Reading FC memorabilia does not have to be something that is bought from the club shop, from outside a football ground or even a salvaged part of the old ground. Memorabilia comes in many forms. Something that you feel is important to you. It can be small or large. In this case it is something that is small and was made for me by my daughter, Kaja, who lives 600 odd miles north of here in Orkney.
Originally Kaja produced some small hanging decorative dolls to help raise money for the Stromness Lifeboat. Her partner is one of the crew. We often think of lifeboat crews as heroes, but they think of the people they help and rescue. They do not see themselves as heroes.
I admired those hand-made dolls very much. To my surprise, one day, a package dropped through the letterbox and inside was a birthday card and these two dolls. They were not dressed in lifeboat crew attire but in old Reading FC kits. They might only be 8cm tall, but in my life, they play a massive part by reminding me daily of memories of watching Reading and most important my daughter and her family all those miles away.
I only took Kaja once to watch Reading play at Elm Park……. and she hated it. When visiting her I am reminded that football and football talk is banned in her house. So, the gift of these dolls was therefore a complete surprise and delight.
This piece of memorabilia is from Peter Vickery