Vital Statistics
Founded: 1871
Chairman: John Madejski
Last Season: Championship - 5th
Nicknames: The Royals
Rivals: Aldershot Town, Swindon Town, Oxford United
Major Honours
None
Scheduled Matches
Portsmouth vs Reading: Tuesday, August 16th (7:45pm)
Reading vs Portsmouth: Tuesday, March 6th (7:45pm)
Transfers In
Mikele Leigertwood (QPR - Undisclosed)
Cameron Edwards (Perth Glory - Free)
Ryan Edwards (Australian Institute of Sport)
Joseph Mills (Southampton - Free)
Kaspars Gorkss (QPR - Undisclosed)
Adam Le Fondre (Rotherham- Undisclosed)
Tomasz Cwyka (Derby - Free)
Jason Roberts (Blackburn - Undisclosed)
Matthew Connolly (QPR - Loan)
Transfers Out
Shane Long (West Brom - Undisclosed)
Matt Mills (Leicester - Undisclosed)
Scott Davies (Crawley - Free)
Julian Kelly (Notts County - Free)
Ivar Ingimarsson (Ipswich - Undisclosed)
Probable Starting XI
GK: Adam FEDERCI
RB: Andy GRIFFIN
CB: Kaspars GORKSS
CB: Alex PEARCE
LB: Ian HARTE
RM: Jimmy KEBE
CM: Mikele LEIGERTWOOD
CM: Jem KARACAN
LM: Jobi McANUFF
CF: Jason ROBERTS
CF: Noel HUNT
The Manager: Brian McDermott
McDermott joined Reading as chief scout back in 2000 and worked his way through the coaching system before replacing the sacked Brendan Rodgers on a caretaker basis in 2009.
After improving the Royals' results and taking some notable scalps in the FA Cup, he was installed as permanent manager as he took his side to the play-off final last season where he ironically lost to the man he replaced.
If he can keep hold of his best players then there is no reason why the under-stated boss can't push Reading for promotion again this season.
The Fans
Most Reading fans are good for banter and always seem to enjoy the matches between their team and Pompey, with the ridiculous 7-4 match living long in the memory. However, last season's game at the Madejski saw some violence between the two sets of supporters but hopefully that was a one-off.
Famous Royals of the Reading variety include actor/comedian Ricky Gervais and actress Kate Winslet.
Reading fan Southbank on the upcoming season:
After the play-off final defeat we need to pick ourselves up and go one better. Whilst we now have become a selling club, we still have a solid foundation to build upon. The likes of Karacan, McAnuff and Leigertwood are big players and their form will be vital if we are to reach the playoffs once again.
Shane Long could be out the door before the season starts, but Manset and Simon Church should make the step up. We have some very good young players coming through the academy and this should provide us with a strong and in-depth team.
McDermott has done a fantastic job and we should be pushing for the play-offs once again. However a tight transfer budget may take it's toll on our chances of getting back to the big time.
The Ground: The Madejski Stadium (Capacity: 24,200)
The "Mad Stad" is another one of those grounds which was stunning when it opened in 1998 when it opened but is rather plain looking now in the era of plastic bowl stadia.
Based in the middle of nowhere, there are plenty of food outlets and megastores in the surrounding area but if you make the trek through the nearby industrial estate then there's a nice pub called "The World Turned Upside Down" which does a good carvery and ale.
This is the West Stand in the Madejski Stadium. It should be noted that the acoustics in this ground are great for creating an atmosphere although the tannoy announcer is extremely cringeworthy! ("Be Loud, Be Proud. Get behind the boyz and make some noise! COME ON YOU R'S!") - Urrgghh...
This is the bland North Stand where I believe the drummer is situated, though I may be wrong and the sound may well be piped in. It certainly sounds like it.
This is the Kyocera Mita Stand, where all the trouble broke out in the corner last season. The fans here are good for back-and-forth banter even if the idiots (from both sides) try and take things too far.
A photo of the teams coming out in front of a near-sell-out crowd.
