Remember this? August 2003

August 16th, 2003. Reading v Nottingham Forest. First home game of the season and expectations were high among both supporters and the Back the Boys team for differing reasons.

The close season had seen an almost endless debate on the internet forums on the playing of music after goals, some of it became very intense and at one stage the BTB team were considering a police escort to the first match against Forest!

There was never any question that following on from the previous season that we'd play a clip of music after a goal - especially after Pards himself approved of the decision at a Fans Forum. Now the only question on the lips of many fans was which tune? For that they would have to wait for the first goal - or so you would think.

The game was barely two minutes into the second half when The Amateur (now you know why he's is so regularly referred to as such!) was cueing up the relevant track in anticipation of a goal at some stage. With headphones on and in a world of his own, Croucher knocked the play button.

Panic ensued as the Producer suddenly realised that Croucher's deft touch had resulted in a burst of Tom Hark to the 16,000 supporters. Croucher failed to realise his error until ironic cheers filled Madejski Stadium. The track was quickly halted but by then the damage was done. The crowd were treated to a sneak preview and laughed in the direction of the BTB office. Croucher went as red as Sidwell's hair!

However, almost as if spurred on by this catastrophe of monumental proportions the flame haired midfielder Sidwell just two minutes later put in a request to hear the clip in full as he let rip with a clinical finish from outside the box to send the supporters wild. Cue the real Tom Hark.

The effect was awesome. The majority of Reading fans were soon joining in with the hypnotic-like chorus. With two further goals and a performance of Premiership standard the Tom Hark theme tune after goals established itself well and truly with the Reading public.

But the question remains, do the fans now see Croucher's balls up as history? Of course not! That's one of the reasons behind this website - to openly admit the errors of our way and to explore the humour of an otherwise fantastic job as PA announcer at a top football club.

We didn't hear any negative feedback on this, though at the time Croucher was certainly left with the words P45 embedded in his mind. Maybe this cock-up did spur the Royals onto an emphatic victory, who knows! But rest assured, Croucher wasn't let near the play button for quite a while after.