Eamonn Dolan played, managed and served Eexter City in various capacities in a thirteen-year association with the club between 1991 and 2004. He was later head of Reading’s academy and briefly caretaker first-team manager. Twice stricken by cancer, Eamonn died aged forty-eight in 2106.  

Signing professionally for West Ham United in 1985, Eamonn made 15 league appearances for the Hammers scoring three times. He represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level during his time at Upton Park and also had a brief period on loan at Bristol City. Eamonn left to join Birmingham City in December 1990 but only had a dozen league outings for the Blues ahead of moving to Exeter City in September 1991 in a player-exchange deal involving Mark Cooper. 

Initially seen as a key component in Alan Ball’s re-building plans, Eamonn made his debut against Hartlepool United on 14 September 1991. Sadly Eamonn’s playing career with City was interrupted firstly by injury and later illness when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 1993. 

Forced to retire from playing, Eamonn was awarded a testimonial match against West Ham United in September 1994 and remained with City firstly as a Football in the Community Officer. He eventually moved on to become youth coach and, in October 2002, caretaker first-team manager in advance of the appointment of Neil McNab. Then, in the wake of both McNab and Gary Peters, Eamonn was appointed manager in his own right following City’s relegation from the Football League. 

Taking the reins in June 2003 Eamonn, always an extremely popular figure around the club, enjoyed a quietly successful debut season steadying the ship and almost qualifying for the play-offs. However, in September 2004, the opportunity arose to become academy manager at Reading. 

Quickly becoming an important and respected figure at the Berkshire club, Eamonn served for many years in the academy role before briefly stepping-up to act as caretaker first-team manager in 2013. Returning to the academy, Eamonn worked through until September 2015 when he again contracted cancer.  

Eamonn Dolan died, aged forty-eight, on 20 June 2016 and is remembered at Reading where the ground’s north stand is now known as the Eamonn Dolan Stand.