Combined Counties League side Reading City have signed up legendary cult figure Dave Tarpey to join the coaching staff at The Rivermoor.
Tarpey, who fired Maidenhead United to the Vanarama National League and scored ‘that‘ viral goal for the Magpies, recently announced his retirement after rupturing his ACL playing for Marlow.
A statement on the Reading City website revealed the news that ‘Tarps’ would be joining the Cityzens: “We are thrilled to have Dave join Simon Johnson’s backroom team. His decision to join Reading City not only shows just how far we have come as a club to be able to attract one of the finest players to ever play in the local non-league scene, but his experience of playing throughout the football pyramid will help us push on and inspire our young players.”
Reading have had a difficult start to the Combined Counties League Premier Division North season sitting 17th on 14 points, last season the Cityzen’s reached the play-offs. In 2024/25 it remains early days and for City, the gap from 17th to fifth and the final play-off spot is just 10 points.
Tarpey scored 44 goals during Maidenhead’s promotion season, a haul that lead to him turning professional with Barnet and having subsequent spells with Bracknell Town, Hungerford Town and Leatherhead amongst others.
On announcing his retirement, Tarpey said: “I am gutted to be writing this but after scan results have shown I have ruptured my ACL with other ligament damage I have decided the time is right to hang up my boots.
“From starting to play football at five years old to ending at 35 I have experienced everything in football, three promotions, two ACL injuries and one fantastic FA Cup run with with some goalscoring records broken in there as well. At the age of 27 my childhood dream became a reality when I became a professional football for Barnet and that memory will live with me forever.”
