James Earnshaw

Reading nemesis Neil Warnock has come out of retirement, again, to take a role with National League side Torquay United. Warnock, 75, was a regular foe of the Royals for the past 20 years, a figure supporters loved to hate, a pantomime role the Yorkshireman thrived in. Losing to Reading more times in his career than any other team, the former Cardiff City and Sheffield United boss has earned eight promotions in his career which spans over 40 years.

Three former Reading stars are in a position to grace the iconic Wembley Stadium turf this weekend as the League One and League Two play-offs come to a close. Rivals Oxford United are facing Bolton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon to earn the right to walk out in the Championship next season, while Crawley Town head to the national stadium for the first time ever to battle Crewe Alexandra for promotion into League One. All three former Reading players involved in the end-of-season play-offs have made it through to the final, with one having featured for the Royals under the famous arch seven years ago.

Reading are looking to pick up their second Berks and Bucks Senior Cup under the management of Noel Hunt this evening, with Marlow standing in the Young Royals' way at the SB Stadium this evening (7.45pm kick-off). In Hunt's debut campaign in charge, Ascot United were eased aside 4-0 at Slough Town's Arbour Park, the first time the club had lifted the local honour since 1995. Some of that side have gone on to become first-team staples, some still playing elsewhere while some have dropped off the radar completely. Take a look below at where they are now, just two years on.

Reading have hit back at the Football Association in a scathing statement following news of the club being charged for breaching intermediary regulations.  The club have been hit with a £200,000 fine and former CEO Nigel Howe will be suspended from the game for 12 months, as well as receiving a £5,000 fine, for issues with Michael Olise's agent in 2019. Intermediary Glen Tweneboah denies all charges, however they were found proven and he has been fined £15,000 and suspended for six months from all football and football-related activity.

Reading have been hit with a £200,000 fine for breaching Rule E1.2 relating to intermediaries in 2019. It was alleged that Reading and former CEO Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes – acting on behalf of the Club – as well as Intermediary Glen Tweneboah agreed for the latter to have an interest in relation to a registration right or an economic right, namely to receive payments contingent on the future transfer of a player, which was a breach of The FA’s Intermediary Regulations.  Reading FC, Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes denied breaching Intermediary Regulation E5, but admitted a charge of improper conduct.

Reading East MP, Matt Rodda, has been left 'encouraged' after attending a football governance bill committee. A key politician in assisting with the current ownership saga at Reading Football Club, the Football Governance Bill is pushing to create an Independent Regulator in the game. Having had the first and second readings in the House of Commons, a committee is currently underway involving heads of the EFL, Premier League and Football Supporters Association. Rodda was among the politicians asking questions about whether the Bill would prevent what happened at Reading from happening again.

Almost a fortnight has progressed since the 2023/24 League One season came to an end, barring the play-off final between Bolton Wanderers and Oxford United on Saturday. The Reading Chronicle have been at every first-team match this season, 55 in league and cup, with JasonPIX taking excellent snaps of the action for yet another rollercoaster season in the club's history- perhaps THE most turbulent in 153 years.

Former Prime Minister, Theresa May, was part of the festivities in Sonning as Padelstars opened it's first Padel court in the town. A popular high-octane activity dating back to the 1960s in Mexico, more than 25 million people play padel around the world, making it one of the fastest-growing sports around the globe. Similar to tennis, the main difference is that the court has walls and the balls can be played off them in a similar way as in squash.

Riding high after two straight victories, off-field issues returned to dominate the headlines as payroll was late.  Opting to pay the playing staff on time and not the general staff in order to offset another points deduction, manager Ruben Selles and Director of Football Mark Bowen refused to take their salaries until the entire workforce received their pay packets. The first weekend of the month saw the club make the trip to Eastleigh in the FA Cup, with ITV televising the clash live on terrestrial television. It proved a landmark moment as Royals supporters protested on opposition soil for the first time, apologising to the Spitfires for any inconvenience, but receiving widespread support after it was covered impeccably by ITV and the likes of Ian Wright and Sam Matterface.

Details have been finalised for Reading's PL2 play-off semi-final against Sunderland. Finishing sixth in the PL2 system, featuring all Category One academies, the Royals beat Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest on route to the semi-final stage. Sunderland, bossed by Royals legend Graeme Murty, finished just one place further back in the full PL2 standings, beating Wolves and West Ham United in their two knockout matches to date.