Reading FC 0-2 Everton FC
The road trip to and from Reading yesterday was thankfully uneventful and Angie drove like a seasoned professional. The countryside along the M4 is beautiful with rolling hills dotted with sheep and horse farms. We didn’t make it to Bath this time but we look forward to more time on the road so we can see more of the UK’s natural beauty….and of course, the footy.

Reading’s Madejski Stadium has a little over 24,000 capacity and some very passionate supporters. Shame we didn’t feel any of that passion yesterday, as it was the Everton supporters that stole the show. We sat at the very edge of the Reading supporter’s section only feet away from Everton’s traveling contingent, some of the most boisterous fans you’ll ever encounter. They filled the stadium with song and didn’t give the Reading fans or the Reading team much of a chance to have an influence on the match. The visiting Everton side left town with all 3 points with a goal from striker Andy Johnson in the 14^th minute setting the tone for the rest of the match with Reading never looking like they came to play. Another goal just after half-time put the match away and sent the away fans into spirited song, singing “jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way; oh, what fun it is to see Everton win away, hey!” The match was of particular interest to us because each team had an American goalkeeper, Tim Howard of Everton and Marcus Hahnemann of Reading. After the match, the Everton supporters were chanting “USA!, USA!, USA!” in honor of Howard as he tossed his jersey into the stands.