A READING FC legend returned to share his moving story, one which few fans would have fully appreciated before Tuesday night.
In a talk entitled Winning, Losing, Mental Health and Finding Balance, former Royals manager Brian McDermott detailed the highs and lows of his career and his battle with alcohol addiction.
Speaking at Blue Collar, McDermott partook in a candid Q&A with an audience including former Reading assistant manager Steven Reid and musician Danyl Johnson.
He said: “It was great, to do the talk at Reading, it was like I was amongst real friends. There was a lovely atmosphere in the room and I had a lovely evening.
“I’ve done the talk a few times, but I haven’t done it to an audience which knows the story, they don’t know my story so much, but they know the story of Reading Football Club, they knew about losing the play off final and they knew we won against [Nottingham] Forest that night. They know the story a lot better than me, a lot of the people in the room.”
McDermott joined Reading as chief scout in 2000 under the leadership of Alan Pardew. After becoming the under-19 and reserve team coach, he was appointed interim first team manager following Brendan Rodgers’ sacking in 2009.
The former Arsenal player went on to lead the Berkshire club to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Premier League by virtue of winning the Championship in 2012.
But despite the highs, McDermott struggled to balance a crippling sense of imposter syndrome with an ever-growing ego, which ultimately led to the breakdown of key relationships.
Losing the 2011 play-off final to Swansea was a particularly difficult moment for the manager, who described drinking every day for three months after the heartbreaking Wembley defeat.
But McDermott is keen to share his story and recovery to help others in similar situations.
He explained: “For me, it’s really important, it’s really empowering. The message is: you need to talk. If you need to talk and open up to people, then do it. Don’t just keep it within.
“I kept my own stuff within me for 53 years and it didn’t do me any good. If I’m having a dark day, I open up and I talk about it. I think that’s really important.”
Glen Dinning, of Blue Collar, said: “Last night was a special evening. Despite many of us knowing his era at Reading so well, Brian told his story as we’ve never heard it before. It was full of emotion and we absolutely love having him here.”
Despite only initially scheduling one night, such was the demand to hear from McDermott, Blue Collar decided to add a further two nights.
Tickets are still available for the third night, Wednesday, November 23, and cost £13.52.
For more information or to book tickets, search: Blue Collar on www.eventbrite.co.uk
