Reading FC academy graduate Tom Holmes said a heartfelt goodbye to the fans after making his final appearance for the club in a 3-2 win over Blackpool
Holmes made his final appearance for the Royals having come off the bench in the second-half which ends a 16-year association with the club.
Having joined the club as a boy, Holmes graduated through the Royals academy and departs the club to join Luton Town having made more than 130 first-team appearances.
“I want to say thank you to the fans, not just for today (Saturday), but for my whole time at Reading,” said Holmes
“Thank you to the staff that allowed me to have that moment, I thought over the past couple of weeks that it might not turn out that way so fortunately we managed to get the win and I managed to get on so I’m full of emotions.
“There was a big roar (from the crowd) which I didn’t really expect. It was packed out, which I wish it could be more. That will stay with me forever.
“There’s been loads of emotions which sums up my time at Reading, loads of ups and loads of downs.
“Especially when I saw my family and friends and loved ones who know how much I’ve given to the club and the commitment I’ve made.”
Despite leaving for the Hatters, Holmes will be keeping a close eye on his boyhood club in the future and is looking forward to going back to being a fan.
He continued: “It’s nice I can just go back to being a fan again. Any chance I have to come to games, I’ve been there (Club 1871 stand) a few times this season.
“The fans have had a very stressful year, a very stressful last few years.
“16 years (at the club, there were quite a few tears. I’ll always be a Reading fan, it’s all I know so they will forever be in my heart and I can’t rule out coming back at some point.
“I’ve spoken a lot with TMac (Tom McIntyre) and about the way he left and he’s upset he didn’t get to have a moment like I got to have today so I’m very, very grateful for that.
“You could say it’s somewhat the end of an era, we were the last generation of Eamonn Dolan’s influence so it was fitting to have a moment in front of the Eamonn Dolan stand to credit all of his work.”
