Series one of the popular Reading FC podcast, 1871 podcast, finishes on Sunday - but is set to return for a second series in late June.

Royals Under 23s manager, and former striker, Noel Hunt is a guest on the penultimate episode on Saturday, May 28.

Guests already pencilled in for series two include Stephen Hunt, Phil Parkinson, Graeme Murty and Nigel Howe, with fans invited to test their Reading FC knowledge in a quiz.

The 1871 podcast was launched in February, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the club's first competitive game.

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Creator and host Mark Roach says he launched the podcast so that former players could reminisce about their time at the club, give listeners an insight into what the club was like in days gone by and take a look back at some of the club's glory days over the last 50 years.

He also wanted to pay tribute to his father, former Royals director Brian Roach, who helped Roger Smee block the proposed merger with Oxford United in 1983 and was a regular in the media gantry at the Madejski Stadium until two years ago. 

 

Reading Chronicle:

 

Brian, who had Alzheimer's, passed away shortly after the podcast launched.

"I managed to play one or two of the early episodes of the podcast to my Dad before he passed away," said Mark, who has been a Reading fan for nearly 40 years. 

"It was nice of former players and managers and the many Reading fans who passed on their condolences and talked about their memories of my Dad."

Former Reading defender Dylan Kerr and Royals fan Johnny Hunt are 1871 podcast co-hosts.

Guests on the 1871 podcast have included Steve Coppell, Brian McDermott, Graeme Murty, Kevin Doyle and Ivar Ingimarsson.

The series one launch in February coincided with the opening of the Reading FC 150th anniversary exhibition at Reading Museum. 

Exhibition curator and Royals fan Brendan Carr was a guest this week, while Ibrahima Sonko and Simon Cox returned for their second appearances to talk about the legends game on Saturday.

 Sunday's final series one episode is a look back at the series and some of the stories to have emerged.

 

Reading Chronicle:

 

Mark says he is delighted with the feedback the 1871 podcast has received. "I appreciate everyone who has been in touch to say that they have enjoyed the podcast - and I am very grateful to all the guests who have given up their time to join us. 

"It has been fantastic to have had so many Royals legends on as guests and to hear so many great memories and stories."

The 1871 podcast - which has been putting out daily episodes since April - has so far clocked up more than 70 episodes and has had downloads in the tens of thousands, with listeners in almost 50 countries.

 

Click here to listen to past episodes.