Bob Lenarduzzi - Reading's first Canadian player

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Our special guest is Bob Lenarduzzi, the first Canadian to play for Reading. He played in the same Reading side as Royals legends Steve Death and Robin Friday. Lenarduzzi went on to play for Vancouver Whitecaps and also played for Canada in the 1984 Olympics (as Canada reached the quarter finals) and the 1986 World Cup. He scored his first goal for Canada in a 3-0 win against the USA in the 1978 World Cup qualifiers. He went on to manage the Canadian national team and now works as club liaison officer for Vancouver Whitecaps.

Lenarduzzi chats about his fond memories of his time at Reading and how it shaped his life not just his career, joining Reading as an apprentice with Steve Hetzke, being surprised when he was told that part of his duties as an apprentice included cleaning the players' boots and cleaning the players bath, his memories of playing for Reading, the players he played with and managers he played under, playing in the same side as Robin Friday and Steve Death, how Steve Death was actually a decent outfield player, setting up one of Robin Friday's 'wonder goals', playing against Pele, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer - and the time he nutmegged Johan Cruyff.

He also chats about the current Reading side, current Royals Junior Hoilett and Deanne Rose and Bryan Adams playing and scoring in a game for Vancouver.

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