IN FOCUS: READING

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

IN FOCUS: READING

With the new Sky Bet Championship season now approaching, we bring you the lowdown on all 23 of our league opponents

2022-07-14T09:38:48.109Z

IN FOCUS: READING

With the new Sky Bet Championship season now approaching, we bring you the lowdown on all 23 of our league opponents

2022-07-14T09:38:48.109Z

Ticket details for our game at Select Car Leasing Stadium

One of the oldest teams in England, Reading were established in 1871 though did not join the Football League until 1920, spending that time playing in regional leagues and touring Italy.

Initially elected into the Third Division South, the Royals yo-yoed between that and the Second Division for a number of years. It wasn’t until the takeover by John Madjeski in 1991 that the club really began to take strides forward.

Reading were crowned Champions of the new Division Two three years later and soon enough thought they had earned promotion to the Premier League as runners-up of Division One, only to be denied by the streamlining of the top flight from 22 to 20 teams.

They were also on their way to the Premier League in 1995, but saw Bolton Wanderers come from 2-0 down to beat them 4-3 after extra time in the Championship Play-Off final. The Royals missed a penalty at Wembley which would’ve had them 3-0 to the good.

After slipping into what is now known as League One, they eventually recovered to reach the top flight in 2006, winning the Championship with a record 106 points and scoring 99 goals. No club has matched those numbers since in any English division.

Relegated in 2007/08, the Royals would go onto be beaten by none other than the Clarets in the Play-Off semis the year after with Burnley going onto clinch promotion.

Reading did eventually get back to the top flight, spending one season there – 2012/13 – but have been a second-tier club ever since. The last few years has seen a slump in Berkshire, narrowly avoiding the drop last term.

Stadium: Select Car Leasing Stadium (24,161) – Junction 11, M4, Reading, RG2 0FL

Nickname(s): The Royals, The Biscuitmen

Manager: Paul Ince

2021/22 Finishing Position: 21st

2021/22 Top Scorer: John Swift (11)

Notable Connections: The list of players to have appeared for both Burnley and Reading is somewhat smaller than most other Championship clubs, though there are still some recognisable faces on there.

Ex-Burnley loanee Danny Drinkwater spent last season on loan in Berkshire from parent club Chelsea, though has now departed.

Elsewhere, former defender Glen Little – who won promotion from the Second Division as a Claret and made 283 appearances for the club over eight seasons – went on loan to the Royals from Turf Moor in 2002.

Others include ex-winger John Murray, Andre Bikey, and former midfielder Luke Chadwick.

Last Time We Met: As with many of the opponents which the Clarets will be facing this season, the last meeting with Reading came in the 2015/16 campaign which saw Burnley earn promotion to the Premier League.

Sean Dyche’s side took a point from a goalless draw at the venue then known as the Madjeski Stadium in February 2016. Reading would end that season 17th.

Full Record (All Competitions): P: 43 - W: 11, D: 12, L: 20

Fixtures in the 2022/23 season: 29.10.22 (H – Turf Moor) / 15.04.23 (A – Select Car Leasing Stadium)