And so, with just one game remaining, the supporters could enjoy the month of May. In unlikely fashion the Royals went into the final day clash with Luton Town in buoyant spirits knowing they could enjoy the trip without a care as the job of staying in the Championship had already been decided. For the hosts, it was all to play for as a win would cement their incredible position in the top six and extend their campaign by at least two more matches.
A sold-out away contingent travelled to Bedfordshire for the first time since 2005 and, inflatables under arm, looked to enjoy their day out. A final day tradition, Reading supporters have always taken blow-up objects for the final away trip of the season- but almost not this season. Confiscating inflatables on arrival, riled up Royals took to social media to vent their frustration at the Hatters but in the end they all got too much for the stewards as hordes of inflatables were thrown around the away end in the build up to the final kick off of the season.
With not a single empty seat in Kenilworth Road, a boisterous noise looked set to carry Nathan Jones’ side over the line- along with a helping hand from Reading keeper Orjan Nyland. With the digital board in the air showing how much stoppage time we were to see at the end of a first period dominated by the team in orange, the ball was safely in the hands of the Norway shot stopper. Unbeknownst to him, despite the cries of ‘man on’ from the 1,000 fans behind his goal, striker Harry Cornick was lurking behind him and just as the keeper put the ball on the floor Cornick nipped in and dispossessed the goalie, tapping into an unguarded net to give the hosts their highly sought-after lead. Paul Ince’s side came out fighting in the second half and almost levelled through Michael Morrison, but it was not to be as the season ended with three straight defeats without scoring.
It was not all bad, with Noel Hunt’s Under-23s side beating Ascot United 4-0 on the same day, with striker Rashawn Scott making his debut for the first team in Luton before racing off to Slough for the Under-23s, to win the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup for the first time since 1995, ensuring the club end its prestigious 150th anniversary season with some silverware.
At the End of Season Gala, midfielder John Swift picked up two awards but the big one, as voted for by Royal supporters, went to right-back and fan favourite Andy Yiadom- Reading Football Club Player of the Season.
And so, in comical fashion that only ever seems to hit Reading Football Club, the 2021/22 campaign came to an end. It left more questions than it answered, with 14 first team players out of contract in June and Profit and Sustainability regulations hindering any hopes of paying money for a player. Despite only having eight players in contract for next season so far, it was confirmed that Ince and Alex Rae are to continue in their roles on a permanent basis ahead of next season and are to be joined by former boss Mark Bowen in a Head of Football Operations role.
May is still barely halfway through and although the first team are done and dusted for the year, players of old are still to take to the SCL [then-called Madejski Stadium] turf for a special anniversary legends match. With the likes of Jobi McAnuff and Graeme Murty set to play, it promises to be an afternoon full of nostalgia and fun- a thoroughly enjoyable way to round off what has been, for the most part, a very unenjoyable campaign.
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