Ken Price, who has died aged just 71, was already an experienced striker with a good-scoring reputation for lower division and non-league teams before he joined Reading in January 1983. Signed for £10,000 from Gillingham, where he had topped the scorers in his first full season, he made his debut for the Royals in a 1-1 home draw against Lincoln City on January 29th, 1983.

He had been recruited originally as a replacement for the injured Kerry Dixon, however with Dixon recovered and Reading relegated at the end of the season, Ken’s opportunities as a goalscorer became more and more limited. They were reduced further the following campaign after the club signed Dean Horrix and Trevor Senior. His 14 appearances in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons were restricted to a deeper role in midfield or being used as substitute. A fiercely competitive player, he joined non-league Basingstoke Town in 1985.

For Reading Ken Price made a total of 44 appearances, plus 3 as playing substitute, scoring 8 goals.

David Downs