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Reading Review of the Season: April sees safety confirmed at a canter
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April proved another hectic month, with six fixtures, but supporters enjoyed being able to focus purely on the football with former CEO Nigel Howe heading up the ongoing ‘exclusive negotiations’ for a takeover. Bolton Wanderers inflicted a heavy defeat on Reading on Easter Monday, beating the defence at will and looking every bit a Championship team in a 5-2 victory. Lincoln City, chasing down the play-offs on the back of a 13-game winning streak, visited the SCL Stadium for the first time and were fortunate to walk away with a point in what was an impressive Reading performance. Freddie Draper put the Imps ahead late on, against the run of play, but Tyler Bindon rose highest to head an equaliser and keep the points tally ticking towards safety. Safety was all-but assured following an emotional 2-0 win over Bristol Rove
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Reading defender nominated for Player of the Season ahead of play-off semi-final
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Reading defender Michael Stickland has been nominated for PL2 Player of the Season as the Royals look for play-off glory. 20-year-old Stickland captains Noel Hunt's Under-21s, having lifted the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup and preparing for Monday's semi-final tie with Sunderland. The winner will visit either Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
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Reading Review of the Season: March brings crucial victories at the bottom
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After being hit with the two point deduction at the end of February, nobody could have complained had the players downed tools and accepted their fate of relegation to League Two. But the staff, players and supporters aren’t like that at Reading. It was a fresh challenge, and one taken head on. More than 1,400 supporters made the mammoth trip to Carlisle for the first match of the month, with Carlisle boss Paul Simpson’s words still ringing in their ears. ‘It’s not everyone who has broken the rules, they have,’ said the former Oxford United favourite, admitting to mind games in his post-match comments.
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Dave Kitson Column: The challenges of being a parent
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I’m a parent, so I know how demanding parenting can be. I am full of admiration for anyone who has to juggle working and looking after children, for example. Yes, we want the best for our children, but parenting is not without its challenges. Including cost. My own children are growing up fast and, since I started coaching last year, I’ve seen less of them. I’ve really enjoyed the one-to-one and team coaching sessions I’ve done since I launched The Dave Kitson Academy in November – but I’ve been getting a lot of feedback from parents, asking if I will be putting on more group sessions.
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'May the best team win' Reading coach on upcoming reunion with 'good friend'
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Reading Under-21s boss Noel Hunt is looking forward to going head-to-head with 'good friend' Graeme Murty in Monday's PL2 semi-final against Sunderland. Legendary Royal Murty played more than 300 times for the club and was captain when Irishman Hunt arrived at the club in 2008. Both Championship winners with the club in 2006 and 2012 respectively, supporters cannot wait to give Murty a heroes reception at the SCL Stadium when he brings his Sunderland side to Berkshire for the right to play Chelsea or Tottenham in the PL2 final.
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Reading protests 'bought everyone so close together' says star midfielder
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Reading midfielder Charlie Estcourt believes the protests throughout the season 'brought everybody so close together' when looking back at a 'rollercoaster' campaign. 25-year-old Estcourt, a popular Academy graduate who returned to the club last year after three years away, has spent most of the season on pundit duty for BBC Berkshire alongside her commanding performances in the Women's Championship. Born and raised in the town, Estcourt provided a heartfelt assessment of the season on the radio and delved into the protests against Dai Yongge in particular.
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What became of Reading's four January exits as season's come to an end
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In a controversial January transfer window, with some players sold before alerting boss Ruben Selles, Reading lost five first-team players for little value in what looked to be a tough battle to stay in League One. One sold player, namely Tom Holmes, returned immediately from Luton Town to play for his boyhood club on loan for the rest of the season. With hindsight, supporters need not worry as the Royals finished a comfortable nine points clear of the relegation zone, and that was taking into account a fresh points deduction. Take a look below at how the four January exits have fared in their first half-seasons away from Berkshire.
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EFL confirm transfer window dates as Reading prepare squad for new season
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The EFL have confirmed the dates for next season's transfer window, with the summer period for transfers officially opening in less than a month. Always a popular period for supporters, full of intrigue and anticipation over which exciting prospect will join their team to improve it. Reading remain under embargo and cannot sign players for a transfer or loan fee, including wage contributions for temporary additions.
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Reading Review of the Season: February form picks up to offset final points deduction
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February proved a hectic month for Reading, with seven fixtures to cram in as the season began to enter its final stages. 1,400 supporters made the short hop to Oxford for the reverse Thames Valley Derby, this one moved forward to a 12.30pm kick-off at the request of Thames Valley Police. Falling behind in the first half to Mark Harris’ strike, many feared the worst. However, the Royals dug in at the Kassam Stadium and were rewarded with an own goal 15 minutes from time to ensure the spoils were shared yet again with the Us.
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Reading lift Berks and Bucks Senior Cup title with hard-fought Marlow victory
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Reading Under-21s started their crunch week with silverware, lifting the historic Berks and Bucks Senior Cup. In a rematch of the first-ever Senior Cup final way back in 1879, Noel Hunt's Royals enacted revenge on Marlow for last year's semi-final exit, beating Mark Bartley's side 2-1 at Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst. The young Royals dominated their non-league opponents in the first half, putting themselves in the driving seat at the break after goals from Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Adrian Akande.
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