READING

("The Royals")

Year formed1871
Turned professional1895
Limited company1895
Previous names

None

Ground

Madjeski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0FL

(for pictures of the ground click here)

Pitch measurements115 x 74 yards (105 x 68 metres)
Ground capacity24,161
Record attendance at present ground24,184 v Everton, Premier League, 17th November 2012 (won 2-1)
League career

Southern League Division One: 1894 - 1910

Western League: 1897 - 1898

United League: 1898 - 1899

Western League: 1900 - 1909

Southern League Division Two: 1910 - 1911

Southern League Division One: 1911 - 1920

Division Three: 1920 - 1921

Division Three (South): 1921 - 1926

Division Two: 1926 - 1931

Division Three (South): 1931 - 1958

Division Three: 1958 - 1971

Division Four: 1971 - 1976

Division Three: 1976 - 1977

Division Four: 1977 - 1979

Division Three: 1979 - 1983

Division Four: 1983 - 1984

Division Three: 1984 - 1986

Division Two: 1986 - 1988

Division Three/Two: 1988 - 1994

Division One: 1994 - 1998

Division Two: 1998 - 2002

Division One/Championship: 2002 - 2006

Premiership: 2006 - 2008

Championship: 2008 - 2012

Premier League: 2012 - 2013

Championship: 2013 - .

First Football League game28th August 1920 v Newport County, Division Three, won 1-0
  
Honours 
EuropeanNone
Domestic - League

Championship champions: 2005-06, 2011-12

Division One runners-up: 1994-95

Division Three/Two champions: 1985-86, 1993-94

Division Two runners-up: 2001-02

Division Three (South) champions: 1925-26

Division Three (South) runners-up: 1931-32, 1934-35, 1951-52

Division Four champions: 1978-79

Southern League Division One runners-up: 1901-02, 1904-05, 1914-15

Southern League Division Two champions: 1910-11

Domestic - Cup

Simod Cup winners: 1987-88

Division Three (South) Cup winners: 1937-38

Second World War London Cup winners: 1940-41

Best League position8th, Premiership, 2006-07
Lowest League position16th, Division Four, 1971-72
Furthest in FA CupSemi-final, 1926-27
Furthest in League CupQuarter-final, 1995-96, 1997-98
  
Most League points 
2 for a win65, Division Four, 1978-79
3 for a win106, Championship, 2005-06
Fewest League points 
2 for a win30, Division Two, 1930-31
3 for a win28, Premier League, 2012-13
Most League goals scored

112, Division Three (South), 1951-52

Most League goals conceded

96, Division Two, 1930-31

Fewest League goals scored36, Division Three (South), 1922-23
Fewest League goals conceded32, Championship, 2005-06
Most wins in a League season

31, Championship, 2005-06

Fewest wins in a League season

6, Premier League, 2012-13

Most draws in a League season

19, Division Three, 1989-90

19, Division Four, 1973-74

Fewest draws in a League season2, Division Three (South), 1935-36
Most losses in a League season

26, Division One, 1997-98

Fewest losses in a League season

2, Championship, 2005-06

Record League win

10-2 v Crystal Palace, Division Three (South), 4 September 1946

Record Cup win9-0 v Exeter City, Papa John's Trophy 1st round South, 19 September 2023
Record League Cup win

5-1 v Southend United, League Cup 2nd round, 22 September 1965

5-1 v Oxford United, League Cup 1st round 1st leg, 11 August 1979

5-1 v Luton Town, Carling Cup 2nd round, 26 August 2008

5-1 v Burton Albion, Carling Cup 1st round, 11 August 2009

Record defeat

0-18 v Preston North End, FA Cup 1st round, 1893-94

Record League Cup defeat

5-7 v Arsenal, Capital One Cup 4th round, 30 October 2012

  
Highest number of League goals scored 
in a season39, Ronnie Blackman, Division Three (South), 1951-52
in total158, Ronnie Blackman, 1947-54
  
Most League goals scored in one match

6, Arthur Bacon v Stoke City, Division Two, 3rd April 1931

Most League appearances500, Martin Hicks, 1978-91
Most capped player17, Jimmy Quinn for Northern Ireland
Youngest League playerPeter Castle, 16 years 49 days v Watford, 30th April 2003
Highest transfer fee received£8,000,000 for Michael Olise to Crystal Palace, July 2021
Highest transfer fee paid

reported £7,500,000 for Sone Aluko from Fulham, August 2017