Reading club information and pen pics

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Reading F C

Reading were formed in 1871. They amalgamated with Reading Hornets in 1877 and in 1889 Earley FC joined them.

Reading’s first trophy was the Berks & Bucks Cup in 1879. Despite being one of the oldest clubs in the country Reading did not enter the Football League until 1920.

The original nickname was the Biscuitmen due to the town’s association with Huntley & Palmers the biscuit makers.

Honours- EFL Championship winners 2006. Second Division winners 1994. Division 3 winners 1986. Division 3 (S) winners 1926. Division 4 winners 1979. Full Members Cup winners 1988.

Records-Most League Appearances Martin Hicks 500 1978-1991. Most League Goals in total Ronnie Blackman 158 1947-1954.

Most Goals in a Season Ronnie Blackman 39 1951-52.

Record Transfer Fee Received £8m from Crystal Palace for Michael Olise in 2021

Record Transfer Fee Paid £7.5m to International for George Puscas in 2019.

Played for Both Clubs- Kweisi Appiah, Colin Bailie, Dom Ballard, Grant Brebner, Luke Chadwick, Derrick Christie, David Crown, Dick Habbin, George Harris, Scott Howie, Uche Ikpeazu, Dave Kitson, Harvey Knibbs, Sean Long, Colin Meldrum, Scott Rendell, Peter Silvester, Sam Smith, Jack Stevens, Josh Stokes, Floyd Streete. Martin Butler

Former Reading player Colin Meldrum scored Cambridge United’s first ever league goal in 1971.

Head 2 Head- Overall there has been 29 competitive matches between the two clubs. Reading have won 13, Cambridge United 10 and there has been 6 draws.

Cambridge United did manage to win the four cup ties between the two clubs one in the FA Cup in 1993 and three League Cups ties in 1992 and 2003.

The first meeting of the two was in November 1971 at the Abbey with Cambridge United winning 4-1 with goals from David Lill, Terry Eades, Chris Foote and Brian Greenhalgh. Cumming replying for Reading.

The last meeting was 1st January 2025 at the Abbey when Reading ran out winners by 3-1 Ex U’s Harvey Knibbs 2 and Sam Smith scoring for Reading and Elias Kachunga for Reading.

Reading’s  last match was a 3-1 home win against Blackpool their line up was Pereira, Godwin-Malife, O’Connor, Ward, Roberts, Wing, Rinomhata (Savage85), Lisbie  (Kyerewaa 75), Earthy (Williams), Lane (Reid 7), Marriott (Brown 69). Unused Subs Stevens & Masterson. 

1 Joel Pereira G/K   Born 28/06/1996 Boudevilliers, Switzerland.
Product of Manchester United's academy. Joined Reading in 2023 from RKC Waalwijk. Portugal U/21

2 Udoka Goodwin-Malife Born 9/05/2000 Oxford. A youth with Oxford City.
Joined Reading from Burton A in summer 2026. Previously with Swindon T and FGR

4 Andy Rinomhota Born 21/04/1997 Leeds.
A youth with Reading. Rejoined Reading in 2025 from Cardiff C. Previously played 125 matches for Reading. Zimbabwe full international.

5 Hayden Roberts Born 10/05/2002 Brighton.
A youth with Brighton. Joined Reading in 2026 from Bristol City. Has also played at Derby C and Rochdale. England U/18

7 Jack Marriott Born 9/09/1994 Beverley.
Product of Ipswich Town's academy. Joined Reading in 2025 from Wrexham. Has also playe for Fleetwood, Peterborough, Derby C. and Luton T.

8 Charlie Savage Born 2/05/2003 Leicester.
A youth with Manchester U. Joined Reading in 2023. Had a loan spell at FGR in 2023. Full Welsh international.

9 Jamie Reid  Born 15/07/1994 Torquay.
A youth at Exeter C. Joined Reading in summer 2026 from Stevenage where he had made over 200 appearances. Northern Ireland full international.

10 Lewis Wing Born 23/06/1995 Newton Aycliffe.
Joined Reading in 2023 from Wycombe W. Has also played for Middlesbrough, Sheffield W and Rotherham U.

11 Daniel Kyerewaa Born 5/10/2001 Dusseldorf.
Joined Reading in 2025 from Preuisen Munster. Previsously at Schalke 04.

14 Randell Williams Born 30/12/1996 Lambeth.
Product of Tottenham's academy. Joined Reading from Leyton Orient in 2025. Has also played for Bolton W, Hull C and Exeter C. 

15 Paudie O'Connor Born 14/07/1997 Limerick.
Joined Reading in 2025 from Lincoln C. Has also played for Bradford C and Leeds U.

16 Ben Ward Born 31/10/2003 Hastings.
Joined Reading in 2026 from Accrington S. Also played for Swindon T and Hastings U.

17 George Earthy Born 4/09/2004 Havering.
A product of West Ham's academy.
Joined Reading in summer 2026. Has had a loan at Bristol C. England U/21.

18 Jacob Brown Born 10/04/1998 Halifax.
Joined Reading in summer 2026 from Luton T.
Has also played for Stoke C. and Barnsley. Full Scottish international.

19 Kyreece Lisbie Born 1/12/2003 Waltham Forest.
A youth with Watford and Brentford. Joined Reading in 2026 from Colchester U.

23 Conor Masterson Born 8/09/1998 Celbridge.
Product of Liverpool's academy. Joined Reading from Gillingham in 2026. Also played for Swindon T, QPR and Cambridge U on loan from QPR. ROI U/21.

25 Jack Stevens G/K Born 2/08/1997 Ealing.
A youth with Reading and Oxford U. Joined Reading in 2025 from Cambridge U. Also played for Oxford U.

26 Josh Knight  Born 27/09/1997 Fleckney.
On loan from Portsmouth. Has also played for Hannover 96, Peterborough U and Wycombe W.

28 Josh Stokes Born 29/04/2004 Shotley.
On loan from Bristol C. Played 32 matches for Cambridge United in 24/25 also on loan from Bristol C.

32 Paddy Lane Born 18/02/2001 Halifax.
Joined Reading in 2025 from Portsmouth. Previously at Fleetwood T  and Hyde United.

48 Matt Rowley G/K Born 2004.
Yet to make a first team appearance. Has had loans at various non league clubs.

Thank you to Nigel Browne for the information