Chris Lee is a leading Reading FC heritage collector, as well as a member of Reading FC’s Society of Collectors and Historians (SOCAH). A lifelong Royals fan, Chris dedicates himself to sharing his collections online with a popular website. His objects formed a major contribution to COLLECTED: 150 years of Reading FC, which you can visit until Saturday 13 August.
I set up the original Biscuitmen website several years ago with aim of showing snippets of Reading FC's long history illustrated with items from my memorabilia collection. Quite a niche target audience, I realise, but building the site helped me when I was recovering from illness. However, it went offline a couple of years back when the hosting company decided to do away with smaller projects such as mine, and I couldn't even transfer the content to another provider.
But I'd always intended to create another version using the original domain name of chrisdlee.com, and when Reading Museum launched a major exhibition telling the story of Reading Football Club, the timing seemed right. People have told me how much they'd enjoyed the original Biscuitmen site, so I've tried to keep the same look and feel with the new version.
My collecting story
I started collecting in the 1980s when I discovered some old Reading FC team postcards and cigarette/trade cards at collectors' fairs, which I found very appealing. I added stuff slowly over the years, but it wasn't until I started The Biscuitmen that I broadened what I collect to include team photos, old papers, scrapbooks, fixture lists, the odd medal and various other bits and pieces.
Because of my website I've had some useful contacts, with a couple of pre-war players' relatives kindly letting me have stuff. I've also been donated boxes full of relatively recent memorabilia by Reading fans, and I love going through these as you never know what you're going to find.
Researching footballing history
I've done a fair bit of research over the years looking through the old newspapers at the library and on the British Newspaper Archive site, and I've found out all sorts: from a player being accidently shot to another entering a lion's cage! I include these stories on the website using illustrations I have. I leave the financial woes or political wrangling at the club to the serious club historians.
The accidental shooting of Alf West
One of the more unusual stories I've discovered researching Reading FC over the years concerns Alf West, who spent just one season at Elm Park, skippering the team to relegation in 1910. Full-back Alf signed for us from Liverpool, and it was whilst at Anfield that he was accidentally shot! The incident occurred in 1904 while he was training for a sprint, as reported in Liverpool's programme:
Not having had much practice at starting with the pistol it was decided to adopt this method. Whilst the trainer was handling the weapon, it accidentally went off and West received a bullet under his right shoulder. He walked away some 200 yards, and then, staggering, fell into his trainer's arms. Fortunately the bullet did not penetrate the lungs, but spent itself by travelling along the outside of the ribs to the front part of the chest.
West was in a critical condition as he had actually been shot with two bullets just above the heart by trainer William Norman, who was 'naturally much upset'.
- Chris Lee
Newbigging vs the Lion
One of the strangest stories I've discovered while researching the club made the pages of the 'Reading Observer' in February 1909. Goalkeeper Alex 'Sandy' Newbigging had wagered that he would enter a den of lions, a feat he accomplished before a full house at 'Messrs. Bostock and Wombwell's Menagerie'. After stroking the lion and walking under its legs, 'Sandy' finished off by twisting the animal's tail – then legging it as quickly as he could! After collecting his wager, the Biscuit stopper declared he'd be happy to do the job every day for a similar amount.
- Chris Lee
My favourite item: the 1929/30 photo album
If I had to pick a favourite item from my collection, it would probably be this beautiful little album. The photos were cut out of the 'Berkshire Chronicle' newspaper, hand-coloured and very neatly and artistically assembled.
The 1929-30 season album (Credit: Chris Lee)
Among the players featured is fearless goalkeeper Joe Duckworth, a boyhood hero of lifelong Reading fan John Arlott. The great centre-half Alf Messer is included, as is centre-forward Arthur Bacon, who hold the club record for scoring most league goals in a game with six.
Three Reading FC players, including legendary centre-back Alf Messer (Credit: Chris Lee)
This unique item really is a lovely thing, and is a step up from your average scrapbook.
My collection is fairly modest compared to some, but it's something I enjoy and I'm very pleased with how 'The Biscuitmen' website looks!
Our enormous thanks to Chris both for sharing this blog and for his fantastic support in bringing together the exhibition. Find out more and explore stories from the Royals' past at The Biscuitmen, or visit Reading Museum before the end of Saturday 13 August to discover COLLECTED: 150 Years of Reading FC.
