In a time before Sundireland AFC were established and long before Mick McCarthy took over at Ipswich Town, there was another home from home for Irish players in the English football League.
Another place of sanctuary where rebel songs were surely as common as So Solid Crew tracks on the bus on the way to games.
Reading's Tory loving, Cilla Black courting chairman John Madejski looked westward in the summer of 2005 as the club sought to emerge from the swamp of the Championship.
Four Irish players were purchased by manager Steve Coppel in the off-season.
On 25 March 2006, Reading secured promotion to the Premier League following a draw with Leicester City. Reading amassed over 100 points in their charge for promotion in the 2005-06 season. They finished the season fourteen points clear of nearest rivals Sheffield United and a whopping 25 points clear of the playoff dogfight.
Kevin Doyle was virtual ever-presents that year. Doyle was close to the peak of his powers. Signed from Cork City in the summer of 2005, it was envisioned that Doyle would serve as a back-up striker. However, injuries dictated that he would enjoy a more prominent role.
He mustered an impressive 19 goals that year and made no fewer than 51 appearances. Individual awards came his way. Doyle was named Championship Fans' Player of the Season.
Stephen Hunt had been foraging in the lower leagues of English football for a bit longer. He spent four seasons at Brentford in the early noughties. He too signed for Reading that summer.
10 years ago today @stephenhunt1010, where did it all go wrong? pic.twitter.com/aaT9BTRusv
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) March 25, 2016
He made 38 League appearances, albeit being sprung from the bench for most of them, as Reading screamed past the competition, racking up the century of points.
Shane Long had surmounted the crushing disappointment of losing two successive All-Ireland minor semi-finals (though, you don't ever get over such things) to carve out the beginnings of a prosperous career across the water. Long was a substitute for most of the season, rustling up four goals from 15 appearances.
If that wasn't enough, Reading's back-up keeper that season was Dubliner Graham Stack. He was kept out of action for all bar one League game by Marcus Hahnemann
Read more: John Giles Sniffs Out More Than A Hint Of Bullshit In Hyperbole Over Dutch 'Total Football'
