Club Profile
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Overview
Reading Football Club is a professional football team based in Reading, Berkshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system, and plays its home matches at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
History
The club was established on 25 December 1871 following a meeting led by Joseph Edward Sydenham, making it one of the oldest football clubs in England. In its early years, Reading played at several venues before settling at Elm Park in 1896 after turning professional in 1895. The club joined the Football League in 1920 as part of the Third Division South.
Reading achieved promotion to the Second Division in 1926 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1926–27. After losing their second-tier status in 1931, they remained in the third tier for many years, though they secured regional honours such as the Southern Section Cup in 1938 and the London War Cup in 1941.
Post-war, the club came close to promotion on several occasions, finishing as runners-up in 1948–49 and 1951–52. However, fortunes declined in the 1970s, including relegation to the fourth tier in 1971–72. A brief recovery followed with promotion in 1975–76 and a Fourth Division title in 1978–79. In 1983, a controversial proposal to merge with Oxford United as “Thames Valley Royals” was successfully blocked.
The early 1990s marked a turning point under chairman Sir John Madejski and manager Mark McGhee. Reading won the Second Division title in 1994 and came close to Premier League promotion in 1995, losing the play-off final despite leading 2–0. The club moved to a new stadium in 1998 and gradually re-established itself in the second tier.
Under Steve Coppell, Reading reached new heights, earning promotion to the Premier League in 2006. They later experienced fluctuating fortunes, including relegations and promotions, notably returning to the top flight in 2012 before dropping back again in 2013.
In more recent years, financial instability has significantly impacted the club. Points deductions for breaching financial regulations contributed to relegation from the Championship in 2023. Continued ownership issues, protests from supporters, and multiple failed takeover attempts followed, although a sale to Redwood Holdings Limited was completed in May 2025. The club remains in League One amid ongoing efforts to stabilise its situation.
Competition Performance
Reading’s most notable league achievement came in the 2005–06 season when they won the Championship title with a record-breaking 106 points, the highest total ever recorded in a professional English league season. This campaign also included 99 goals scored and only two defeats.
The club made its top-flight debut in 2006–07 and exceeded expectations by finishing eighth, which remains their highest-ever league position. They returned to the Premier League in 2012–13 but were relegated after one season.
In cup competitions, Reading’s best FA Cup runs resulted in semi-final appearances in 1926–27 and again in 2014–15. The club’s only major trophy is the 1987–88 Full Members’ Cup, where they defeated Luton Town 4–1 at Wembley, becoming one of the few lower-division sides to win the competition.
Other notable achievements include a record 13 consecutive league wins at the start of the 1985–86 season. In modern years, Reading has largely competed in the Championship and League One, with occasional promotion challenges.
Stadium
Reading played at multiple grounds during their early history, including Reading Recreation Ground, Reading Cricket Ground, Coley Park, and Caversham Cricket Ground. In 1896, they moved to Elm Park, which served as their home for 102 years.
Elm Park hosted its first match on 5 September 1896 and remained the club’s base until 1998. The final competitive game at the ground took place on 3 May 1998.
Later that year, Reading relocated to the Madejski Stadium, a modern all-seater venue built at a cost exceeding £50 million. It officially opened on 22 August 1998 with a victory over Luton Town. The stadium has since undergone expansion planning, with permission granted in 2007 to increase capacity to around 36,900.
In 2021, the stadium was renamed the Select Car Leasing Stadium as part of a sponsorship agreement. The East Stand was also renamed in honour of Sir John Madejski, reflecting his significant role in the club’s development.
Identity
Reading are commonly known as “The Royals,” a reference to Berkshire’s status as a Royal County. Historically, they were also nicknamed “The Biscuitmen” due to the town’s association with the Huntley & Palmers biscuit company.
The club’s colours are blue and white, which are reflected in their crest. The current badge features a crown symbolising Berkshire and a lion representing the town’s heritage. Over the years, the crest has undergone several redesigns, particularly around the club’s move to the Madejski Stadium in 1998.
Supporters have played an active role in the club’s identity. The Reading Football Supporters’ Club was founded in 1930, later succeeded by the Supporters’ Trust in 2002. In a unique gesture, the club once registered its fans as an official squad member, assigning them the number 13 shirt.
Recent years have also seen strong fan activism, particularly in response to ownership and financial issues, with organised campaigns calling for change at board level.
Rivalries
Historically, Reading’s fiercest rivalry was with Aldershot, largely due to geographical proximity. Although the original Aldershot club folded in 1992, tensions have persisted with its successor, Aldershot Town.
In modern times, Reading’s primary rivals are Oxford United and Swindon Town. Matches between these clubs were often referred to as the “Didcot Triangle” when all three competed in the same division.
While the rivalry with Oxford and Swindon remains significant, it is generally considered less intense than the direct rivalry between those two clubs. Nonetheless, these fixtures continue to hold importance for Reading supporters.