A leaving Reading FC reporter’s highs and lows
I didn’t want to go in a blaze of glory after losing to rivals Swindon Town 3-2 in the Vertu Trophy, but at least I saw the first League One triumph on Saturday against Port Vale. It was never going to be a victory to end my tenure because Reading lost 4-0 against Nottingham Forest, where they gave up the goal in just 17 seconds.
It has been an honour and a privilege to be on the front lines of the club’s most difficult battle in 154 years, the removal of Dai Yongge, and it has been a pleasure to share with you all the highs and mostly lows of our club since 2021. I must put my sincere gratitude and thanks to you all on record. A new chapter at the club seemed like the ideal moment to begin a new chapter in my own life, and I’m excited to watch the club’s external coverage develop. I thought it would be fun to take a journey down memory lane and share some of my memories of my time following the Royals across the nation while working as the job of dreams before I ride off into the sunset.
It must be the eight-goal thriller on Easter Monday 2022 for sheer craziness. Over the Easter weekend, Reading had already performed a miracle, defeating Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Tom McIntyre. The victory seemed to have slipped away when Iliman N’Diaye equalised in the ninetieth minute. It required a tremendous recovery to save Reading’s Championship survival when they were behind 4-1 to Russell Martin’s Swans at halftime, but goals from Lucas Joao, Tom Ince, and McIntyre once more achieved just that at the SCL Stadium.
The task was completed, and safety was guaranteed—at least for another year—even if Reading would lose their next three games without scoring. Comparing Championship victories to League One ones has been difficult, I must admit. I had a lot of fun in the third division from November 2023 to May 2024 once Ruben Selles took over and started playing free-flowing music. The 3-1 victory over Posh last season, however, felt the least League One-like after seeing a lot of League One games in recent years.
Throughout the third quarter, both teams attempted to play football with the ball on the ground, but Noel Hunt’s Royals performed far better than their guests, easily defeating Darren Ferguson’s team at home. Although the Papa John’s Trophy record-breaking 9-0 victory over Exeter City deserves recognition, the competition’s structure and the inclusion of two teams must take it a step further. A 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers stands out in the Championship, but last season’s performance in the opening-day draw at Birmingham City did not earn the team the victory it deserved.
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