Former Reading FC player Rod Thornhill has passed away, after a battle with Alzheimer’s.
Thornhill, who was nicknamed ‘Spider’, was born in Reading and grew up in the town.
He watched Reading play as a boy. After coming through the ranks of the A Team, he played for the reserves, before making his Reading FC first team debut in 1963.
He made 221 appearances for the club, playing in every position apart from goalkeeper and scored 23 goals.
Thornhill’s career included a run of 83 successive appearances and he once scored four goals in the first 29 minutes of a league match against Watford.
He turned down offers from other clubs, as he only ever wanted to play for his own town.
In a social media post, his son Ian wrote: “Sad news to report that we have lost another ex player with my dad, Rodney Thornhill passing away on Monday after battling Alzheimer’s. He was a true legend to me and will be missed.”
