Reeves were formed in 1975 by a QPR fan called Terry who lived on Reeves Way, tucked just behind Molly Millars Lane industrial estate. He wanted to create an inclusive team for players of varying abilities, taking aesthetic cues from one of the most stylish football teams in the country at the time, despite the hooped shirts. The original team, with overgrown bobs and bowl cuts of the period, looked like younger versions of very good players such as Stan Bowles or Dave Clement. Today’s Reeves, with shorter fades and quiffs, only need tattoos to complete the look just as the 70’s lads needed sideboards to complete theirs, but the association with a modern day QPR is not so prestigious. Terry had an achievable vision and made it a reality, perhaps qualifying him as one of T.E. Lawrence’s ‘dreamers of the day’ who ‘act on their dreams with open eyes’ rather than merely dreaming ‘by night in the dusty recesses of their minds.’
The first half was very close, and with the scores finely balanced at 1-1 as we resumed after the break, Wokingham began to assert themselves on the game. Josh, Connor and Evan began opening up space in the attacking third to force Reeves into a defensive posture. The goals took a while to come, but were special when they did. Connor played a perfectly weighted ball through to Evan who took a steadying touch before whipping it into the top left corner. This was soon followed by an excellent second after Josh crossed in from the right and Evan diverted his run to the edge of the box to catch the ball on the half volley and send it floating into the top right corner. The Reeves manager said it was a lovely finish and tried to galvanise his players to resist rather than accept defeat. They did so spiritedly, but in the process conceded a penalty after Josh was shoved over in the box. The attacking movement and understanding was impressive. Our main striker, Harris – a Crouch-esque focal point and all round big personality – was literally on holiday. Is it a coincidence that he’s recently been tapped up by Binfield and is looking to join them?
Despite their two goals apiece, on the way home Evan and Connor were totally absorbed by their analysis of the front doors of Mays Lane and beyond. Their assessments and deliberations continued all the way home. The template/premise of their philosophy had its origin in a new door on Mays Lane. The problem, according to Connor, is that the new door doesn’t fit the old house. It’s incongruous. In his view, a shabby house should have a shabby door – that door would be a success. On the Reading Road, we noticed a house with a bright yellow door which didn’t match the rest of the house. However, there was a shed alongside the house which was also bright yellow. According to the boys, this was not acceptable but it would have been if there was also a yellow car on the drive. The door has to match the ‘spirit’ of the house somehow. One of the cars they didn’t like had a ‘Bring Back British Rail’ sticker. Would it be different if we brought back some disused stations too: Rainton Meadows, Fulbourne, Velvet Hall?
They beat their Wokingham rivals and school friends, but didn’t relish the win for those reasons. We’re not talking rivalry on the scale of Norwich v Ipswich, Iver v Iver Heath or Breckland University v The Lawrence Dugdale University of the Fens. The boys were quick to move on to other objectives, most of them to do with exterior decor or studying place names on a detailed UK map, notionally looking for places to bomb: last week it was Walton-on-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea and Kingston upon Thames: two watery outposts and a watery inpost. Coach Pete was amused but challenged them: ‘What are yous two doing? Why would you bomb them? Actually, I work in Kingston – crack on.’ Ominously for us, Connor was planning an appraisal of our (unimpressive) front door when they dropped us back. I couldn’t resist a text to ascertain the final verdict: ‘Please emphasise to Connor that he only saw our porch door. The front door proper is a rich green colour.’ The response told us we were at least partially in the clear: ‘The porch door was alright – from Connor.’ Bring on Round 3.
Wilderspool Causeway 