by fruits »
01 Nov 2013 14:14
I remember a game on Boxing Day 1962 against Bristol Rovers, the pitch at Elm Park was covered in snow but the ref, Ken Aston ,let the game start. Reading had a half time lead 1-0, it began to snow during half time and the ref abandoned the game after 60 minutes with us still leading 1-0. That meant no refunds were made and that the game would have to be played later. RFC probably needed the money as there was no football until the end of February, the first game we played was at home to Brighton on the 23rd February 1963 I think we took the lead four times and lost 4-5. Typical Reading,Brighton ended up being relegated to Divi 4. RFC was almost relegated we finally played Bristol Rovers at home and won 1-0, on the 8th May which was just as well as although we won our next game against Halifax away we then lost our last two games against Barnsley and Bristol City to stay up only on goal difference. The season finally ended on May 18th.
The winter of 1962–1963 (also known as the Big Freeze of 1963) was one of the coldest winters on record in the United Kingdom.[1] Temperatures plummeted and lakes and rivers began to freeze over. In the Central England Temperature (CET) record, extending back to 1659, only the winter (defined as the months of December, January and February) of 1683–84 has been significantly colder, with 1739–40 being slightly colder than 1962–63.
Unfortunately I do not know any results from the years 1659, 1683-4 or 1739-40.