It all began in the South Bank at Elm Park. Reading FC had just been relegated from Division 3 and were doing nicely in their efforts to return at the first attempt. It was the season when Maurice Evans got sacked and Ian Branfoot took over as manager. A small band of the us used to go and watch most weeks. We would stand, as is impossible to avoid anywhere in Elm Park, by some moaners. These moaners hated Reading's brilliant left winger Dave Crown so we began to cheer him on. Then one autumn Saturday afternoon, following Dave Crown reached cult status. At home to Burnley, Reading were 1-0 down at half time after an awful first half display. Crown had come in for particular stick for our local moaners. In the second half Crowny was inspired, scoring two superb individual goals and inspiring Reading to a 5-1 win. This was all too exciting for us and a legend was born. The next significant development was when Nige turned up to the next home match with a Dave Crown T-Shirt. These became all the rage with such slogans as 'Skin Em Dave' and 'DC bites yer full back'. We became known as the DC Steamers and an anthem, composed by Nige, was sung at every opportunity. By now we are raring for a footy match - to emulate our hero on pitch. The gauntlet was thrown down in Rotherham by RAS Rovers (all at that time were travelling Reading FC supporters) and witnessed by Steve Thompson of the Evening Post. Steve Danby accepted this challenge, was interviewed by Steve Thompson and blamed everything on Nige. The team was thus assembled for the big day and supporters (including Gary Westwood and Dave Crown himself) and press arrivedin droves for the Sunday PM kick-off. Disappointingly Steamers (all in Reading shirts or something roughly the same colour) went down 5-0 but their football was a joy to watch if you needed a laugh! It was in this game that John Simmonds earned the name "Chopper" from referee Nigel Smith after a dreadful challenge on an opposing forward. A friendly against Portsmouth Poly XI followed and again we went down but only by 2-0. Then a friendly versus Hatfield Poly (Where Nige was studying). Steamers conceeded 4 but Nigel Giles (celebrating his 21st birthday) scored their first ever goal in reply. When questioned about it he said "I cannot remember much about it at all but I do remember vividly, his nightmare open goal miss from 2 yards out". Steamers finished the season of friendlies on a high with two draws - 2-2 in the return v RAS Rovers and 1-1 v Sutton Exiles. Since then, the Steamers have played in the lower divisions of the Reading Football League. Below is the final league table of the 1992/3 season.   DIVISION SIX EAST   P W D L + - Pts Woodley H Res 22 10 2 1 89 27 40 116 Exiles 22 16 3 3 88 25 36 Earley Eagles 22 16 1 5 79 26 33 Natwest 22 12 4 6 49 40 28 AE Hobbs 22 11 5 6 63 44 27 Roebuck Res 22 9 0 13 51 72 18 Kennet Valley 22 8 2 12 48 81 18 Earley Town Res 22 6 3 13 37 71 15 Cav Park B 22 6 2 14 52 52 14 Hicks Sports Res 22 5 4 13 37 54 14 TUC Res 22 5 2 15 39 93 12 DC Steamers 22 3 4 15 26 73 10