Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this installment, we headed to Berkshire for some Championship action as Reading took on Wigan Athletic at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, in what was a relegation showdown.
It's All In The Name
Reading were known as the Biscuitmen in the early days of football. Because of the large Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory, they were known by this moniker. Unfortunately for those of us who enjoy great football nicknames, this was dropped in favour of Royals in the 1980s. Reading is nicknamed "The Royals" because it is in the Royal County of Berkshire.
Some Notable People From Reading:
John Altman- Actor who played Nick Cotton
Natalie Dormer- Actress
Justin Fletcher- TV Personality
Ricky Gervais- Comedian
Jeremy Kyle- TV Presenter
Some Notable Former Players
Ryan Bertrand
Peter Bonetti
Wayne Bridge
Kevin Doyle
Marcus Hahnemann
Stephen Hunt
Martin Keown
Alan Pardew
Yakubu
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Reading Football Club was founded in 1871. They went pro in 1895 and moved to Elm Park the following year. They spent 22 years in the Southern League and had a successful tour of Italy during which they defeated AC Milan and an Italian XI. They joined the football league's third tier in 1920. They won the third division in 1926 and advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals the following year. They were relegated in 1931 and remained in the third division south till after WWII.
They had huge attendances and impressive league finishes following the war, but promotion eluded them. They remained in the third tier until 1972, when they were demoted to the fourth. After winning the fourth division, they were promoted back to the third tier in 1979. They were aided by maverick striker Robin Friday, a player who many see as the club's finest ever player, and an exceptional talent with endless stories told about him.
Reading were demoted in 1982 and were on the verge of merging with Oxford United due to financial difficulties. They were promoted once more in 1984. They subsequently improved even further in 1986, when they were promoted to the second division for the first time in their existence. Their first outing at Wembley saw them win the full member's cup against Luton Town in 1988, but they were demoted the following year.
In 1991, John Madjeski took over as owner of the club, and he would take it to new heights. They were relegated to the second tier in 1994 and came close to promotion the following year, missing out on automatic promotion due to the Premier League's shrinking size. In the playoff final, they were defeated 4-3 by Bolton.
After being relegated in their final season at Elm Park, they relocated to the new Madjeski stadium in 1998. In 2001, Alan Pardew led them to the playoff final, however they were defeated by Walsall. They were promoted in 2003, and Steve Coppell, Pardew's replacement, led the club to its pinnacle.
Reading won the championship in 2006. They would host top-flight football for the first time in the club's history. Their first season in the top division was fantastic, as they ended in a respectable eighth place, but their good fortune would soon run out. They were relegated on the last day of the following season. The following season, they made the playoffs but lost in the semi-finals, bringing the Steve Coppell era to an end. Brian McDermott led them to the 2011 playoff final, where they were defeated 4-2 by Swansea. However, the following year, they won the championship and were able to return to the Premier League. Unfortunately, they were relegated immediately.
In the following decade, they had mixed fortunes, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 2015 but also flirting with relegation. Jaap Stam would turn their fortunes around, guiding them to the playoff final in 2017, although they were defeated on penalties by Huddersfield. Stam was fired the next year, and the club's prospects have been bleak since, with financial difficulties and a severe threat of relegation. With their title hopes jeopardised, the Royals faithful are yearning for the sun to shine again.
And here's a fun fact: Reading holds the record for most points scored in a single professional league season, with 106 in 2006.
Honours
🏆 English Second Tier (currently Championship) (Champions: 2005–06, 2011–12) (Runners-up: 1994–95)
🏆 English Third Tier (currently League One) (Champions: 1925–26, 1985–86, 1993–94)(Runners-up: 1931–32, 1934–35, 1948–49, 1951–52, 2001–02)
🏆 English Fourth Tier (currently League Two) (Champions: 1978–79)
🏆 Full Members Cup (Winners: 1987–88)
🏆 London War Cup (Winners: 1941)
🏆 Football League Third Division South Cup (Winners: 1938)
🏆 Premier League Cup (Winners: 2014) (Runners-up: 2017)
🏆 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup (Winners: 1879, 1892, 1995, 2022) (Runners-up: 1941, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2019)
An Interview With Reading FC Supporter, Ady Richardson:
GG: Could you tell us how long you've been a Reading fan and how your experience with the club has been?
AR: I've been a Reading fan since 2001, and it's been a fantastic journey with two seasons in the Premier League and some playoff defeats.
GG: What kind of impact has Reading had on the English Football League?
AR: Reading has made a positive impression on the EFL, in my opinion. I'd hope so, but ask other clubs lol.
GG: Who is Reading's standout performer this season?
AR: Tom Ince has been our standout performer this season, always giving his all.
GG: Can you give us an overview of the EFL and how it compares to other leagues around the world?
AR: The EFL is, in my opinion, one of the best leagues in the world because it is so competitive.
GG: Who is your all-time favourite player?
AR: Dennis Bergkamp is my favourite player of all time, and he is not even a Reading player. He appeared to be a genius to me.
GG: What is the best football match you've ever seen as a Reading supporter? Could you please provide us with an overview of that match?
AR: The best match I've seen is difficult to choose because there have been so many, but I'll go with the 7-5 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup, with Arsenal coming back after Reading had led by 4-0.
GG: Which managers have left the most of an impression on Reading fans?
AR: The manager with the best memories has to be Steve Coppell, who led us to our first ever promotion to the Premier League and set a championship points record of 106 (which we still hold).
GG: Who, in your opinion, was the most important team to play at Reading's stadium, and why?
AR: The biggest team to play at Reading is Manchester United because of their long history.
GG: Can you tell us about Reading's playing style in general? What is their formation? What are your strategies?
AR: Reading's best formation over the years has been 4-4-2, but this season has been poor, with mostly long balls up to Andy Carroll.
Matchday: Reading 1-1 Wigan Athletic
We travelled to Reading on a fine Spring morning as we looked to round off our Groundhopping season in style. We opted to park in the Mereoak Park and Ride, however this was not without (small) issues. The bus stop that's closest to the stadium is around a ten minute walk, so it probably is not appropriate for any one with any walking issues.
Arriving at the ground, we immediately looked for some food. There are a multitude of food outlets available outside the ground, including a hog roast and a burger shack- we opted for the latter. The cheeseburger that I ordered was absolutely flawless. I can't complain about the product itself. The issue I had was the price. £8 for a cheeseburger is way too much. In a world thats becoming increasingly difficult for people to eat properly, I feel that this pricing was far too overzealous.
There is a fanzone at the ground, which has a large screen which was playing the early kickoff- this time: Crystal Palace vs West Ham United. I do think fanzones are a cracking idea at football matches. They help build the atmosphere and they are an additional source of revenue for the club (due to those who enjoy an alcoholic beverage). In my opinion, more clubs need them.
We then headed into the ground. The ticketing system was almost entirely flawless. That was until we found out they had double booked our seats (or so we thought). We were sat in row B, until a lady approached us and said we were sat in their seats (and we started seeing Birmingham fans coming out the trees). After a whole debacle where they had to get another steward from another stand to come and speak to us, it turned out that we were meant to be in row BB. So feeling entirely stupid, we moved to our original seats (sorry guys).
Saying that, the welcome we received was amazingly pleasant. We were treated with respect by everybody, and everybody was friendly and chatty. This was massively let down by event after the game however. Waiting for our bus back to the park and ride, we saw a young man walking towards McDonald's. It was here where the young man was descended on by a group of youths, causing a melee and police needing to intervene. I, however, could not tell you which fanbase was which, unfortunately. I honestly will never understand violence at football matches, in my opinion, there is no need for it.
The atmosphere at the game was really good up until the 70th minute, when supporters started getting (understandably) frustrated and started getting on the players' backs a little. It turned really sour when Wigan took the lead, and fights started breaking out in the stands, and some white pole things being thrown between supporters (please see above point). However, those who stayed behind their players were really loud, and were really supportive of their team.
Teamsheet
Reading
Manager: Noel Hunt
Joe Lumley
Andy Yiadom (c)
Tom Holmes
Naby Sarr
Nesta Guinness-Walker
Jeff Hendrick
Tom McIntyre
Cesare Casadei
Junior Hoillet
Shane Long
Lucas Joao
Substitutes
Yakou Meite ⚽️
Femi Azeez
Tyrese Fornah
Amadou Mbengue
Scott Dann
Mamadou Loum N'Diaye
Coniah Boyce-Clarke
Wigan Athletic
Manager: Shaun Maloney
Jamie Jones
Charlie Hughes ⚽️
Jack Whatmough
Ryan Nyambe
Tendayi Darikwa (c)
Max Power
James McLean
Christ Tiehi
Callum Lang
Will Keane
Josh Magennis
Substitutes
Sam Tickle
Charlie Wyke
Steven Caulker
Tom Naylor
Daniel Sinani
Omar Rekik
Thelo Aasgaard
Reading dominated the early stages, knowing that only a win would be enough to keep them in the Championship. Tom McIntyre tested Wigan keeper Jamie Jones with a long-range shot, which Jones easily collected, while Lucas Joao narrowly missed latching on to Andy Yiadom's searching pass. The Latics defended well and were almost rewarded for their first attempt forward. Reading failed to clear their area adequately, and Hughes volleyed just wide from the right flank. Reading quickly regained command after the lone onslaught. Jones had to save with his legs smartly to keep Jeff Hendrick's shot from a tight angle out.
Reading almost took the lead shortly before halftime, but Jones brilliantly swiped away a goalbound header from Joao at the last second. Wigan stepped up the tempo in the second half, with Max Power crossing from the right and James McClean volleying wildly over at the far post.
Christ Tiehi then made a daring run from deep inside his own half, only to have his hard work undone by a poor final shot. Reading replied positively, and after a scuffle in the Wigan area, Yiadom cut inside but was stopped. And as the game became more open, with both teams desperate for a win, Reading came close to breaking the deadlock, with Tom Holmes heading weakly at Jones from a Naby Sarr cross.
However, Wigan gave themselves a chance to avoid the drop in the first minute of added time after a clever free-kick routine on the left. Hughes climbed high to nod downwards and past home custodian Joe Lumley after McClean crossed to the far post. Reading responded quickly, with substitute Meite slamming in from close range after a wild goalmouth scramble. However, they couldn't find another goal that could have made their survival hopes look more healthy.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 7/10
Food and Drink: 8/10
Stadium: 7.5/10
Welcome: 7/10
Overall Experience: 7/10
GG
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