How did you join Wimbledon from Reading?
TEAMS Reading Wimbledon Swindon Sligo Northern Ireland
I was a Reading boy - my school was a long goalkeeper’s kick from Elm Park. We went up from the Fourth Division in 1983-84, I’d had a great season as second-leading goalscorer and was runner-up for player of the year. The manager, Ian Branfoot, asked, “How do you think you’ve done this season?” I said, “Yeah, quite well.” He said, “No, I don’t think you’ve done very well.” My stomach dropped. Given the chance, I’d have remained a Reading boy until the end of my days, but in that moment I knew my time was up. The following season, I was told Swindon wanted to sign me. I met Lou Macari and he was really good with me, but I sat at home gutted, feeling I was being forced to go somewhere I didn’t want to go. Then I got a phone call saying, “I understand you’re going to Swindon - don’t join them, as Dave Bassett wants to meet you.”