The 150th anniversary season was not the fun-filled rollercoaster we were all hoping for but that does not mean it was without its moments.

Join us for the next 10 days as we reccount the season, month-by-month, in which the supporters have endured enough ups and downs to last a lifetime.

 

August

After Veljko Paunovic’s debut campaign in which the Royals narrowly missed out on the play-offs to finish seventh the season before, hopes were high in Berkshire with supporters hoping the club could build on the positive 2020/21 season.

Before a ball had been kicked those hopes were tempered slightly, with teenage sensation Michael Olise, the EFL’s Young Player of the Season in 2020/21, departed to join Crystal Palace for a club-record fee received by Reading. Another key member of that squad, 12-goal-man Yakou Meite, ruptured his cruciate ligament in pre-season and was not seen until February- massively impacting the Royals over the course of the season.

With news of a potential points deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability regulations rumbling throughout pre-season, and an EFL soft transfer embargo limiting spending to just free agents and loan deals, the pre-season was an incredibly slow one.

 

Reading Chronicle:

 

However, there was good news. After the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, supporters up and down the country were once again allowed back into stadiums to full capacities, free of government rules on mask wearing and social distancing.

On August 7, 2021, more than 1,000 Royals made the trip to Stoke City for the curtain raiser and it certainly entertained. The hosts took the lead just before the half hour mark through Nick Powell, but midfield maestro John Swift equalised just 90 seconds later. Determined not to be outdone, within 60 seconds the Potters had regained the lead through Jacob Brown. Captain Liam Moore equalised on the hour mark but with just five minutes remaining Sam Surridge fired in his debut strike for Michael O Neil’s men to condemn Paunovic to an opening day defeat.

Just three days after shipping three in the Potteries, another three were shipped in the newly renamed Select Car Leasing Stadium as a young side were comfortably dispatched 0-3 by Russell Martin’s Swansea City in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

The financial situation at the club began to become clearer as the month progressed and two days before the Royals were due to face Preston North End the first signing of what would be a busy summer took place.

Highly regarded at Watford, young midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru signed on a season-long loan.

 

Reading Chronicle:

 

With games coming thick and fast, Reading would get off the mark in the first home league match of the new campaign against Frankie McAvoy’s Lilywhites. 12,000 fans welcomed back the side on home turf and were rewarded with three points as Academy graduate Femi Azeez opened his account for the club. Daniel Johnson made it 1-1 on the hour mark but just 10 minutes later Swift regained the lead and the side hung on to claim a valuable first win.

Disappointingly that was to be the highlight of the opening month as three more defeats were suffered.

Bristol City outscored the Royals at the SCL Stadium on the first midweek fixture of the season, Azeez and Moore strikes cancelled out by an Andreas Weimann double and former striker Chris Martin’s effort.

A 98th minute winner for Coventry City broke travelling supporters’ hearts in the Midlands as the newly promoted side continued their upward march in the Championship before four were shipped in Yorkshire to Huddersfield Town on August Bank Holiday weekend to leave the club in 21st at the end of August with just three points from a possible 15.

A theme which will be prominent throughout the season, the first signs of an injury crisis reared its ugly head in August with star striker Lucas Joao out for five months with a hip problem and much-loved Academy graduate Tom McIntyre, who signed  a new deal with the club in pre-season, was to be missing until February with a fractured foot.

Off the field there were plenty of changes with five additions joining Dele-Bashiru.

Experienced winger Junior Hoilett joined the club on a one-year contract alongside former Barcelona midfielder Alen Halilovic and Crystal Palace stalwart Scott Dann.

 

Reading Chronicle:

 

Chelsea pair Abdul Baba Rahman and Danny Drinkwater made up the summer acquisitions while Marc McNulty and Jeriel Dorsett left the club on temporary moves to Dundee United and Rochdale respectively.

 

Join us tomorrow for September (hint, it was a much more enjoyable month!)