TERRY REARDON – A SLOUGH TOWN LEGEND

To be printed in the National League South game v Welling United Saturday 23rd November 2024

Today is all about remembering a true Slough Town legend, Terry Reardon.

Terry was a midfielder who holds the record for the most number of appearances of any player in a Slough Town shirt – an incredible 475 games.

Beginning with two goals in a 7-1 demolition of Erith in August 1964 in the Athenian League at the Dolphin. Ending in April 1981 with a defeat to Hendon at Wexham Park in the Isthmian Premier Division, as the club edged towards a title-winning season. He scored 90 goals, amongst them were some vital strikes, including two from the penalty spot against Alvechurch at the Dolphin in a tough replay in the Amateur Cup in 1970 in front of a gate of 3,768. In 1973, the clincher as Slough beat Blyth Spartans 2-1 in front of 3,500. He also represented Slough in the 1973 Amateur Cup final defeat to Walton & Hersham at Wembley in front of a 41,000 crowd.

After retiring as a player, Terry returned to Slough in the capacity of manager and set about creating a good side consisting of local players. He famously masterminded the FA Cup defeat of Millwall in the 1982/83 season with Gary Attrell scoring the winner.

GARY ATTRELL

Local lad Gary played for Slough 66 times netting 21 goals – he also played for the supporters club and still comes to home games. His most memorable one was coming on as a twenty year old and scoring the goal that knocked Millwall out of the FACup – the first time Slough had ever beaten a league club.

“I was playing for Britwell Hawks when the club got a message saying that Terry Reardon would like me to come to training at Slough Town. When i got there I was surprised to be greeted by Rod Haider and find that the all time England amateur international caps record holder was the Slough reserves manager. After playing well and scoring goals for the reserves Terry gave me my debut in November 1981, coming on as substitute for the injured Keith White in a 1-0 home defeat by Dulwich.

Terry was a great tactician and taught me a lot on the training pitch that helped improve my game and i will always be grateful to him for all of that. RIP Terry.”

KEITH ‘CHALKY’  WHITE

‘Chalky’ only ever played for Burnham then Slough making 466 appearances and scoring 87 goals. He was also in that Millwall victory side.

“All I can say about Terry is that he was the best player to ever play for Slough and a good manager. I played with Terry at Slough in midfield and he was on my back if I made mistakes. He wasn't easy to play with and was always shouting at players to knock the simple ball. Terry got a good local team together and some of them could have gone higher...He loved a drink or two after every game and enjoyed chatting to people..Terry was the best and hopefully will be remembered by all Slough Town supporters. RIP mate.”

MICK CARTER has been supporting Slough since September 1962 going to the Dolphin with his dad.

“My first memory of seeing Terry play was as an 8 year old at the Dolphin, his all action, end to end game quickly made him my new Rebels favourite, Terry had remarkable stamina and was non stop, scoring at one end then clearing at the other.

Luckily for me my dad knew Bob Gibbs (Slough player then manager) quite well and a few of the local lads in the team which was my pass into getting my programmes signed as they sat having an after match ciggie as they did in those days. Terry became my first football hero and I was known for always saying I'll be Terry Reardon in playground footy games; sadly i didn't have his talent.

I think the biggest compliment I can pay to Terry is that on first sight of Bryan Robson in a Man United game i said to my mate that used to travel up from Slough with me ‘We've got a really good one here he reminds me a lot of Terry Reardon.’ Now I mean in playing style because we didn't know at that stage that Bryan's love of a pint or three would become almost as legendary as Terry's, but his singing wasn't a patch on Tel's

In conclusion there is no doubt in my mind that Terry is the best I've ever seen in a Rebels shirt and he's right up there as one of our best managers also. For the younger Rebels that were not privileged to see him in action I hope that will give you an idea of just how good he was.

Thanks for the memories, RIP Terry.”

SIGNING ERIC YOUNG

Terry sets off for Staines Towns ground to meet their chairman to discuss the signing of Eric Young for Slough. Taking son Miles along who sat in the car while Terry went in to negotiate a deal with a signed, blank cheque from Gordon Greig (Sloughs chairman at the time) with permission to go up to two grand. So Terry says we'd like to sign Eric Young, how much do you want for him ? The reply was oh you can have him but Terry insists we must give you something for him. Their chairman says ‘Well he's run up quite a bit in fines, £25 to be exact and if you're willing to pay that off we will be happy with that!’ Terry snatches their hand off at that and sticks £25 on the table, then they speak to Eric who agrees to sign providing he gets a new pair of boots and he says I always have Puma Kings. Terry agrees to that but later finds out that Eric wears a size 16 that has to be made to order and cost more than his transfer fee! 

Despite Terry saving the club up to two grand Gordon wouldn't pay for them so I think Terry must have. So back to Miles sitting in the car , this wasn't the only time during Terry's managerial time at Slough that Miles was left hanging around as he was once left behind by the players coach at Tooting's old Sandy Lane ground. In Miles own words "Well I was dicking around playing football on that big terrace they had there" in fairness they eventually realised Miles wasn't on board and returned for him half an hour later!

PAY CUTS AFTER THE MILLWALL GAME

Terry is told that the budget is very tight and is instructed to ask the players to take a £5 a week pay cut, so he goes around each player asking them; a couple wouldn't have it but more on that later. He gets to Peter Skerrit who says - How can i take a £5 pay cut boss when I'm playing for nothing? Terry wasn't aware of that but very funny nonetheless ! Back to the players that said no i believe that could be the reason why Kevin Mitchell suddenly replaced Big Frank in goal and played against Bishop Stortford in the round after Millwall.

AWAY DAY TO SCARBOROUGH

So with the coach approaching the outskirts of Scarborough Terry tells the coach to pull up and tells the players they are going to stretch their legs out; well they did that and more after finding that Terry had underestimated the distance to the ground, something i find hard to understand because having worked with Terry I know he was a very good Estimator? However they finally arrived at the ground about 20 minutes before kick off, no warm up necessary.

STEVE NORMAN had a number of spells playing for Slough establishing himself as a first team regular. Was captain of the Slough Youth side which won the Isthmian Youth Cup in 1979.

“So many things spring to mind, from my time of both playing with Terry at 18 years old, and then playing for him as a manager. I can still see him at Wexham Park in the bar with a pint and a fag after the game.

As a player he was as competitive as they come, never suffered fools, and expected high standards all around. As a manager he gave so many local lads a chance (something pretty unique these days).

But overwhelmingly Terry's simple approach to the game, his fantastic dedication to STFC along with his coaching will always be remembered. One story I can remember is when we played away to Walthamstow on a Tuesday night. I had to drive there and travelled with Frank Parsons. The team coach got delayed but the supporters coach arrived with Terry's wife Julie on board. In the days before mobile phones the teamsheets had to be handed to the ref 30 minutes before kick-off. Without hesitation Julie picked the team and handed it to the referee, The coach arrived 15 minutes before kick off and we went out and won. That shows what a football family they really are. Have a great day Saturday, Terry deserves it, a true one of our own.”

So today is a day to say thank you for everything Terry Reardon achieved for his home town club. He Served Slough Town with Honour.

With massive thanks to Mick Carter for pulling all these stories together.