Lucas or Tappers as he’s affectionately known joined the Cityzens ahead of the 2024/25 season and is having an impressive start to life as a Cityzen, with 14 goals in nine appearances as our Under 18s mount a challenge for the Allied Counties Youth Football League Central Division title.
It’s been an thrilling few days for Tappers as on Tuesday evening he scored five goals to continue his impressive run of form in front of goal as our youngsters beat near-neighbours Thatcham 9-0 here at the Rivermoor to move two points off the top of the table and Saturday saw him earn his well-deserved call-up to the first team in which he made a full debut.
Here at Reading City Football Club, we offer every youngster the opportunity to play first team football as they embark on their pathway to excellence and so far this season that pathway has seen so many of our youngster’s progress with Harlen Lewis signing for the first team as well as fellow youngsters Charlie Gmiterek, Reiss Baker and Finley Meikle being called up throughout the season.
Following Lucas making his full First Team debut we spoke to Under 18s Secretary, John Goodwin who had this to say on behalf of the Under 18s Management Team:
“Lucas Taplin (Tappers) making his debut for the first team is an amazing achievement.
For our boys to even play for our Under 18s is great, but to then make the step up and get a chance to be selected for the first team is an honour.
As a group, we are extremely proud and happy that he’s got the chance, but he’s made this opportunity himself, and he fully deserved to be there on merit.
It’s an honour to manage this kid, he comes in and gives his all week in week out and to be there today was a great moment for us as a management team, but most importantly, it was a great moment for Lucas himself.
I thought he played very well and worked really hard. He did really well to create the second goal for us, but his performance overall was very good and a very mature one.
It was also great to see another of our under 18s players, Reiss Baker on the bench again today.
This is a fantastic club and the integration between the Under 18s and the First Team is great for all involved and the boys haven’t looked out of place.
As part of the Under 18s Management Team, we are all very proud of the boys’ performances in Allied Counties Youth Football League so far this season, and we’re pleased how the boys are progressing and it shows that if you work hard enough, and you want it enough, anything is possible.”