BREAKING NEW: Reading FC Record Signing On ‘Frustrating’ Six-Month Stay

BREAKING NEW: Reading FC Record Signing On ‘Frustrating’ Six-Month Stay

One-time Reading record signing, Greg Halford, has revealed that he had ‘no intention’ of leaving the club after just six months.

The former defender moved to Premier League Reading in January 2007 for a reported £2.5m, a club record at the time after impressing as a youngster with Colchester United.

Struggling to break into Steve Coppell’s team, with the side riding high in the top flight after breaking the Football League points record the season before, Halford appeared just three times for the club before moving to Sunderland in June 2007.

Speaking to Under the Cosh podcast, the EFL journeyman said: “I knew I had to be patient and even if I didn’t play for the first six months, being the record-signing, I didn’t really mind. I signed a four-year deal; I knew I was going to be there for a fairly long time. It was just about fitting in. It was a new club and I’d never changed club in my life. Let’s try and learn as much as I possibly can in the first six months. It was frustrating because I wanted to play. It was hard, but at the same time, I knew that I needed to be patient and that eventually I’d get the chance and take it.

“The first home game I came on against Portsmouth as a left midfielder. We were losing the game, so he wanted me to come on to try and get the ball in the box with my throw-ins. That was my first game, I think I played 15-20 minutes.

“I didn’t want to leave. I was on holiday at the time in the Maldives and I had a call from the Director of Football, Nick Hammond. He said we had an offer from Sunderland and we’re considering it, what are your thoughts? It took me back a little bit because being the record signing, I wasn’t expecting to move any time soon.

I came back from holiday, went into the training ground to do a bit of training by myself and with James Haper and Coppell was there one day and he pulled me in and was like ‘What do you want to do?’ I was like ‘I’ve got unfinished business here. I’m your record signing, I don’t want to go anywhere.’ He was like ‘Fine. Done. We’ll stick at that.’

“A week later Nick Hammond called my agent and was like ‘We’re going to accept this; you’re going to be third choice right-back.’ As soon as he said I was going to be third choice I was on the next flight to Newcastle. Reading paid £2.5m and Sunderland offered £3.5m, and I played three games. It’s a great business deal.”

 

The 38-year-old went on to play almost 600 professional games for the likes of Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United, but now plays for non-league Hashtag United.