Reading FC legend returns 40 years on to sign photo for fan

Reading legend Kevin Bremner returned to the club on the final day of the season to sign a photo for super-fan Sue Symes.

Scottish striker Bremner was a key part of the 1985/86 Third Division team who won their first 13 league matches and won Player of the Season in 1986/87.

Popular for his work rate and knack for scoring important goals, he is still fondly remembered for his spell almost 40 years on.

Sue, a supporter for over four decades, reached out to the Reading Chronicle ahead of the final match of the season against Blackpool and told her feel-good story.

“My first season supporting Reading was in 1985/86, the season of 13 consequence wins,” she started. “Kevin Bremner was my favourite for his relentless energy. Kevin had commented on a Facebook page and I’ve been feeling nostalgic this year so responded to him to say I still had a picture of him gifted to me by the Reading Chronicle back in 1986.

“He asked to see it and then offered to meet and sign it 40 years on at the Blackpool game. We met in the fan zone so others could meet him too and we talked about some great memories from his Elm Park days including the 13 consecutive wins, that magical comeback from 3-0 down with 20 minutes to go to beat Plymouth 4-3, getting his right foot stitched up mid-game and how he was delighted getting Players’ Player and player of the season in 1986/7.

“He’s still got that energy I remember and it was a fantastic pre-match experience to chat to him with my family and others who joined us. I really appreciated it. My photo now has been signed by a Reading legend four decades after it was taken…quite a fitting outcome for such an emotional season”

Bremner, who travelled all the way from Kent to meet Sue and watch his old side, told the Reading Chronicle he had been hoping to get to a Royals match last season and this was a perfect fit.

“As soon as she posted the picture on Facebook I knew I had to sign it for her,” the former Millwall and Brighton forward commented. “The least I could do was come to a game and sign it for her.

“I had said a few months ago that I was hoping to get to a game before the end of the season so it all fitted together nicely.”

Bremner joined friend Simon Darvall, who he met during his playing days at Elm Park, in a longue to watch Ruben Selles’ side win 3-2.

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