At the end of January, we did a nostalgia piece on Reading’s incredible 2011/12 promotion-winning season, as Premier League football was achieved.

A decade later and the Royals are flirting at the prospect of playing in the third tier of English football for the first time since the early 2000s.

Whilst you don’t need to be reminded of the horrors that have happened on and off the pitch this season, let us look back at that wonderful campaign 10 years prior, and reminiscence on what was one of the greatest achievements in the club’s history.

The Championship trophy is lifted as the Royals gained promotion back to the PL (PA)

The Championship trophy is lifted as the Royals gained promotion back to the PL (PA)

Yes, it might not have been an exact report of 106 from 2006, but when you really examine the season that Reading had, the prospects of playing PL football 12 months later seemed unrealistic.

Despite having a good start to the campaign, the Royals were in the relegation zone before a decent run of results saw them move into the top-half.

Then, from the start of November to the middle of March, the Royals won an incredible 17 matches from 22 league games, suffering just five defeats.

Yet, they were still not considered favourites to go up.

West Ham United, Blackpool and Birmingham City, the three teams that had been relegated from the Premier League the season prior, were just some of the bookies’ odds on choice for promotion.

Mikele Leigertwood scored the winner against Forest that secured promotion (PA)

Mikele Leigertwood scored the winner against Forest that secured promotion (PA)

Southampton were the clear favourites as they spent the whole year in the automatic promotion places.

Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, and Hull City were also fighting for a place in the top-flight.

However, the season belonged to the Royals as a memorable night on the South Coast not just showed Southampton, but the whole league that Reading meant business.

In what was the battle between the top two teams in the league, Reading defeated the Saints 3-1 at Saint Mary’s to not just move top of the table, but to send a message to their opponents in the league that their run of wins was no fluke.

Super Brian with a bottle of bubbly (PA)

Super Brian with a bottle of bubbly (PA)

In that battle on a warm Friday night in Southampton, a double from Adam Le Fondre and a Jason Roberts goal gave Brian McDermott’s side all three points, and send the Royals three points clear at the top of the Championship, at the expense of Southampton.

Four days later, it was party time in Berkshire.

What scenes (PA)

What scenes (PA)

A 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest thanks to a Mikele Leigertwood strike, one of five he bagged that season, secured promotion back to the elite club that is the Premier League.

What we put out in 2012

What we put out in 2012

They then secured the Championship title a few days later following a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

Emotional and joyous scenes followed at the Mad Stad, and hopefully, these days can return to Berkshire soon.