An Unforgettable Day at Wembley: Reading’s Simod Cup Triumph Over Luton Town

Hi everyone! With no matches this weekend, due to international duty I thought I would look back on one of the biggest games in the clubs history.

I want to tell you about an amazing football match that happened way back on 27th March 1988. Even though it was way before I was born, I’ve heard so many exciting stories from my father, and I just had to share. It was when Reading FC played against Luton Town in the Simod Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. It was a day that Reading fans will never forget!

The Build-Up to the Big Game

Reading FC wasn’t having the best time in the league back then. They were facing relegation from the Second Division, which was pretty tough. But in the Simod Cup, they were doing really well! They had beaten teams like QPR, Oxford, Nottingham Forest, Bradford City, and even Coventry to reach the final. Everyone was so excited because this was Reading’s first ever match at Wembley!

On the other side, Luton Town was a strong First Division team. They had already played at Wembley and were expected to win. Most people thought Reading didn’t stand a chance. Even some of the Reading players were a bit nervous about facing such a big team.

The Night Before the Match

The Reading team went to Wembley the day before to have a look around. They stayed at a hotel in Watford that night. The manager, Ian Branfoot, told them they could have a couple of pints to relax. But the players were so excited that they might have had a bit more than just two! They made sure to hide the empty glasses so the manager wouldn’t notice. Can you imagine trying to hide from your teacher that you’ve had extra sweets? It was kind of like that!

The Big Day at Wembley

On the day of the match, Wembley Stadium was buzzing. There were 61,740 people there! Most of them were supporting Reading, which was really cool. The atmosphere was electric, and the players could feel the excitement.

But things didn’t start well for Reading. After just 14 minutes, Mick Harford from Luton Town scored the first goal. Reading fans were worried. But guess what? Stuart Beavon, one of Reading’s key players, said that the goal shouldn’t have counted because Mick Harford had handballed it! Apparently, even Mick admitted it after the game.

Turning Things Around

Just seven minutes after Luton’s goal, Michael Gilkes (now our Academy Manager) scored for Reading! The fans went wild! Then, five minutes later, Gilkes was brought down, and Reading got a penalty. Stuart Beavon was about to take it when Gilkes asked if he could. But Stuart decided to take it himself. He was a bit nervous and thought, “What if I miss? Has anyone ever missed a penalty at Wembley?”

But he didn’t miss! He scored, and Reading was in the lead! The goalkeeper guessed the right way, but the ball still went in. Now Reading was ahead 2-1, and the fans were over the moon.

Sealing the Victory

In the second half, Reading kept up the pressure. Mick Tait scored the third goal on 55 minutes, and then Neil Smillie added a fourth! Reading was now leading 4-1 against the team everyone thought would win. The players were playing with so much confidence, passing the ball around and enjoying every moment.

The Celebrations Begin

When the final whistle blew, Reading had done it! They had won the Simod Cup Final 4-1 against Luton Town. The players and fans couldn’t believe it. It was such a huge achievement, especially since they were struggling in the league.

After the match, the team took the cup and placed it at the front of the coach on their way back. They went to the Ramada Hotel (which is now called Penta) for a big party. The celebrations went on until 4 am! Everyone was so happy and proud of what they had achieved.

What Happened Next

Unfortunately, Reading couldn’t defend their Simod Cup title the next year because they got relegated, which means they moved down to a lower division and weren’t allowed to play in that cup anymore.

Stuart Beavon, who played such a big role in the win, moved to Northampton in 1991. Later, he played in non-league football and even got to play alongside his son, also named Stuart, at Ardley United when his son was just 17!

A Family of Footballers

Football runs in the Beavon family. Stuart’s dad, Cyril Beavon, was a tough defender for Oxford. Stuart’s son, Stuart Jr., became a striker and played for teams like Burton Albion in League Two. It’s really cool to see three generations of footballers in one family!

Fun Facts About Stuart Beavon

Did you know that when Stuart was 14, he scored 10 out of 10 penalties against Gordon Banks? Gordon Banks was one of England’s greatest goalkeepers! That’s pretty impressive.

But sometimes, things didn’t go perfectly. Once, during filming for a TV show called “The Manageress” at Elm Park, Stuart had to deliberately miss penalties for the cameras. He had to kick the ball wide several times. Later on, in a real match against Portsmouth, he missed a penalty, and his teammates joked that it was because of all the practice he had missing them for the TV show!

Dreams and Memories

Even though Stuart had an amazing career and that fantastic day at Wembley, he once said that he wished he could have played for England. But he knew it was tough with so many great players around at the time.

For Reading fans, that day at Wembley remains one of the best moments in the club’s history. It shows that even when things aren’t going well, like facing relegation, a team can come together and achieve something incredible.

Why This Match Matters

This match is important because it reminds us that anything is possible in football. Underdogs can win, and dreams can come true. It’s also a great story of teamwork, determination, and believing in yourself even when others doubt you.

Conclusion

Even though I wasn’t there, hearing stories about Reading’s victory over Luton Town in the Simod Cup Final makes me proud to be a football fan. It’s matches like this that make football so exciting and full of surprises.

I hope you enjoyed reading about this unforgettable day. Maybe someday, we’ll see more moments like this, where teams overcome the odds and create history!