The Reading heroes from that title winning 2005/06 season

Following their 1-0 home loss against Millwall on March 5, which was their 11 defeat in 14 matches this calendar year, the Royals sit just one place and five points clear of the relegation zone.

However, to continue on pieces we have done in recent weeks, we are looking at some of the successes that have happened to the Boys and Berks, to cheer up those fans who are hating watch the Royals right now.

In our previous edition, we looked at the amazing 2011/12 season, and before that, we looked at the heroes who got Reading up into the top-flight for the first time back in 2006.

So this week, let us focus on just some of the heroes that played an integral part in both the 2005/06 season.

Ívar Ingimarsson and Ibrahima Sonko

Hailing from Senegal but loved in the Royal Borough of Berkshire is the centre back, Ibrahima Sonko.

The defender played every game of the 2005/06 season with an additional six games in the cup, meaning he was only behind Ívar Ingimarsson in fixtures played that campaign, as the Icelandic international played in one more match.

The duo faultless as they helped keep 22 clean sheets that season, which included four on the bounce in August 2005.

Ibrahima Sonko pictured after signing for the club in 2004 (PA)

Their amazing form continued throughout the season so it was no surprise to see Sonko in the 2005/06 Championship Team of the Year, whilst Ingimarsson just missed out.

Going into the Premier League, they played 111 times collectively for the Royals between 2006 and 2008.

Steve Sidwell

A maestro in the midfield, the 2005/06 season saw Steve Sidwell score the most goals he would ever bag in one campaign with 10.

All of those strikes were scored in the league as Reading cruised to promotion.

Once the title was confirmed, he may not have got double digits in the top-flight in the 2006/07 season, but his performances attracted many clubs to look at his performances.

Steve Sidwell bagged 10 goals in the 2005/06 season (PA)

Most notably, Chelsea, who signed Sidwell on a free transfer in the summer of 2007.

He spent 10 seasons as a top-flight player, and played 35 league games in Reading’s first season as a top-flight team.

Glenn Little

A cult hero in Berkshire, Little had three separate spells with the Royals but it was during his second stint with the club that he made his name.

After a relatively quiet loan period with Reading in the 2002/03 season where he played seven times and scored once, he returned two years later.

Glenn Little in action against Spurs in the PL 2006/07 season (PA)

He played a huge part in the Royals’ promotion to the Premier League has he played 35 league games, and bagged five goals which included one against Brighton in August 2005.

This was in the club’s season league game that season which registered their first win of the campaign – the first of 31.

He would go onto play 26 games for Reading in the Premier League.

Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle

This sublime strike partnership saw the duo bag 36 league goals between them that season (18 each), as they took the Championship title by storm.

Dave Kitson scored 62 goals for Reading (PA)

Whilst Kitson, who was already an established figure at not just Reading, but in the EFL, was leading by example, he was partnered up with a young 22-year-old forward, who had just been signed for £78,000, who no-one had ever heard off.

But, Doyle, who had never played in England before, took to the second tier like a duck to water.

He played 51 games that season, bagged 19 goals and in his second season with the club, he was a Premier League player.

Kevin Doyle scored 19 goals for Reading in the PL across two years (PA)

Collectively (between the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, which were two years Reading had in the PL before their relegation), the two strikers played 115 games and scored 38 goals.