Reading

The story of Reading Football Club spans nearly 150 years of success and failure for the club's football team from Reading, England. The club was founded in 1871. It is one of the longest-running professional football teams in England. Reading was admitted to in the Football League in 1920. The Royals played in the top level in English football in the inaugural season during the 2006-07 season.

The Thames Valley Royals proposal was an unpopular and ultimately unsuccessful 1983 attempt to merge with the Oxford United Football Club with Reading, a team that was nearby. Reading.

Just before the conclusion in the season 1982-1983 Football League season, Robert Maxwell who was then the owner as well as chairman Oxford United Football Club, declared that he had signed an agreement to the owner of nearby Reading to join both teams into an entirely new club, which he planned to call "Thames Valley Royals". The name was a loose description of the geographical area, "Thames Valley", and"The Royals", the Reading club's name "the Royals". Both teams were facing financial issues, Maxwell claimed that both were in danger of being shut down and that bringing them together was vital in order to ensure that the region would be able to hold the status of a Football League club.

Maxwell The vision of Maxwell Thames Valley Royals' future home as a place that is not known someplace near Oxford to Reading where the stadium could be constructed, perhaps Didcot and home games could be played between Oxford and Reading between now and. Both groups of supporters immediately started a mass protest in opposition to the merging, which included protest marches, as well as a 2,000-strong stand-in at the stadium in Oxford prior to a game on the 23rd of April. Maxwell kept pushing forward with his plan and stated that "nothing other than the end of Earth" could stop the implementation.

The merger was halted due to the actions by one Reading's board directors Roy Tranter, and Roger Smee an entrepreneur who was a Reading player. Smee contests whether the control stake in Reading owned by the faction comprised of three Reading board members who supported the merger proposal, including Chairman Frank Waller, and Tranter initiated a legal challenge to the sale of a few shares on April 22nd, 1983. Waller along with his boardroom comrades were forced to resign under pressure from majority on the Reading board on May 12 1983. Then, at an extraordinary shareholder's meeting on July 12, Smee assumed control of the Reading club putting an end to the merger plan.

Reading was founded on 25 December 1871, after an open meeting in the Bridge Street Rooms organised by Joseph Edward Sydenham, who would later become secretary of the club. The first games were played at the Reading Recreation Ground, and later, the club played matches in the Reading Cricket Ground, Coley Park and Caversham Cricket Ground. The transition into professionalism in the year 1895 led to the need for a larger stadium and, to this conclusion, the club relocated back to the specially-constructed Elm Park on 5 September 1896. The year 1913 was the time that Reading was able to complete a tour in Italy and Italy, which led the top sports paper Corriere della Sera to write "without doubt, Reading FC are the best foreign team to be seen throughout Italy".

Reading were selected as a member of be part of the Football League Third Division South of the Football League in 1920. Reading's greatest result during the FA Cup came in 1926-27 when they fell to the eventual winners Cardiff City at Wolverhampton in the semi-final. It was a place that Reading would not play again until the year 2015 in which they fell to the holders Arsenal at the quarter-final stage. Reading dropped out of Division Two in the month of May 1931 and were relegated to the Third Division South until the start the outbreak of World War II. Reading took home the Southern Section Cup, beating Bristol City in the two-legged final in 1938. Then, as part of their regional London War League and Cup competitions, won another distinction by defeating Brentford during the London War Cup Final of 1941 by a score of 3-2 on Stamford Bridge.

As League football resumed following the conflict, Reading rapidly rose to prominence again. Reading's record win of 10-2 against Crystal Palace, was recorded in September 1946. Reading two times finished runners-up in The Third (South) in 1951-52 and 1948-49, however, they were not able to returning back to Division Two as only the champions were promoted. Reading's greatest cup moment was in 1988 when they took home the Simod Cup, beating a variety of top teams on their way to their Wembley victory against Luton Town. Reading were elevated into the Second Division as champions in 1986 under the direction by Ian Branfoot, but were dropped back into the Third Division in 1988.

It was the appointment of Mark McGhee as player-manager, just after the acquisition from John Madejski, in 1991 was the catalyst for Reading progress. They were named champions of the newly created Division Two in 1994. The 35-year-old player Jimmy Quinn was put in charge of the team, along with the midfielder Mick Gooding and guided Reading to runners-up on their final Division One table - only to be denied promotion due to an overhaul of the Premier League, from 22 teams to 20 teams. in 1995 Reading was able to breeze past Tranmere Rovers to reach the play-off semi finals and seemed to have booked their spot to the Premier League only to lose 4-3 to Bolton Wanderers in the final with a 2-0 lead and had missed a penalty just before half-time. Quinn and Gooding's contract was not renewed two years later when Reading fell into the lowest tier in Division One. The successor to them, Terry Bullivant, lasted less than a year before being fired at the end of March. Reading were sent into Division Two at the end of the 1997-98 season.

In 1998, the club also witnessed Reading relocate to the brand new 24,200-seater Madejski Stadium, named after the chairman John Madejski. Tommy Burns had taken over from Terry Bullivant but lasted just 18 months before being replaced by Alan Pardew, who had previously been the reserve manager prior to being let go. Reading was third in the 2000-01 season, qualifying for the play-offs. The team lost 2-3 in the final to Walsall in The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Reading went back to Division One in 2002-03 following finishing as runners-up of Division Two. In the subsequent season saw them finish 4th in Division One and were able to qualify for the play-offs. They were defeated in the semi-finals by Wolverhampton Wanderers. Alan Pardew moved to West Ham United in October of the same year before being replaced with Steve Coppell.

Reading were the winners of their 2005-06 Championship with a record league-wide with 106 points and scoring 99 goals, and losing just two times. Reading were elevated to English football's highest division for the very only time ever in the history of Reading. In 2006, Reading debut in the top tier in English football. Reading did not follow the preseason predictions of being relegated to finish the season eighth having scored 55 points. Reading declined the chance to participate at the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Prior for their return to the Premier League, Reading took part in the 2007 Peace Cup in South Korea. The second season was not as than successful, but Reading were dropped again to the Championship.

Reading began their 2008-09 campaign by registering a 15-match, without a loss at home. They finished fourth and qualified for play-offs, but they fell in the semi-finals to Burnley during the semifinal. The manager Steve Coppell resigned just hours after the match and was being replaced with Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers was dismissed by mutual agreement on December 16 2009, and Brian McDermott made caretaker manager the following day. For the season 2010-11, Reading won FA Cup, Reading reached the quarter-finals, but lost 1-1 in the quarter-finals to Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, Reading eventually finished fifth in the Championship to make it to play-offs for the division. After defeating Cardiff City in the semi-finals but losing by 4-2 Swansea City in the final at Wembley. The 2011-12 season was the team showed good performance in the second part of the season was enough to earn promotion into the Premier League on 17 April 2012, with a 1-0 win at home over Nottingham Forest.

McDermott played a key role in leading Reading in their debut Premier League win of the 2012-13 season on the 17th of November 2012, in their 11th try beating Everton by 2-1 at home. On March 11, 2013 however, he resigned his post at Reading. Nigel Adkins was then appointed as manager, but it was impossible for him to keep them from being relegated after they drew Queens Park Rangers 0-0 on 28 April 2013 at Loftus Road.

The following season , back to the Championship saw Reading make two highly-publicized signings that included Wayne Bridge and Royston Drenthe hoping to make an immediate return to Premier League. Reading However, they did not make the playoffs due to an injury-time winner by Brighton and Hove Albion's Leonardo Ulloa, which meant that the Seagulls were eliminated from the playoffs at Reading's cost.

The summer preceding the 2014-15 season, saw more additions to the squad of Jamie Mackie on loan, Oliver Norwood and the return of Simon Cox. The club was in significant threat of being taken over by administration, which led to the departure of Sean Morrison and Adam Le Fondre, as well as the possibility of a Thai consortium was able to take control of the team. An impressive beginning in Nigel Adkins' second season as manager ended with a mediocre performance that was ended by his removal following the defeat at home of 6-1 at Birmingham City with Steve Clarke being appointed the next day with the hopes of a promotion bid. But, the absence of goals as well as a poor performance at the top of the table meant that the club was in danger of being relegated into League One, but luckily it was averted with just a couple of games remaining. However, during the time of their decline the club was on the successful FA Cup journey, reaching the semi-final , where they suffered a 2-1 loss against Arsenal on Wembley. The next year saw them sign numerous players with the hope of promotion, but the team would finish 17th place.

In the summer prior to 2016-17,, the club announced the retirement from Brian McDermott and eventually he was replaced by the former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam. In the time of Stam, Reading achieved their best finish since their return in the Championship by finishing third and making the play-offs. There, they defeated Fulham in the aggregate, before taking on Huddersfield Town in the final at Wembley which they lost to penalties after a 0-0 draw following extra time. The next season was quite a contrast, as the team struggling towards the bottom in the league for the majority time. On the 21st of March, 2018 Stam quit as manager after a winless streak of nine games. A few days later on March 23, the 23rd of March, Paul Clement was appointed as Reading's new manager. which ended the season 20th and avoided relegation by three points.

The next campaign, Clement was sacked on 6 December 2018, after his unsatisfactory results had put the club in the zone of relegation based on goal difference. Clement got replaced with Jose Gomes on 22 December 2018 who guided the club out of the relegation zone to finish in 20th place again. After an unsteady start to the 2019-20 campaign, Gomes was dismissed after just a little over a year in charge of the team, which was in the relegation zone October of 2019. Director of Sport Mark Bowen was promoted to his place as Gomes' replacement just a few days later, and led this team into 14th place in the league before going home in August 2020.

A former Chicago Fire boss Veljko Paunovic was named manager on the 29th of August, 2020. The team made an fantastic start to the season 2020-21 by winning seven of the first eight league games. But the team's performance was slowed down after injuries to several important players. They barely missed making the playoffs and finished seventh.

On November 17, 2021, it was revealed that Reading was to lose 6 points for breaching the EFL's sustainability and profitability rules.

After a 3-2 victory away against Preston North End, Manager Veljko Paunovic resigned his position through mutual agreement, with Paul Ince being placed in interim control of the club with the Academy manager Michael Gilkes. On May 16, 2022 Ince has been named the team's permanent manager along with Mark Bowen also returning to the club in the position as Director for Football Operations.

The first crest to be seen on the Reading kit was 1953. It included only the"R" as the letter "R". The crest was not seen after 1981 the year that acrest was introduced with three elms and two rivers Thames and Kennet and Kennet. It only lasted for two years. From 1987 to 1996 , the design was updated to the colors: sky blue, yellow, royal blue, and white. The short return inspired by that of 1981 was introduced in 1997-98 and 1996-97 seasons. In a statement on the necessity of an updated crest that would coincide with the move to Madejski Stadium, as well in the transition to the millennium, Sir John Madejski stated: "I know some traditionalists would argue that we should keep the old badge, but they must keep in mind the necessity to take a step forward." The current crest first found on the kit during the season 1998-1999. It's based on club colors--white and blue--and features crowns that represents Berkshire as the Royal County of Berkshire and the Maiwand Lion to represent Reading.

The club was based at the Reading Recreation Ground until 1878 and then moved the Reading Cricket Ground (1878-1882), Coley Park (1882-1889) and Caversham Cricket Ground (1889-1896).

It was in 1889 that Reading had to be shut out of the chance to play on Coley Park as W B Monck (the local squire) did not allow football because of "rowdyism by the more rough elements". The club's membership was over 300 at the time the club was officially established around 1895. Reading had to have a suitable playing field. A subsequent meeting decided that financing was a challenge. PS20 was given to the cause by J C Fidler, on the condition that "no liquors could be sold" on the premises. The remainder of the cost was funded by donations from wealthy supporters in addition to a major individual gift. An old gravel pit located in West Reading was identified as the location. The first match at Elm Park was held on 5 September 1896. It was played between Reading as well as A Roston the XI of Bourke. The opponents were a scratch team of Holloway College. PS44 was spotted at the gate, and there was the attendance of around 2,500.

In 1908 the annual general meeting was to consider moving to a different venue near the Reading train station. A board meeting held the following year concluded that the move could not be feasible, since "there there was no possibility of moving to the site near stations of the GWR railway stations because of what was happening with GWR. Great Western Railway".

In 1994 in 1994, the Taylor Report made an all-seater stadium mandatory in the two top divisions (the Premier League and the first division). Reading were the champions of Second Division in the year 1994 and were then promoted to first division. Reading was then subject to Taylor conditions, however, changing Elm Park to an all-seater stadium was not feasible. Instead, a site within Smallmead (to to the South of Reading) was selected as the location for an all-new stadium. The former landfill site for the council was acquired by the club for PS1 but with additional requirements that the construction of the stadium would require financing of a part for the A33 relief road. The expansion of the club's home could also enable other commercial enterprises (particularly recreation facilities) and sharing together with teams from other leagues (such for rugby union teams Richmond as well as London Irish). The last game played held at Elm Park took place on 3 May 1998, against Norwich City, with Reading losing 1-1. Reading started the 1998-99 season with a match at Madejski Stadium. The stadium was officially opened on 22 August 1998, after Luton Town were beaten 3-0. The stadium was more expensive than PS50 million to construct. It was the first time that, in the history of the stadium, Reading Football Club participated in the Premier League in the 2006-07 season. In the wake of attendance of sold-out crowds in the first matches of the season Reading Football Club announced its intention in October of 2006 to file a planning request for the expansion of the stadium up to between 37,000 and 38,000 seats. The application was filed on January 24, 2007, proposing to initially extend the East Stand with a further 6000 seats (raising capacity to 30,000.) and later the expansion to The North as well as South Stands until they reach the capacity they had planned to have. On May 24, 2007, it was declared that planning permission was granted to increase the capacity of the stadium up to 36,900 seats. Reading has formulated plans for the construction of a new training area located at Bearwood Golf Club to replace Hogwood park, their existing training facility.

On the 5th of July, 2016, the day the funeral of Eamonn Dolan's funeral Reading declared that the North Stand would be renamed the Eamonn Dolan Stand.

In 1930 The Reading Football Supporters Club (RFSC) was established to represent the concerns of fans of the club and help raise money for the club's football team. On March 18, 2002 the Trust for Supporters of Reading was officially named the successor of the RFSC.

The year 2001 was the time that Reading was the very first club to officially register their supporters as a part of their team with the "player" identified under squad number 13 as "Reading fans".

The 2015-16 season saw Reading saw 12,983 fans who bought season tickets. They were ranking as 10th overall on the Championship and nearly identical to the league champions of the past, Leeds United. The number for the 2015-16 season was more than the 12,552 that was recorded during the previous season however, it was lower than the 2013-14 Championship highest of 14,547. In 2015-16, the average number of fans was 17570. This was the 10th-highest in the Championship

Prior to their demise at the end of 1992 Aldershot was Reading's most formidable rivals. Aldershot were geographically close Football League club to Reading. There was a rift between the two groups of supporters, with fights between supporters occurring on numerous occasions. The fans of Reading have a lot of animosity of Reading and the fans who are from Aldershot Town. It is the newly founded club from Aldershot. Aldershot Town were promoted into the Football League in 2008, however, the two clubs haven't played in a game since the dissolution of the club's original team. Aldershot were dropped from League play in the year 2013 following administration, which has reduced the likelihood of a game between the two teams in the in the near future.

Since the exile of Aldershot Reading's most significant competitions have been against Oxford United and Swindon Town. In the past, when the three teams shared the same division and a rivalry was known by the name of "Didcot Triangle". But the tension among Oxford as well as Swindon is much stronger than the rivalry between the two and Reading due to the fact that they both played their current time in lower divisions that Reading and having their past time in higher divisions rather than Reading. The year 2012 saw a tiny study revealed that Reading's primary opponents was Aldershot Town, followed by Swindon Town and Oxford United.

The 2013-14 season and the in the 2014-15 season, The Marussia F1 logo was on the back of the shirts in an agreement to sponsor the team's former Russian Owner Anton Zingarevich and Russian owned Marussia F1. The deal continued until the team went into the administration process in late October of 2014. The sponsorship contract was terminated despite the team being able to survive and competing during 2015. Formula One season. In the 2015-16 season, Waitrose was featured on one side of home shirt while Euro Cake was on the side of the away shirt while Legend Alliance sponsored the shorts during the season. Waitrose along with Euro Cake sponsored the home and away kits, respectively, during the season 2016-17. Cherwell Software took sponsorship of the back of the home shirt for the 2017-18 season , while Euro Cake sponsored the back of the away shirt for the third time in a row. Reading confirmed Singaporean international firm for financial technology and digital wallet provider Rapidz as the Back of Shirt's sponsor for the 2020-21 season.

Reading Football Club ownership structure:

• 75% Owned by Renhe Sports Management Ltd, 10% owned by Xiu Li Dai and Yongge Dai
• 25% Owned by Narin Niruttinanon

As of 8 July 2022

As of match played 30 April 2022 Managers in italics were hired as caretakers.

Name	From	To	Duration	P	W	D	L	Win %
Harry Marshall	23 February 1920	23 December 1920	304 days	19	6	2	11	31.58
Jack Smith	23 December 1920	11 May 1922	1 year, 139 days	65	20	15	30	30.77
The Board	11 May 1922	1 January 1923	245 days	138	35	36	67	25.36
Arthur Chadwick	1 January 1923	1 October 1925	2 years, 273 days	112	38	28	46	33.93
Harold Bray	1 October 1925	1 June 1926	243 days	38	20	10	8	52.63
Angus Wylie	1 July 1926	1 June 1931	4 years, 335 days	229	75	52	102	32.75
Joe Smith	1 June 1931	1 August 1935	4 years, 61 days	184	92	49	43	50
Billy Butler	1 August 1935	1 March 1939	3 years, 212 days	167	81	38	48	48.5
Johnny Cochrane	1 March 1939	13 April 1939	43 days	10	4	2	4	40
Joe Edelston	13 April 1939	1 June 1947	8 years, 49 days	55	21	14	20	38.18
Ted Drake	1 June 1947	1 June 1952	5 years, 0 days	234	114	46	74	48.72
Arthur Smith	1 June 1952	1 October 1955	3 years, 122 days	164	59	38	67	35.98
Fred May James Carter	1 October 1955	1 November 1955	31 days	10	3	1	6	30
Harry Johnston	1 November 1955	1 January 1963	7 years, 61 days	356	143	76	137	40.17
Roy Bentley	1 January 1963	1 February 1969	6 years, 31 days	322	136	79	107	42.24
Ray Henderson	1 February 1969	1 April 1969	59 days	15	4	6	5	26.67
Jack Mansell	1 April 1969	1 October 1971	2 years, 183 days	130	49	28	53	37.69
Jimmy Wallbanks	1 October 1971	13 January 1972	104 days	12	6	1	5	50
Charlie Hurley	13 January 1972	26 February 1977	5 years, 44 days	284	108	82	94	38.03
Maurice Evans	26 February 1977	31 January 1984	6 years, 339 days	334	133	93	108	39.82
Ian Branfoot	31 January 1984	23 October 1989	5 years, 265 days	295	116	79	100	39.32
Lew Chatterley	23 October 1989	14 November 1989	19 days	4	1	0	3	25
Ian Porterfield	14 November 1989	1 April 1991	1 year, 138 days	70	27	22	21	38.57
Eddie Niedzwiecki	1 April 1991	30 April 1991	29 days	7	1	1	5	14.29
John Haselden	30 April 1991	10 May 1991	10 days	2	0	0	2	0
Mark McGhee	10 May 1991	14 December 1994	3 years, 218 days	135	53	41	41	39.26
Jimmy Quinn  Mick Gooding  Ady Williams  Jeff Hopkins	15 December 1994	4 January 1995	20 days	5	2	2	1	40
Jimmy Quinn  Mick Gooding	5 January 1995	9 May 1997	2 years, 124 days	127	46	34	47	36.22
Terry Bullivant	30 June 1997	18 March 1998	261 days	50	15	14	21	30
Alan Pardew	18 March 1998	25 March 1998	7 days	1	0	0	1	0
Tommy Burns	25 March 1998	16 September 1999	1 year, 175 days	68	20	18	30	29.41
Alan Pardew	16 September 1999	9 September 2003	3 years, 358 days	216	104	52	60	48.15
Kevin Dillon	10 September 2003	9 October 2003	29 days	7	2	1	4	28.57
Steve Coppell	9 October 2003	12 May 2009	5 years, 215 days	282	126	66	90	44.68
Brendan Rodgers	4 June 2009	16 December 2009	195 days	23	6	6	11	26.09
Brian McDermott	16 December 2009	11 March 2013	3 years, 85 days	152	70	41	41	46.05
Eamonn Dolan	11 March 2013	26 March 2013	15 days	1	0	0	1	0
Nigel Adkins	26 March 2013	15 December 2014	1 year, 264 days	80	29	20	31	36.25
Steve Clarke	16 December 2014	4 December 2015	354 days	53	19	14	20	35.85
Martin Kuhl	4 December 2015	17 December 2015	13 days	2	0	0	2	0
Brian McDermott	17 December 2015	27 May 2016	175 days	30	9	8	13	30
Jaap Stam	13 June 2016	21 March 2018	1 year, 281 days	98	40	23	35	40.82
Paul Clement	23 March 2018	6 December 2018	258 days	30	7	8	15	23.33
Scott Marshall	6 December 2018	22 December 2018	16 days	3	0	1	2	0
José Manuel Gomes	22 December 2018	9 October 2019	291 days	38	9	14	15	23.68
Mark Bowen	14 October 2019	29 August 2020	320 days	40	14	12	14	35
Veljko Paunović	29 August 2020	19 February 2022	1 year, 174 days	80	27	17	36	33.75
Eddie Niedzwiecki	5 September 2020	5 September 2020	1 day	1	1	0	0	100
Marko Mitrović	2 November 2021	6 November 2021	4 days	2	1	0	1	50
Paul Ince (Interim)  Michael Gilkes (Interim)	19 February 2022	16 May 2022	86 days	14	4	3	7	28.57
Paul Ince	16 May 2022	Present	52 days	0	0	0	0	0

As per detail below.

• Most important win: 10-2. Crystal Palace (4 September 1946, Football League Third Division South)
• The most devastating defeat: 18-0 v. Preston North End (27 January 1894, FA Cup 1st round)
• The longest winning streak at the start of the season: 13 wins in 1985-86.
• Most points in one period in the English professional league (106 points) (2005-06)
• The longest winless streak at the beginning of the year (club record) 6 (2 draw as well as 4 losses), (2018-19)
• Most efficient goal in a match (club record) 55th fastest associated football in the world: 9.55 seconds (Yakou Meite (2020-21)

The year 1999 was the time that Reading conducted a survey of their "Player of the Millennium to decide the best player of Reading's history.

Dates	Name
Pos.	Player
1	Robin Friday
2	Trevor Senior
3	Steve Death
	Shaka Hislop
5	Phil Parkinson
6	Alf Messer
7	Jimmy Quinn
8	Michael Gilkes
9	Ronnie Blackman
10	Martin Hicks

This list of players has played over 398 games for Reading in all tournaments. 

Pos.	Player	App.
1	Martin Hicks	603
2	Steve Death	537
3	Dick Spiers	505
4	Michael Gilkes	487
5	Stuart Beavon	481
6	Maurice Evans	459
7	Steve Richardson	457
8	Jimmy Wheeler	453
9	Phil Parkinson	426
10	Ady Williams	398

• Most appearances: Martin Hicks (603; 1978–1991)
• Most league appearances: Martin Hicks (500; 1978–1991)

Following players are those who have scored over 85 times in Reading across every competition.

Pos.	Player	Goals
1	Trevor Senior	191
2	Jimmy Wheeler	168
3	Ronnie Blackman	167
4	Tony MacPhee	104
5	Tommy Tait	103
6	Denis Allen	95
7	Jimmy Quinn	94
8	Douggie Webb	93
9	Les Chappell	90
10	Pat Earles	85

• Most goals: Trevor Senior (191; 1983-1987, 1988-1992)
• The most goals in a single year: Trevor Senior (41; 1983-84)
• Most league goals: Ronnie Blackman (158; 1947-1954)
• The most league goals scored in a single season: Ronnie Blackman (39; 1951-52)
• The most league goals scored in a single game: Arthur Bacon (6 vs. Stoke City; 1930-31)
• Most penalties: Ray Reeves

• The longest time in which you have not conceded goals: Steve Death
  (1,103 minutes 1978-79; an earlier English league record)

Reading have the record for the most number of consecutive league wins in the first week of a new season, with 13 wins prior to the beginning in the 85-86 Third Division campaign and also the record for the highest number of points earned during a professional league season with 106 points during the 2005-06 Football League Championship campaign. Reading ended up as with the title of champions in the division both occasions.

Reading's biggest win was 10-2, which was a win over Crystal Palace on 4 September 1946, in the Football League Third Division South. Reading's biggest defeat was their 18-0 loss in the FA Cup 1st round against Preston North End in the FA Cup 1st round on 27 January 1894. Reading have suffered two losses in the most scoring games during the entire history of the Premier League; Portsmouth 7-4 Reading on September 29, 2007 as well Tottenham Hotspur 6-4 Reading on 29 December 2007 and also lost the top scoring League Cup game, Reading 7-7 Arsenal 30 October 2012.

A player who has the highest number of games played in the league is Martin Hicks, with 500 from 1978 until 1991. The player with the most caps to be a part of Reading was Chris Gunter, who has earned an impressive 62 caps for Wales since becoming an official Reading player from July 2012. The highest number of league goals over the course of an entire season are recorded by Ronnie Blackman with 158 from 1947 until 1954 and 39 between 1951-52 and 1951-52, respectively. The player who scored the most league goals in a single game was Arthur Bacon with six against Stoke City in 1930-31. The first Reading player to participate at the FIFA World Cup was Bobby Convey in 2006, playing for his team from the United States. The record-breaking time for goalkeepers who do not concede an goal is set by Steve Death at 1,103 minutes from 1978-79. This was an earlier English league record.

The Reading stadium with the highest attendance Elm Park was in 1927 at a time when 33,042 people were present to watch Reading beat Brentford 1-1. The largest attendance at Madejski Stadium is 24,184 for the Premier League game with Everton on November 17, 2012.

The highest transfer price paid by an Reading player is PS6.6 million in 1899 Hoffenheim paid to Gylfi Sigurdsson, on the 31st of August 2010.

Gylfi Sigurdsson as well as Samuel Fridjonsson became the first players from the Reading academy to make the World Cup squad by being chosen as the team by Iceland in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Gylfi Sigurdsson would go to become the first Academy graduate who scored in the World Cup in Iceland's 2-1 loss to Croatia on June 26, 2018 after becoming the first graduate of the academy to participate at the World Cup with his appearance against Argentina on June 16th, 2018.

League competitions

• English 2nd tier
  Winners : 2006, 2012
  Runners-up : 1995
• English 3rd tier
  Winners : 1926, 1986, 1994
  Runners-up : 1932, 1935, 1949, 1952, 2002
• English 4th tier
  Winners : 1979
• Highest league finish
  Premier League 2007, 8th place

Cup competitions

• FA Cup
  Semi-final: 1927, 2015
  Quarter-final: 1901, 2010, 2011, 2016
• EFL Cup
  Quarter-final: 1996, 1998
• Full Members Cup
  Winners : 1988
• London War Cup
  Winners : 1941
• Football League Third Division South Cup
  Winners : 1938

Youth and reserve competitions

• Premier League Cup
  Winners : 2014
  Runners-up : 2017
• Berks & Bucks Senior Cup[91]
  Winners : 1879, 1892, 1995, 2022
  Runners-up : 1941, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2019

• LMA Manager of the Year
  Steve Coppell 2005–06, 2006–07
• LMA Championship Manager of the Year
  Brian McDermott 2011–12

In the month of May the year 2006 Reading began in May 2006 the Reading FC Ladies' team. They played in the FA Premier League Southern Division. Since the year 2014 onwards, Reading FC Women played in the FA Women's Super League 2 until they were promoted into the FA Women's Super League 1 in 2015 after they won the league. The 2017-18 campaign saw them placed third within the Women's Super League - their most successful league finish to date. The team is currently playing in Adams Park, home of Wycombe Wanderers.