Reading F.C.
168007
225193932
2008-07-12T11:32:49Z
211.28.205.147
Emerse Faé out on loan
{{Infobox Football club
| clubname = Reading F.C.
| current =
| image = [[Image:Reading badge.png|150px|Reading logo]]
| fullname = Reading Football Club
| nickname = The Royals
| shortname =
| founded = 1871
| ground = [[Madejski Stadium]]<br>[[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]
| capacity = 24,161
| chairman = {{flagicon|England}} [[John Madejski]]
| mgrtitle = Manager
| manager = {{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Coppell]]
| league = [[Football League Championship|The Championship]]
| season = [[Premier League 2007-08|2007–08]]
| position = [[Premier League]], 18th <br>(relegated)
| pattern_la1=_white_hoops|pattern_b1=_whitehoops|pattern_ra1=_white_hoops|leftarm1=4169E1|body1=4169E1|rightarm1=4169E1|shorts1=4169E1|socks1=4169E1|
| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=CC6600|body2=CC6600|rightarm2=CC6600|shorts2=3333CC|socks2=CC6600|
}}
'''Reading Football Club''' are an [[association football]] club, based in the [[England|English]] town of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], in [[Berkshire]]. They will play in the [[Football League Championship|The Championship]] in the 2008-09 season after being relegated on the final day of the season. When Reading gained promotion to the Premier League, on [[25 March]] [[2006]], they achieved promotion to the top flight earlier in the season than any other post-war side, and also gained the highest points tally ever attained in any of England's four professional divisions. It was also the first time Reading had reached the top division in their history.<ref>{{cite news | title=Leicester 1-1 Reading. They gained 106 points, a record, beating Sunderland's previous record.| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4819702.stm | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | date=[[2006-03-25]] | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref>
They are nicknamed the '''Royals''', due to Reading's location in the [[Berkshire|Royal County of Berkshire]]. The crest design is based on the club colours, a crown which in heraldry represents royal sovereignty for the [[County of Berkshire]] and a lion which is an image of Reading's most famous landmark, the [[Maiwand Lion]]. Consequently, Reading's [[mascot]] is a lion called [[Kingsley Royal]].
Reading supporters are represented by ''STAR'', the [[Supporters Trust At Reading]].
==History==
===The early years===
Reading were formed in 1872. They were originally nicknamed ''The Biscuitmen'' after one of the main trades in the town, [[Huntley & Palmers]] biscuits, but changed to the '''Royals''' in the 1970s, when the company closed their factory<ref>{{cite news | title=The History of Reading Football Club | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10306,00.html | work=readingfc.co.uk|}}</ref>. This history is reflected in the name of the club's unofficial fanzine, [[Hob Nob Anyone?]], named after a popular British biscuit.
The club played at Reading Recreation Ground until 1878, before moving on to Reading Cricket Ground (1878–1882), [[Coley Park]] (1882–1889) and [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]] Cricket Ground (1889–1896).
===The Elm Park years===
The switch to professionalism in 1895 resulted in the need for a bigger ground and, to this end, the club moved again, to the purpose-built [[Elm Park (stadium)|Elm Park]] on [[5 September]] [[1896]]. Elm Park had a capacity of 15,500.
In 1913 Reading toured [[Italy]] and beat [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]] 4-2 and [[A.C. Milan]] 5-0, narrowly lost 2-1 to [[A.S. Casale Calcio|Casale]], before beating Italian champions [[U.S. Pro Vercelli Calcio|Pro Vercelli]] 6-0 and the full [[Italy national football team|Italian national team]] 2-0, prompting the leading sports newspaper [[Corriere della Sera]] to write "without doubt, Reading FC are the finest foreign team seen in Italy." Reading were invited back for another tour the following year, but there is no evidence it took place. It is possible it was cancelled due to the imminence of [[World War I]], which claimed the lives of many Reading F.C. players, including [[Alan Foster (footballer)|Alan Foster]], who put a hat-trick past Milan.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Reading FC Tour of Italy 1913 | year=2002 | month=November | url=http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/news/features/italiantour.htm | accessdate=2006-08-22}}</ref>
Reading were elected to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] of the [[The Football League|Football League]] in 1920, and have spent the majority of the time since then in the third tier of the league, with occasional flirtations with the second and fourth tiers.
Reading's best performance in the [[FA Cup]] came in [[1926-27 in English football|1926–27]] when they lost to eventual winners [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in the semi-final. The side's moment of cup glory came in 1988 when they won the [[Full Members Cup|Simod Cup]], beating a number of top flight sides en-route to their [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] win over [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]].
Reading were promoted to the Second Division as champions in 1986 under the management of [[Ian Branfoot]], but were relegated back to the Third Division in 1988. Branfoot left in October 1989, having failed to get the Royals back into the Second Division. His successor, [[Ian Porterfield]], lasted just 18 months before further failures cost him his job. The appointment of [[Mark McGhee]] as player-manager in June 1991 saw Reading move forward.
They were crowned champions of the new Division Two in 1994 and, when McGhee moved to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] halfway through the following season, Reading still appeared in with a chance of a second straight promotion. 35-year-old [[striker]] [[Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)|Jimmy Quinn]] was put in charge of the first team alongside midfielder [[Mick Gooding]] and guided Reading to runners-up in the final Division One table — only to be denied automatic promotion because of the streamlining of the Premier League, from 22 teams to 20. Reading had eased past [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in the play-off semi-finals and looked to have booked their place in the Premiership after building up a 2-0 lead over [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] by half time in the final. Two late goals from Bolton forced extra time and the match ended 4-3 to Bolton. Quinn and Gooding's contracts were not renewed two years later after Reading had slid into the bottom half of Division One.
Their successor, [[Terry Bullivant]], lasted less than one season before being sacked in March 1998. The Royals finished that season bottom of Division One and slipped into Division Two.
===Move to Madejski Stadium===
1998 also saw Reading move into the new 24,200-seat [[Madejski Stadium]] — named after chairman John Madejski — in the Smallmead area of the town.
Former [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] boss, [[Tommy Burns (footballer)|Tommy Burns]] had taken over from Terry Bullivant but lasted just 18 months before being replaced by [[Alan Pardew]] who had previously been reserve team manager before being released.
In 2001, Reading became the first football club to register their fans as an official member of their squad, in recognition of the fact that the supporters in the stadium on a match day can sometimes influence the match just as much as a player on the pitch. The idea came from supporter Andy Manson in the summer of 2001 when the number 13 was left vacant by then boss Alan Pardew after the departure of the club's number 13, Keith Scott. Since then the "player" registered with squad number 13, has been named '[[Reading Fans]]'.<ref>{{cite news | title=Loyal Royals' number is up! | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~80641,00.html | work=readingfc.co.uk | date=[[2001-08-06]] | accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Fans given thumbs up for Number 13 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~81990,00.html | work=readingfc.co.uk | date=[[2001-08-09]] | accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref>.
Reading made it back to Division One in 2002 after finishing runners-up in Division Two. Good form the following season saw them finish fourth in Division One and qualify for the [[play-off]]s. Their promotion hopes were ended by a defeat against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in the semi-finals, Reading's third unsuccessful attempt to gain promotion via the play-offs. Pardew acrimoniously moved to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] the following October and was replaced at Reading by [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]'s [[Steve Coppell]].
In 2004–05, Reading finished seventh in the [[Football League Championship]] and just missed out in the play-offs.
===Reading reach the Premiership===
{{main|Reading F.C. season 2005-06}}
On [[25 March]] [[2006]], Reading won promotion to the [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] for the first time in their history. A 1-1 draw away at Leicester, coupled with [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]'s defeat against [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], and [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] only drawing with [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]], secured Reading one of the top two automatic promotion places in the [[Football League Championship|Championship]]. [[Member of Parliament|MPs]] congratulated Reading's successful season with two [[early day motion]]s shortly after Reading finally secured promotion.<ref>{{cite web | title=Early Day Motion 1902 | url=http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=30379&SESSION=875 | date=[[2006-03-27]] | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Early Day Motion 1911 | url=http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=30388&SESSION=875 | date=[[2006-03-28]] | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref> The following week, they celebrated winning the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] after defeating [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] 5-0, while Stoke City held [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield Utd]] 1-1<ref>{{cite news | title=Reading 5-0 Derby | date=[[2006-04-01]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4842672.stm | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref>. This sparked a [[pitch invasion]] and the players celebrated in front of the fans from the safety of the directors' box.
The Club also secured a record number of points for the second tier — 106 — and fell only one short of scoring 100 goals. Reading lost only two games during the season.<ref>{{cite web | date=[[2006-07-11]] | url=http://stats.football365.com/2006/ENG/D1/overview.html | title=Championship Table 2005-06 | publisher=[[football365]] | accessdate=2007-06-25}}</ref>
===First Premier League season - 2006–07===
{{main|Reading F.C. season 2006-07}}
The [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]] season saw Reading make their first appearance in the top flight of English football. In the club's first Premiership game, Reading found themselves down 2-0 inside the first twenty minutes to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], but in a stunning turnaround the Royals netted home their first Premiership goals and won 3-2. Striker [[Dave Kitson]] became the first player to score for Reading in the top flight of football.<ref>{{cite news | title=Reading 3-2 Middlesbrough | date=[[2006-08-19]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4786631.stm | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2006-08-22}}</ref> While it is commonplace for teams who get promoted to the Premiership to experience a ''one-and-done'' season before being relegated, Reading distanced themselves from that curse (rather like fellow promoted clubs in the past, e.g. [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] and [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]), scoring against every team in the division bar Watford.
Reading notched up some impressive results during the early stages of the season, including draws against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and a narrow 1-0 home defeat to defending champions [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], leading many commentators to change their opinion of the Premiership's newest member.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2006-08-13]] | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1843663,00.html | title=This way to Euro glory | work=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=2006-12-23 | author=[[Paul Wilson]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date=[[2006-10-08]] | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1890162,00.html | title=A Royals apology, but don't wait to see what's around the corner | work=[[The Guardian]] | accessdate=2006-12-23 | author=[[Paul Wilson]]}}</ref>
Perhaps one of the highlights of the season came on [[1 January]] [[2007]], when Reading beat [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] 6-0.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-01-01]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6205803.stm | title=Reading 6-0 West Ham | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-02-13}}</ref> It represents the club's first 'double' in the top flight, as Reading had won at [[Boleyn Ground|Upton Park]] 1-0 previously in the season. The 2-0 victory over [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on [[3 February]] [[2007]]<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-02-03]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6305413.stm | title=Man City 0-2 Reading | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-02-13}}</ref> took Reading to 40 points in the Premiership, the total seen by some as that required to avoid relegation. After that impressive start to 2007, the Royals recorded three defeats in quick succession to Middlesbrough, to Manchester United in an FA Cup Fifth Round replay, and to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. [[John Oster]] scored his first Premiership goal for the club against Middlesbrough, and his first goal in the top flight since scoring for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in the club's 4-2 win over [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] in September 1997. The FA Cup replay against Manchester United was notable in that Reading contrived to concede three goals in the opening six minutes of the game. The final score was 3-2 to Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-02-27]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6397219.stm | title=Reading 2-3 Man Utd | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> Reading's final game of the season was an away fixture to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], which ended 3-3 from which Reading came from behind three times, with goals from [[Seol Ki-Hyeon]], [[Kevin Doyle]] and [[Brynjar Gunnarsson]].<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-05-13]] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6627755.stm | title=Blackburn 3-3 Reading | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> The result was not enough for qualification for the [[UEFA Cup]] for the [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]] season as it meant that Reading finished the season in eighth place with 55 points. Reading also turned down the chance to play in the [[Intertoto Cup]] meaning it was passed down to Portsmouth, who also rejected it, passing it to Blackburn who accepted the offer. The club's top scorer in the league was Kevin Doyle with 13 goals, while top scorer overall was [[Leroy Lita]] with 14.
===Second Premier League Season - 2007–08===
{{main|Reading F.C. season 2007-08}}
In the run up to their second season in the Premier League, Reading took part in the 2007 [[Peace Cup]] in [[South Korea]]. After defeat to [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] and victories over [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]] and [[Shimizu S-Pulse]], Reading failed to qualify for the final on goal difference<ref> {{cite news | date=[[2007-07-19]] | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/07/11/tim_skorea_diary_feature.shtml | title=Peace Cup diary | publisher=[[BBC Berkshire]] | accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>.
The season began in earnest on [[12 August]] [[2007]], with an away fixture against champions [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], in which the match ended in a scoreless draw, with substitute [[Dave Kitson]] being sent off after less than a minute for a challenge on [[Patrice Evra]]. On [[15 August]] [[2007]] Reading's first home game of the season finished with a 1-2 defeat to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. Reading's goal scorer was Andre Bikey, slotting home, after Peter Cech dropped the ball from a cross.
On [[29 September]] [[2007]], Reading were beaten by [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] 7-4 in a thrilling game, with goals from [[Hermann Hreidarsson]], [[Sean Davis (footballer)|Sean Davis]], [[Niko Kranjcar]], [[Sulley Muntari]] and a [[Benjani Mwaruwari|Benjani]] hat trick for Portsmouth and for Reading; [[Dave Kitson]], [[Liam Rosenior]],<ref>{{cite news | date=[[2007-10-30]] | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1124621,00.html | title=Rosenior is given Pompey goal | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref> [[Nicky Shorey]] and [[Shane Long]]. This result also holds the Premiership record for the highest aggregate score of 11 goals in one game.
On [[8 December]] [[2007]], Reading defeated [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] 3-1 at home, notching their first win ever against one of the "Big Four" English clubs (Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United). The goals were scored by Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle and James Harper.
However, Reading were unable to keep up this form throughout the season, and entered May in 17th place - just one point and one place clear of relegation with 3 games to go.
Despite winning against Derby in their final match of the season by four goals to nil, Reading were unable to affect their relegation to The Championship. [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] won against Portsmouth to escape relegation.
===Return to the Championship - 2008–09===
{{main|Reading F.C. season 2008-09}}
==Records==
Reading hold the English league record for the longest winning sequence at the start of a season with 13 victories in succession at the beginning of season [[1985-86 in English football|1985–86]].
In 1979, Reading [[goalkeeper (football)|goalkeeper]] [[Steve Death]] went 1103 minutes without conceding a goal, also an English league record.
They also hold the embarrassing honour of having experienced more [[FA Cup]] defeats than any other team. This is because Reading are the oldest club still competing in the competition never to have won the Cup. [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] entered the competition at the same time as Reading, in [[1877-78 in English football|1877–78]]. However, because County won the cup in [[1893-94 in English football|1894]] (and so were unbeaten in that season), they have suffered one fewer defeat in the competition than Reading. In the year that County won the Cup, Reading suffered their worst ever defeat, losing 18-0 to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], at least partly because the Preston players used studs on their quagmire of a pitch.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
During their successful [[2005-06 in English football|2005–06]] Premiership promotion campaign, Reading broke another record when they went 33 matches unbeaten, the longest in the history of England's second tier, from [[9 August]] [[2005]] until they lost to Luton Town on [[17 February]] [[2006]]. In the same season, Reading broke [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]'s record for most points in a season in English football history, finishing with 106 points, and breaking the previous record by a single point.<ref>{{cite news | title=Reading 2-1 QPR | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4933632.stm | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | date=[[2006-04-30]] | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref> Reading narrowly failed to become the first team to finish a season with both 100 goals and 100 points, but fell short by one goal, scoring "only" 99 times.<ref>{{cite news | title=We can be ton up kings - Doyle | url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/2001/2001253/we_can_be_ton_up_kings__doyle | work=getreading.co.uk | date=[[2006-04-18]] | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref>
Reading staked its claim to one of English football's more unlikely records in the [[FA Cup]] competition of its fledgling Premiership campaign. Having reached the 5th round of the competition for the first time in nearly a decade, Reading secured a creditable 1-1 draw with [[Manchester United]] at Old Trafford, only to concede three goals in the first 5 minutes and 41 seconds of the replay, eventually losing the game 3-2. The Independent suggests that this represents the worst ever start to a game by a team in English football,<ref>{{cite news | title= 'It is not often there is honour in defeat' says proud Coppell | url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2311357.ece | publisher=The Independent | date=[[2007-02-28]] | accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> superseding the three goals conceded by [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] in the first nine minutes of their home Premiership match with [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in 1997–98.
===Club records===
* Best win: 10-2 v [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] ([[4 September]] [[1946]], [[Football League Third Division]])
* Worst defeat: 18-0 v [[Preston North End]] ([[27 January]] [[1894]], [[FA Cup]] R1)
* Most successive league defeats: 8 (27 December 2007 to 24 February 2008)
* Most capped player (while at Reading): [[Ívar Ingimarsson]] (18 [[Iceland national football team|Icelandic]] caps)
* Most league appearances: [[Martin Hicks]] (500, 1978 to 1991)
* Most league goals: [[Ronnie Blackman]] (158, 1947 to 1954)
* Most league goals in a season: [[Ronnie Blackman]] (39, [[1951-52 in English football|1951-52]])
* Record transfer fee paid: £2.5m [[Emerse Fae]] from [[Nantes]]<ref>{{cite news | title=Fae joins for club record fee | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1083650,00.html | date=[[2007-08-02]] | accessdate=2007-08-03}}</ref>
* Record transfer fee received: £2,500,000 (could rise to £3m) [[Greg Halford]] to [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] on [[11 June]] [[2007]]
* First Reading-based player to play in World Cup: U.S. international [[Bobby Convey]] (2006)
===National records===
* Longest winning sequence at the start of a season: 13 victories in [[1985-86 in English football|1985–86]].
* Longest run in the football league without conceding a goal: 1103 minutes, over 11 matches between [[24 March]] [[1979]] and [[18 August]] [[1979]] (Steve Death was the goalkeeper throughout this run<ref>{{cite web | title=Royals Legends - Steve Death | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LegendsDetail/0,,10306~68590,00.html | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref>)
* The first of the clubs who joined the [[The Football League|Football League]] in 1920–22 to score 5000 League goals. [[Adrian Williams]] scored the 5000th against Wycombe in September 2000 but, due to a miscalculation, the framed certificate went to [[Darius Henderson]] who got the 5001st
* Longest unbeaten run in a single season of the 2nd tier of English Football: 33 games ([[2005-06 in English football|2005–06]])
* Most points in a single season in any English professional league: 106 points ([[2005-06 in English football|2005–06]])
* Reading have lost the two highest scoring matches in the history of the [[Premier League]]; [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] 7 Reading 4, [[29 September]] [[2007]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur]] 6 Reading 4, [[29 December]] [[2007]]. Both matches took place in the same season.
==Current squad ==
:<small>''Last updated: 17:47, 6 July 2008 (UTC)''</small>
{{football squad start}}
<!-- For help using the below template, please see [[Template talk:Football squad player]] -->
{{fs player | no= 1 | nat=USA | pos=GK | name=[[Marcus Hahnemann]]}}
{{fs player | no= 2 | nat=SCO | pos=DF | name=[[Graeme Murty]] [[Image:Captain sports.svg|14px]]}}
{{fs player | no= 3 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=[[Nicky Shorey]]}}
{{fs player | no= 4 | nat=MLI | pos=MF | name=[[Kalifa Cissé]]}}
{{fs player | no= 5 | nat=SEN | pos=DF | name=[[Ibrahima Sonko]]}}
{{fs player | no= 6 | nat=ISL | pos=MF | name=[[Brynjar Gunnarsson]]}}
{{fs player | no= 8 | nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=[[Leroy Lita]]}}
{{fs player | no= 9 | nat=IRL | pos=FW | name=[[Kevin Doyle]]}}
{{fs player | no=10 | nat=IRE | pos=MF | name=[[Stephen Hunt (Irish footballer)|Stephen Hunt]]}}
{{fs player | no=12 | nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=[[Dave Kitson]]}}
{{fs player | no=15 | nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=[[James Harper (footballer)|James Harper]]}}
{{fs player | no=16 | nat=ISL | pos=DF | name=[[Ívar Ingimarsson]] | other=[[Vice-captain (football)|vice captain]]}}
{{fs player | no=17 | nat=USA | pos=MF | name=[[Bobby Convey]]}}
{{fs player | no=18 | nat=NGA | pos=DF | name=[[Sam Sodje]]}}
{{fs player | no=19 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=[[Liam Rosenior]]}}
{{fs player | no=22 | nat=CMR | pos=DF | name=[[André Bikey]]}}
{{football squad mid}}
{{fs player | no=24 | nat=IRL | pos=FW | name=[[Shane Long]]}}
{{fs player | no=25 | nat=IRL | pos=DF | name=[[Alan Bennett (Irish footballer)|Alan Bennett]]}}
{{fs player | no=28 | nat=CZE | pos=MF | name=[[Marek Matějovský]]}}
{{fs player | no=29 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=[[Michael Duberry]]}}
{{fs player | no=30 | nat=MLI | pos=MF | name=[[Jimmy Kébé]]}}
{{fs player | no=32 | nat=AUS | pos=GK | name=[[Adam Federici]]}}
{{fs player | no=33 | nat=ENG | pos=DF | name=[[Scott Golbourne]]}}
{{fs player | no=34 | nat=ENG | pos=MF | name=[[James Henry (footballer)|James Henry]]}}
{{fs player | no=35 | nat=SCO | pos=DF | name=[[Alex Pearce]]}}
{{fs player | no=36 | nat=DEN | pos=GK | name=[[Mikkel Andersen]]}}
{{fs player | no=37 | nat=ENG | pos=FW | name=[[Hal Robson-Kanu]]}}
{{fs player | no=39 | nat=WAL | pos=FW | name=[[Simon Church]]}}
{{fs player | no=40 | nat=TUR | pos=MF | name=[[Jem Karacan]]}}
{{fs player | no=42 | nat=AUS | pos=MF | name=[[Oliver Bozanic]]}}
{{fs player | no=43 | nat=ISL | pos=FW | name=[[Viktor Illugason]]}}
{{fs player | no=44 | nat=IRL | pos=MF | name=[[Scott Davies (Irish footballer)|Scott Davies]]}}
{{football squad end}}
===Players out on loan===
{{football squad start}}
{{fs player | no=20 | nat=CIV | pos=MF | name=[[Emerse Faé]] | other=to [[OGC Nice|OGC Nice]]}}
{{fs player | no=41 | nat=ENG | pos=GK | name=[[Ben Hamer]] | other=at [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] until the end of the [[2008–09 in English football|2008–09]] season}}
{{football squad end}}
==Club officials==
'''Board of Directors''' & '''Senior club staff'''
*[[Chief executive officer|Chief Executive]] - [[Nigel Howe]]
*Commercial Director - Pat Coyne
*Club Secretary - Sue Hewitt
*Financial Controller - Bryan Stabler
*[[Board of directors|Directors]] - [[John Madejski]] (Chairman) & Ian Wood-Smith (non-executive director)
'''Management team'''
*[[Coach (sport)|Manager]] - [[Steve Coppell]]
*Assistant Manager - [[Kevin Dillon (footballer)|Kevin Dillon]]
*First team coach - [[Wally Downes]]
*Goalkeeper Coach - [[Sal Bibbo]]
*Coach/Reserve team assistant manager- [[Nigel Gibbs]]
*[[Director of football]] - [[Nick Hammond]]
*Chief [[scout (sport)|scout]] / reserve team manager - [[Brian McDermott (footballer)|Brian McDermott]]
*Head [[physical therapy|physio]] - [[Jon Fearn]]
*[[Sports science|Sports scientist]] - [[Kunle Odetoyinbo]]
*Kitman - [[Ron Grant]]
== Honours and Best Finishes ==
* '''[[Premier League|FA Barclays Premier League]]'''
::[[Premier League 2006-07|2007]], 8th Place (First Season Ever in Top Division)
* {{sport honours|[[Football League Championship]]|1|[[2005-06 in English football|2006]], runners-up [[1994-95 in English football|1995]]}}
*{{sport honours|[[Full Members Cup]] (a.k.a. 'Simod Cup')|1|1988}}
*{{sport honours|[[Football League Second Division]]|1|[[1993-94 in English football|1994]], runners-up [[2001-02 in English football|2002]]}}
*{{sport honours|[[Football League Third Division]] and [[Third Division South]]|2|[[1925-26 in English football|1926]], [[1985-86 in English football|1986]], runners-up [[1931-32 in English football|1932]], [[1934-35 in English football|1935]], [[1948-49 in English football|1949]], [[1951-52 in English football|1952]]}}
*{{sport honours|[[Football League Fourth Division]]|1|[[1978-79 in English football|1979]]}}
*{{sport honours|[[London War Cup]]|1|1940-41}}
*{{sport honours|[[Football League Third Division South Cup]]|1|[[1937-38 in English football|1938]]}}
* [[FA Cup]] Best Season Semi-final
::[[1926-27 in English football|1927]]
* [[Football League Cup]] Best Season Quarter-final
::[[1995-96 in English football|1996]], [[1997-98 in English football|1998]]
==Managerial honours==
*[[LMA Manager of the Year]] [[Steve Coppell]] 2005-06, 2006-07
== Notable former players ==
<!-- Explain *why* the players are notable (more than any other player) before inserting -->
* [[George Best]] — made 4 pre-season appearances for Reading in 1982.
* [[Matt Busby]] — 40 [[World War II|wartime]] (non-league) appearances during 1942-1945<ref>{{cite book | last=Downs | first=David | title=Reading Football Club: 100 Greats | year=2000 | publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | isbn=075242081X | pages=pp. 27}}</ref>
* [[Darren Caskey]] — made over 200 Appearances for Reading between 1996-2001, scoring 23 goals from midfield in the 1999–2000 season
* [[Steve Death]] — went 1103 minutes without conceding a goal, an English league record.
* [[Kerry Dixon]] — high scoring striker who was sold to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in 1983 and was later capped 8 times by England.
* [[Pat Earles]] — made over 250 appearances for Reading scoring 87 goals.
* [[Robin Friday]] — winner of the club's "Player of the Millennium" award.
* [[Maurice Evans (footballer)|Maurice Evans]] — manager of Fourth Division championship side in 1979 and later managed [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] to League Cup glory.
* [[William Garbutt]] — started playing career with Reading, went on to play for Arsenal and then became a prominent manager in both Italy and Spain, winning the respective countries' league titles.
* [[Shaka Hislop]] — goalkeeper in 1995 play-off final who was then sold to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] for £1.575 million and later represented Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 World Cup.
* [[Bob Lenarduzzi]] — [[North American Soccer League|NASL]] star and former Canadian international and national team manager.
* [[Borislav Mikhailov]] — Bulgarian international goalkeeper, semifinalist in [[1994 FIFA World Cup]].
* [[Phil Parkinson]] — made 361 League appearances for Reading between 1992–2003 before becoming manager of [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]]. He lated moved on to briefly manage [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] before becoming assistant manager to former Reading manager Alan Pardew at the [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], where he remains today.
*[[Linvoy Primus]] - defender who played for the club between 1997–2000 and went on to play regularly in the Premiership with [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].
* [[Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)|Jimmy Quinn]] - made 294 appearances between 1992–97, top scorer in the whole football league in 1994 when Reading gained promotion, took over as joint manager with [[Mick Gooding]] when [[Mark McGhee]] acrimoniously left for [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in December of that year.
* [[Steve Sidwell]] — made nearly 200 appearances for Reading between 2003–07 before leaving the club for Chelsea at the end of his contract. A very popular player who was a key part of the team who won promotion to the Premiership.
* [[Lawrie Sanchez]] - joined his hometown club from school. Scored Wimbledon's winning goal in the 1988 Cup Final v Liverpool. Manager of Northern Ireland 2004 -2007. Manager of English Premier League side Fulham, April 2007 - December 2007.
* [[Neil Webb]] - joined his hometown club from school. Went on to Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and England, winning 26 full caps before serious injury curtailed his career. Currently working as a TV football pundit.
* [[Dariusz Wdowczyk]] — formerly a [[Poland national football team|Poland]] international with 53 caps from 1984–92, he made 82 appearances for Reading between 1994–98.
* [[Adrian Williams]] — former [[Wales national football team|Wales]] international who made a total of 318 League appearances for Reading in two spells between 1989 and 2004.
== Managerial history ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Manager name !! From !! To
|-
| [[Steve Coppell]] || [[9 October]] [[2003]] || present
|-
| [[Kevin Dillon (footballer)|Kevin Dillon]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[10 September]] [[2003]] || [[9 October]] [[2003]]
|-
| [[Alan Pardew]] || [[16 September]] [[1999]] || [[9 September]] [[2003]]
|-
| [[Tommy Burns (footballer)|Tommy Burns]] || [[25 March]] [[1998]] || [[16 September]] [[1999]]
|-
| [[Alan Pardew]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[18 March]] [[1998]] || [[25 March]] [[1998]]
|-
| [[Terry Bullivant]] || [[30 June]] [[1997]] || [[18 March]] [[1998]]
|-
| [[Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)|Jimmy Quinn]] & [[Mick Gooding]] || [[5 January]] [[1995]] || [[9 May]] [[1997]]
|-
| [[Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)|Jimmy Quinn]], [[Mick Gooding]],<br> [[Adrian Williams]], & [[Jeff Hopkins]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[15 December]] [[1994]] || [[4 January]] [[1995]]
|-
| [[Mark McGhee]] || [[10 May]] [[1991]] || [[14 December]] [[1994]]
|-
| [[John Haselden]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[30 April]] [[1991]] || [[10 May]] [[1991]]
|-
| [[Eddie Niedzwicki]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[1 April]] [[1991]] || [[30 April]] [[1991]]
|-
| [[Ian Porterfield]] || [[14 November]] [[1989]] || [[1 April]] [[1991]]
|-
| [[Lew Chatterley]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[23 October]] [[1989]] || [[14 November]] [[1989]]
|-
| [[Ian Branfoot]] || [[31 January]] [[1984]] || [[23 October]] [[1989]]
|-
| [[Maurice Evans (footballer)|Maurice Evans]] || [[26 February]] [[1977]] || [[31 January]] [[1984]]
|-
| [[Charlie Hurley]] || [[13 January]] [[1972]] || [[26 February]] [[1977]]
|-
| [[Jimmy Wallbanks]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[1 October]] [[1971]] || [[13 January]] [[1972]]
|-
| [[Jack Mansell]] || [[1 April]] [[1969]] || [[1 October]] [[1971]]
|-
| [[Ray Henderson (footballer)|Ray Henderson]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[1 February]] [[1969]] || [[1 April]] [[1969]]
|-
| [[Roy Bentley]] || [[1 January]] [[1963]] || [[1 February]] [[1969]]
|-
| [[Harry Johnston (footballer)|Harry Johnston]] || [[1 November]] [[1955]] || [[1 January]] [[1963]]
|-
| [[Fred May (footballer)|Fred May]] & [[James Carter (footballer)|James Carter]]<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[1 October]] [[1955]] || [[1 November]] [[1955]]
|-
| [[Jack Smith (footballer born 1911)|Arthur Smith]] || [[1 June]] [[1952]] || [[1 October]] [[1955]]
|-
| [[Ted Drake]] || [[1 June]] [[1947]] || [[1 June]] [[1952]]
|-
| [[Joe Edelston]] || [[13 April]] [[1939]] || [[1 June]] [[1947]]
|-
| [[Johnny Cochrane (footballer)|Johnny Cochrane]] || [[1 March]] [[1939]] || [[13 April]] [[1939]]
|-
| [[Billy Butler (footballer)|Billy Butler]] || [[1 August]] [[1935]] || [[1 March]] [[1939]]
|-
| [[Joe Smith (footballer)|Joe Smith]] || [[1 June]] [[1931]] || [[1 August]] [[1935]]
|-
| [[Angus Wylie]] || [[1 July]] [[1926]] || [[1 June]] [[1931]]
|-
| [[Harold Bray]] || [[1 October]] [[1925]] || [[1 June]] [[1926]]
|-
| [[Arthur Chadwick]] || [[1 January]] [[1923]] || [[1 October]] [[1925]]
|-
| The Board<nowiki>*</nowiki> || [[11 May]] [[1922]] || [[1 January]] [[1923]]
|-
| [[Jack Smith (football manager)|Jack Smith]] || [[23 December]] [[1920]] || [[11 May]] [[1922]]
|-
| [[Harry Marshall]] || [[23 February]] [[1920]] || [[23 December]] [[1920]]
|-
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> [[Caretaker manager|Caretaker manager(s)]]
==Rivalry==
Reading's main current local rivalries are with [[Oxford United]] and [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]. When the three teams had shared a division, their rivalry was referred to as the "Didcot Triangle".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/players/triangle200001.htm | title=Didcot Triangle/Wallingford Quadrangle | accessdate=2007-02-22}}</ref> However, nowadays the rivalry between Oxford and Swindon is far stronger than between either of the two and Reading due to them both spending most of the last 6-7 years in the lower divisions than Reading{{Fact|date=August 2007}}.
However, before going out of business in 1992, [[Aldershot F.C.]] were Reading's biggest rivals[http://football.guardian.co.uk/fanzines/story/0,,441097,00.html][http://www.royals.org/matdoc/140701.html]. There was a strong rift between the two sets of fans, with riots between fans occurring on several occasions.
==Famous supporters==
There are few famous confirmed supporters of Reading. However, notable inclusions are:
*Reading-born actress [[Kate Winslet]], who revealed that she and her family are keen Reading followers in a letter to Reading FC Fanzine "The Whiff".{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
*Radio broadcaster and television presenter [[Chris Tarrant]][http://www.zen6659.zen.co.uk/Hobnob/Tarrant/2006-10-01%20Chris%20Tarrant%20At%20West%20Ham%20IMGP2106%20(Medium).JPG].
*Musician [[Mike Oldfield]]<ref>{{cite news | title=Picadilly Radio Interview | url=http://www.toucansolutions.com/oldfield/articles/picadilly.htm | year=1985 | accessdate=2007-03-02}}</ref> of [[Tubular Bells]] fame.
*Author and cricket commentator [[John Arlott]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Only two Rs for Arlott - writing and Reading | url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/columnists/story/0,,1741158,00.html | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=[[2006-03-28]] | accessdate=2007-03-02}}</ref>
*[[Uri Geller]][http://www.uri-geller.com/buy.htm].
*Musician [[Simon Gallup]], long serving bass guitarist of [[The Cure]], draped a team flag over his amp while playing in [[Sydney]] [[Australia]] during the band's 2007 tour.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
*Boxer [[Michael Sprott]][http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/images/2007/05/15/sprott_skelton_470_470x350.jpg].
*Television Presenter [[Mark Rumble]]{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
*TV Golf Analyst and former professional golfer [[Richard Boxall]]
*[[Irwin Sparkes]], lead singer and guitarist of [[The Hoosiers]], originally from Reading.
==Reading Women==
Reading began their association with women's football when it affiliated with Reading Royals LFC (previously Twyford Comets) in 1988. In May 2006, Reading ended this affiliation and started their own women's team, Reading FC Women.<ref name="womenfounded">{{cite web | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WomenSquad/0,,10306~1065210,00.html | title=Background of our women's team | accessdate=2007-11-19 | work=readingfc.co.uk}}</ref> In their very first season they achieved a Southern Region Women's Football League and Cup double<ref name="womendouble">{{cite news | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WomensNews/0,,10306~1061182,00.html | title=Women secure league & cup double | accessdate=2007-11-19 | work=readingfc.co.uk}}</ref> and were promoted to the [[South West Combination Women's Football League]]. They followed this with an unbeaten 2007/8 League season to gain promotion to the [[FA Women's Premier League Northern Division|Premier League Northern Division]].
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.readingfc.co.uk/ Reading F.C. official web site]
*[http://www.readingfcpics.com/ Reading F.C. official photographic collection and sales site]
*[http://www.readingfcfans.co.uk/ Reading F.C. Unofficial Fan Website]
*[http://www.star-reading.org/ STAR - Supporters Trust at Reading]
*{{BBC football info|BBClinkname=r/reading}}
*[http://www.backtheboys.com/ Back the Boys - Official site of the Royals PA team]
*[http://www.covertphotography.co.uk/ Unofficial Reading FC photography site]
*[http://www.eurofootballfives.com/2008premiershipinportugal.asp/ Premiership In...Portugal 2008] Play for Reading in Europe at the Unofficial Premiership 5-a-side football tournament.
*[http://www.premierleague.com/reading-fc.html Reading F.C.] at premierleague.com
*[http://www.royals.org/ ''Hob Nob Anyone?''] - unofficial fanzine web site
*[http://www.conita.com/News/112.html Reading Football Club Test Goal line technology]
{{fb start}}
{{Reading F.C.}}
{{Football League Championship teamlist}}
{{fb end}}
[[Category:Sport in Berkshire]]
[[Category:English football clubs]]
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[[Category:Sport in Reading, Berkshire|Football]]
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