Reading FC: Royals aiming for a third stint in England's top flight

Nicknamed The Royals due to their location in the Royal County of Berkshire (home of Windsor Castle), Reading are one of the oldest football clubs in England. Established in 1891 (though not joining The Football League until 1920) the club currently plays in the Championship; English football's second-tier.

In 2006, Reading were promoted to English football's top flight for the first time; winning the 2005–06 second division with a league record 106 points (scoring 99 goals and losing only twice on the way). Not only managing to stay in the division in the 2006/07 season, Reading defied pre-season predictions of relegation and finished in the top eight. The club was less successful the following season, however, and were relegated back to the Championship in 2008. Brian McDermott led the team back to the top division in 2012, but he was sacked as the Royals suffered an immediately return to the second tier. 

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam took the reins in 2016, leading Reading to their highest finish since relegation back to the Championship as they finished third and qualified for the play-offs. Reading beat Fulham in the semi-finals before facing Huddersfield Town at Wembley for a place in the Premier League. However, they lost to The Terriers on penalties following a 0–0 draw after extra time.

Reading are certainly going to need their fans if they are to mount another charge to the Premier League in the next few years, so make sure you're at the Madejski to cheer on the Royals by getting your Reading tickets at StubHub today.

Reading FC: a potted history

Early Reading fixtures were played at Reading Recreation Ground, Reading Cricket Ground, Coley Park and Caversham Cricket Ground, but the switch to professionalism in 1895 resulted in the need for a bigger ground. The club moved to purpose-built Elm Park in 1896 and were elected to the Football League Third Division South of the Football League in 1920. The club lost an FA Cup semi-final to Cardiff in 1927, but won the Southern Section Cup, beating Bristol City in the two-legged final in 1938.

Reading twice finished runners-up in the Third (South), in 1948–49 and 1951–52, but they were denied a return to Division Two as only the champions were promoted. The side's moment of cup glory came in 1988 when they won the Simod Cup, beating a number of top flight sides en route to their Wembley win over Luton Town. Reading were promoted to the Second Division as champions in 1986 under Ian Branfoot, but were relegated back to the Third Division in 1988.

Grab your Reading FC tickets now at StubHub to see if the current squad can mount a promotion charge next season. 

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