In a match that had nine different scorers, Brian Howard’s scintillating second half hattrick proved to be the highlight in the Reading FC legends match
The former Reading FC midfielder capped off a flawless performance with a sumptuous curled effort into the top left corner.
The outing came as a surprise to Howard, who said: “To go out and score three goals is special.”
“It’s probably the best I’ve ever played at the Madejski to be fair. I had to give something back to the fans after they came out to watch me for so many years.”
Howard joined the Royals in September 2009 and went on to make 69 appearances in all competitions.
The box-to-box midfielder played his part in Reading’s Championship-winning campaign in 2012, vindicating a heartbreaking play-off final loss to Swansea the previous year.
“I loved my time here. I first came in under Brendan [Rodgers] and then Brian [McDermott] We had brilliant cup runs,” he reminisced.
“We had the FA Cup quarter-finals, play-off runs and then obviously won the league. To be involved in a squad that achieved all that is special.”
Before arriving in Berkshire, Howard captained Barnsley to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2008. His side defeated Liverpool and Chelsea, before falling to Cardiff at Wembley.
Howard’s last-minute winner at Anfield will live long in the memory of the Barnsley faithful, but he wasn’t done breaking Liverpool hearts.
The playmaker tasted cup success in Merseyside for a second time in 2010, this time as a Reading player, with Shane Long heading the Royals into the fourth round.
Coming back to the Select Car Leasing Stadium gave Howard and his ex-teammates the perfect opportunity to reconnect.
“A lot of us have gone on and done different things in our lives and so to come and share a pitch and dressing room together, it’s like you never left,” he said.
“The banter started immediately. I was halfway out of my car in the carpark and I was getting shouted at by Simon Church and Millsy. That goes all the way into the dressing room.”
“We made loads of special memories together and we’ve been through a lot together, so to get together again and catch up and reminisce is special. These are moments that no-one can take away from you.”
