Reading have revealed that they will name a stand at the Madejski Stadium after the hugely popular former Academy manager Eamonn Dolan, who passed away aged 48 last month.
Galway native Dolan, twin brother of former League of Ireland manager Pat, represented Ireland five times at Under-21 level while playing for West Ham United and also turned out for Birmingham and Exeter City before his playing career was cut short by cancer.
Dolan managed Exeter for a season before joining Reading as Academy manager in 2004, and was instrumental in the development of future Ireland international strikers Kevin Doyle and Shane Long from Cork City.
The club recently asked supporters for suggestions for the renaming of the North Stand and the response was overwhelming, and The Eamonn Dolan Stand will officially open on Saturday 6 August 2016 for the season opener against Preston North End.
“The tragic news of Eamonn Dolan’s passing last month sparked an overwhelming and emotional call from our fans to name the North Stand after a man who not only helped Reading Football Club achieve unparalleled success during 12 memorable years at Madejski Stadium, but who has left an indelible legacy which will last long into this club’s future,” a club statement read.
