Reading F.C.

Reading F.C. is a football team based in Reading, England, currently playing in the Football League Championship.

Reading were formed in 1871 with early matches played at Reading Recreation Ground before moving to Elm Park on September 5 1896. In 1998, they moved to the new state-of-the-art all-seater 24,200 capacity Madejski Stadium. They were originally nicknamed the 'Biscuitmen' after the main trade in the town, but in the 1970s became known as the 'Royals', due to Reading's location in the Royal County of Berkshire.

Reading were elected to the Third Division of the 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. They have never played in the top tier of English professional football, although in season 1994/1995 their play-off defeat against Bolton made them the only side to finish second in the First/Second Division and not get promoted to the top level, due to the Premier League reducing its number of teams. Their most recent promotion attempt failed in the season of 2002/2003 where Reading finished fourth in the league table, but were beaten by Wolves in the semi-final play-offs. This was Reading's third attempt to gain promotion via the play-offs; each attempt has been unsuccessful.

Reading's best performance in the FA Cup came in 1926/1927 when they lost to eventual winners Cardiff City F.C. in the semi-final. The side's moment of glory came in 1988 when they won the Simod Cup, beating a number of First Division sides en-route to their Wembley win over Luton.

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 1985/1986.

In 1979, Reading goalkeeper Steve Death went 1103 minutes without conceding a goal, also an English league record.

There is a persistent urban legend that Reading have the honour of being able to wear their home kits regardless of the opposition and venue. This is, however, completely untrue.

Honours

• Football League First Division
  • Runners-up 1994/95
• Football League Second Division Champions 1
  • 1993/94, runners-up 2001/02
• Football League Third Division Champions 2
  • 1925/26, 1985/86, runners-up 1931/32, 1934/35, 1948/49, 1951/52
• Football League Fourth Division Champions 1
  • 1978/79
• FA Cup Best Season Semi-final 1926/27

Club records

• Best Win 10–2 v Crystal Palace 04/09/1946, Football League Third Division
• Most capped player: Jimmy Quinn – 17 Northern Ireland caps
• Most league appearances: Martin Hicks 500 1978-1991
• Most league goals: Ronnie Blackman – 158 1947-1954
• Most league goals in a season: Ronnie Blackman – 39, 1951/52

Notable players

• Ronnie Blackman
• Steve Death
• Kerry Dixon
• Les Ferdinand
• Robin Friday
• Michael Gilkes
• Martin Hicks
• Ray Houghton
• Jimmy Quinn
• Trevor Senior
• Neil Webb

External links

• Reading F.C. official website
• Hob Nob Anyone? – Unofficial fanzine website