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"We always knew it was going to come to an end"

Speaking for the first time since being axed from Reading FC, former captain Graeme Murty remains stoic about the club's decision. Read excerpts from the interview, have your say and download the podcast below.

Graeme Murty remains chirpy

Graeme Murty comes in every week on the Andrew Peach breakfast show to talk about Reading FC. On Tuesday 19 May 2009 he came in for the first time since being axed from the team.

Read the Sport Online story here:

BBC Sport: Reading axe Murty and Hahnemann >

"The fans stay, the stadium stays, hopefully the club stays and goes from strength to strength, but players come to the end of their tenure."
Graeme Murty

Read excerpts from his chat with Andrew and listen to the full interview via the podcast download link below.

How were you feeling on Friday?

"Going between anger and resignation and humour.

"It kind of came to head on Saturday when Karen went out for a hen do and my father-in-law said 'come, we'll go play golf and cheer you up'. Somebody hit me with a golf ball! I looked up at the sky and thought 'kick a man when he's down why don't you!'"

Did you see it coming?

"I kind of saw it coming, my agent and I discussed it, Karen and I discussed it. YOu kind of hope you'd done enough and they want you enough to keep you around, but obviously it just didn't work out that way."

Murty joined the club in 1998

Did you sense the writing on the wall because you've been injured and hadn't been playing?

"Yeah. Pretty much this year has been out of my control. I think if I'd have been fit and able to contribute as I wanted to then it might have been different.

"Having said that, Marcus Hahnemann and Michael Duberry have both been asked to leave as well, and I think if I was in their situation I think I'd be a lot more angry than I am now.

"I'm a little bit resigned to the fact that I haven't really covered myself in glory this year."

Is this an age thing or do they want to reduce the size of the squad?

"I don't think it's that, they're going to have to bring players in to replace those players, the new manager is going to want to bring his players in.

"That was the surprising thing in some regards that it wasn't done by a manager, it was done without a manager being in place.

"That surprised Marcus and it definitely surprised me but I just think they'd decided it was time for a new start and a new approach."

How do you find out that you're not going to be playing for Reading any more?

"You sit in an office with Nicky Hammond (director of Reading FC) and then he tells you in about two sentences.

Murty: a fan's favourite

What did he say?

'We think it's time for a change'.

What did you say?

'Fair enough'! What can you say? You know it's not personal, it's just football. Nobody died."

You say that now with a couple of sleeps under your belt, is that really how you felt at the time?

"Yep. Football isn't personal, it's all about the decision that's best for the club.

"Footballers are the most transient part of a football club, they come in, they do the job and they go.

"I've been here to see lots and lots of very good players leave the club.

"The fans stay, the stadium stays, hopefully the club stays and goes from strength to strength, but players come to the end of their tenure at the club, and that's what happens.

"If you're fortunate as I've been, you have some success. But we always knew it was going to come to an end."

Download this week's Graeme Murty podcast here:

Graeme Murty podcast >

last updated: 19/05/2009 at 12:24
created: 19/05/2009

Have Your Say

Send in your comments about Graeme Murty here

george potten
Why o why, would it not have been a good idea to keep murty on even in a coaching team because of his experience,for one more season even graeme has given a big chunk of his life to the club i can only sit and see how sad this will be not only for the fans that loved him but the chairman that wanted a good family club, graeme gave the image to the people that support the club. Will i still go no i do not think i will now not just because of the way graham and marcus were treated, nick needs to look at his future as a director if he can just wipe his feet in this way nick you have lost two good assets that could have given your new manager a good start.

ken
i known him since he came to reading the man is just a gentleman one of only players for real time for the fans and i worked with him and the team so sad good luck to you

paul east stand ff 157
good luck graeme,we missed a leader all season thats where you would have been.hopefully you will be back in the future at the club.we as a club have had few legends but you stand tall with those men.all the best to you and your family

Matt
I'm gutted. I'm going to be out the country for the testimonial as well so I can't even see my favourite player for one last time. Good luck to Graeme, he is a legend

Hazel and Kenzie (supporters in East stand)
Graeme we will miss you greatly, a great leader and ambassador for reading football club, a great captain who we have missed badly this season. We will have always have those great football memories all the ups and downs over the last few years. It was a pleasure to meet you off the pitch, patienty signing autographs for us and letting us take pictures. I will miss your positivity, honesty and great banter on a Monday morning with Peachy and the crew, no matter what the score was on Saturday you turned up and spoke from your heart. Looking forward to your testimonial match, coming once again to support and thank you and the team. Good luck to you and Karen. Both of you a huge loss to Reading football club.

Hazel
Such a shame. I'm not a lover of football, but have a great deal of time for Graeme - an articulate and interesting young man. So very different from the usual gruntings we get from the more famous players.

Daniel W-M
The guy is a legend. Good luck Graeme.

Christine
Just to say a big THANK YOU for what you have done for Reading FC and Best wishes to you and your family in the future

Gavin Rowell
I would just like to thank Graeme for everything thing he has done done for RFC since he has been at the has been at the club and I wish him well for the future. Perhap he could join Parky at Charlton or apply for the RFC managers job. Murts has been and still is my fav player.Good Luck Murts and to Marcus and Doobs too.Gav

mick o'neill
i have known graeme for a long time now and as a season ticket holder for many years he has always been a true ambassador for reading fc. I would put him and steve coppell in the same category ( sincere and honest people).Off the playing field Graeme and his wife Karen are two of the nicest people you could wish to meet,often, when graeme lived in thatcham i would bump into him in tesco's in newbury, and he always had time to speak to you, and we used to share the same chiropractisioner in thatcham. There support for local charities and local football has always been unquestionable. good luck to graeme,karen and family for the future . Best wishes & Kind regards, Mick O'Neill (ex afc newbury youth manager)

Daniel W-M
The guy is a legend. Good luck Graeme.

Melanie
I would just like to say thanks for the last 10 years,you have been a dedicated captain and when you are not on the pitch the team lack direction. You are a true proffessional and have never let the club down. Reading lost is another teams gain and I want to wish you and your family all the best for the future and hope to see you back at the club soonx

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