By Mark Sugar and Kevan Hall
March 1 2004

Not only was the performance of the Reading players on Saturday brilliant but also of the supporters who "Backed the Boys and Made Some Serious Noise" which had a great affect. Read what the man behind the recent change, Kevan Hall has to say post Sheffield United. Dear All

Great result at the weekend. The team were really up for it and the atmosphere responded.

There was a lot of positive comment when we handed out the songsheets. Quite a lot of people where I was in the West Stand commented that they had "never known the words".

Many also mentioned that they had been listening to comment on the radio on their way to the game so were "primed" on arrival.

On the Royal Box after the game it was good to hear people feeling so positive about the atmosphere. Thanks a lot to the Evening Post and 107 for their continuing support.

I've also had a lot of positive emails this morning.

Crowds are impossible to predict so it was great that everything came together on the day. We had some good luck with the team and the crowd both up for it - who knows (or cares) what came first - it was great. The "Blue Army" chant at the end was brilliant and really showed how we can be if we want to be. It made the hair on my neck stand up.

Big thanks to everyone who led and joined in with the singing and the volunteers who stood in the cold handing out songsheets. The player songs and chants really caught on - the anthems not yet so need to think some more about that.

Lot of comment on the web sites anticipating the next home match.

On the official site tonight there is an article from Steve Sidwell mentioning the contribution of the crowd and the "noticeably better atmosphere". Steve Coppell in his video interview says that "the crowd played a more than full part" in the success.

Best of all - apparently (reported on the web) Warnock said that the reading crowd were "hostile and made it hard for us"

A great first step but a lot more to do to keep the improvement moving.

I'd welcome your ideas on what next.

Come on URZZ.

Kevan Hall