During the fall of the 2019–20 season, I recall squeezing past other supporters on the terraces at Griffin Park to secure a good spot for our final visit to Brentford’s former stadium—still one of my favorite venues.
A few fans burst into song about Tom McIntyre (something about him having a big head and drinking alcohol) as I leaned against the railings, which I thought was strange considering he was injured and couldn’t play in the game.
As I looked to my left, I noticed that he was there. remained there with his parents. answering questions from fans about his return date and granting the Loyal Royals’ request for him to begin recording a song. Because of which
As everyone knows, Tom has always been a Royal. Really, the phrase “one of our own” is used a lot, but it is not wasted on him.
And now he’s gone, supposedly for just £75,000. I won’t delve into specifics about our club’s disarray, though; this transfer is just one more excellent illustration of it. I could, for sure. Rather, I want to concentrate on his time wearing a Reading shirt.
McIntyre never, ever gave anything less than his all, from his debut against Rotherham United in December 2018 to his final appearance off the bench on Saturday, when Tom Holmes rightfully gave him the captain’s armband.
To be honest, I think that understates how much he cared because every player, regardless of their support system or academy of choice, should give it their all every time they take the field. Naturally, though, with players like McIntyre—who has been with us since he was six years old—things are always different.
Unfortunately for him, he was in the first team during some of the worst years the club had ever experienced. Naturally, he had a role in that; in the end, he was a member of the team that was demoted the previous season and some of our worst-ever teams.
However, having players like McIntyre during that period, when the club-fan relationship was at its worst, has been a glimmer of hope. He has also given us some of the best moments I have ever experienced as a fan of this football team in that short period of time.
The Easter weekend of 2022 will be remembered for a very long time. First, the thrilling victory at Sheffield United in the final seconds, which truly made all of the season’s hardships—the 7-0 loss to Fulham, the early FA Cup exit to Kidderminster Harriers, etc.—worth it. It was the stuff of dreams to then follow that up with a late-game comeback against Swansea City to tie the game 4–4.
Yet during that difficult period, when the club-fan relationship was at its worst, having players like McIntyre has been a glimmer of hope. And in that time, he’s given us some of the best moments as a football club supporter that I can remember.
We will never forget that Easter weekend in 2022. The moment that truly made all of the season’s hardships—such as the 7-0 loss to Fulham and the early FA Cup exit to Kidderminster Harriers—was the last-gasp victory at Sheffield United. And to follow that up with a late-game cameo against Swansea City to tie the game 4–4 was unreal.
