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07:37AM, Wednesday 12 August 2026 THE highlight of a match day ought not to come on the drive home. Three mini roundabouts south of Bromley’s dinky ground you reach Biggin Hill airport. Imagine my excitement as two vast, branded, Borussia Dortmund team coaches, followed by an entourage of 10 limousines, pulled out in front of me. They were heading to Arsenal for a pre season game. Nobody expects to see European giants when you travel to watch Bromley against Reading in the first round of the Caraboa Cup, so I was quite happy to sit admiring the excessive fleet of expensive vehicles clogging up the suburbs of South London. This wonderful celebrity spotting, which even included a glimpse of Niko Kovac on the front seat of the leading team coach, and possibly Jobe Bellingham, Jude’s younger brother, a seat behind, was eclipsed the following day at Lord’s. I spent much of the afternoon trying to gain the attention of former England and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman. My main mission was to find out if he still lives in the nearby Berkshire village of Aldermaston. I was hoping for an old fashioned scoop, but sadly I can’t bring you news of where he lives with any authority. He was in a plush hospitality box I was unable to access. Celeb spotting apart, it’s been a busy few days. The Caraboa Cup win at Bromley, thanks to five expertly taken penalties, got Reading into the hat for the second round. I was keen on Plymouth (good destination to double up for a family break at the end of August), West Ham (still not been to their London Stadium) or Tottenham/Chelsea (massive clubs, and following my brush with Borussia Dortmund I feel that’s where I belong). Unfortunately Reading were rewarded with a trip to Stevenage. Hertfordshire is one of the toughest counties to sell for a family break, I’ve been to Stevenage before, and they aren’t really big time enough to excite me. We’re going to Stevenage anyway for the League 1 game on Boxing Day, so the draw didn’t set the pulse racing. The League 1 season begins this Saturday. Luton play at the SCL. The state of the pitch will be interesting. Having relaid it over the summer, the stifling weather hasn’t helped the grass growth, so no pre season games were played at the stadium. I’m reliably informed by the Reading chairman, Rob Couhig, there will be no issues come the weekend. He’s proud of the stadium and the work that’s been done to improve the playing surface, the seating, the facilities, the speaker system, the floodlights and the accessibility. It’s been a big, and expensive project, which should lead to entertainment besides just Reading football, being staged. The more income Reading FC is able to generate, the more the club is permitted to spend on enhancing the squad. On the basis most fans are hoping for a new striker and a couple of defenders before the transfer window closes, getting Harry Styles or Ed Sheeran performing on the centre circle might be the answer to all our prayers. It would also give me stronger celeb spotting anecdotes. Most read Top Articles Officers and patrol vehicles, including one police van, were spotted at the scene in Desborough Crescent this morning. The Bridge House pub is set to become a home (archive image) Plans to convert a Grade II listed pub building into a house have moved a step closer after a planning inspector approved a developer’s appeal. A collection of Union flags attached to lampposts on Maidenhead Bridge are set to removed but a councillor has warned it will be an ‘expensive and awkward’ job. © Copyright 2024 Baylis Community Media CIC All right reserved