

It definitely was. There’s been some fantastic mangers and players since those playoffs, but without those 3 games they’d never have been here. I’m absolutely certain we’d have been another PNE for the last 14 years instead of this unbelievable era we’ve seen. A proper sliding doors moment for the club.

I completely agree! Just like how they'd probably have had more success if they managed to finally get over the line once in the mid-early 2000s

[ClaretLoup]

I was at the Reading game and was miffed when I found my seat was two rows from the front just to the right of the goals with a very poor view.

However I’ll never forget that shot from Pato arcing towards the goal from what looked an almost impossible position and hitting the back of the net about 10 feet away from where I was sat.

Pure euphoria when that one went in.

[andyh]

It's taken until Benson's winner at Ewood to challenge Paterson's goal as the most exciting I've seen supporting us. And I enjoyed Paterson's more because I was in the away end so could go bonkers unlike at Ewood where I, and some other undercover Clarets, were surrounded by home fans so couldn't celebrate (I was in Blackburn hospitality).
The atmosphere in the away end at Reading that night was pure unadulterated euphoria. I'm sure others will also remember Kevin Blackwell the Sheff U manager was in TV commentary box behind us in the roof of the stand and the whole end chanting "Blackwell, Blackwell you are next" at him.

Blake’s volley v Utd 6 months later was the other one to rank up there with it.

[IanMcL]

A sweet night for me. Shutting my Reading family up!

[Cornwallclaret]

Do you live in Chatestown,famous for "The Onedin Line" wasn't it? I've visited many times.

Used too but wasn’t it poldark it’s famous for? A lot of the modern version was certainly filmed there

[ElectroClaret]

Both goals were brilliant.
i could hardly believe Thomson's.

Yes Tommos was an excellent strike in it's own right, and deserved more praise than it got at the time and was somewhat overshadowed by Patos.
Unbelievable bend on Patos though, i thought it was drifting well wide, couldn't believe it when it went in.

[mdd2]

And 28 years ago today May 14th but we wont talk about that will we?

[willsclarets]

Christ where does the time go