After more than 20 years in the top two divisions of English football, many had expected Reading to need an acclimatisation period in the lower leagues.

What followed was nine months of sheer heartbreak, ecstasy, agony and pride as the Royals overturned points deductions, and a 10-point deficit, to survive in League One.

Take a look at part one here, reaching New Year's Day in an unforgettable campaign following the club, and continue below for the turbulent but ultimately more fun second part to the season.

Reading A-A Port Vale, January 13

The day that Reading Football Club went global in their fight against Dai Yongge’s ownership, a fortnight of redundancies and player sales proved the straw that broke the camel’s back for many supporters.

Barely a minute had gone before tennis balls were launched against Vale, and the uneasy atmosphere made it clear that this fixture would not be completed.

Come the 16th minute, hordes of supporters streamed onto the pitch and remained there for almost an hour before the decision was made to abandon the fixture.

Back-page news on national outlets up and down the country, Reading were not going to slip into the abyss quietly.

Stevenage 0-1 Reading, February 6

After earning their first away win in 378 days at Wycombe back in November, Reading lost one of the next five, drawing four of them.

Looking resurgent in the second half of the campaign, Steve Evans’ promotion-chasing Stevenage looked a tough test. It was made even tougher when a storm hit Hertfordshire, bringing gale-force winds and swirling rain.

Standing up to the challenge, scoring through Vadaine Oliver’s own goal and defending valiantly, Reading earned their second away maximum of the season to keep their noses above the dreaded dotted line.

It was 'World Cup stuff' from the players after the game, much to the delight of Evans...

Carlisle 1-3 Reading, March 2

Carlisle, sat bottom since November and approaching the game 15 points adrift of safety, poked the bear in the lead up the meeting when manager Paul Simpson had his say on Reading’s financial situation and ‘breaking the rules.’

Almost 1,500 made the trip to Brunton Park, through snow and rain, and the fans were duly rewarded with a dominant display in Cumbria.

Harvey Knibbs’ brace and Smith’s goal had Reading in cruise control, and Jon Mellish’s late goal did little to dampen the mood in the drizzle as the Royals celebrated moving six points clear of the relegation zone.

Reading 4-0 Cambridge United, March 16

Another relegation-threatened team who had just appointed a new manager was usually a difficult combination for Reading to face down the years, but the Us were blown away in Berkshire as Selles’ side moved seven points clear of the drop.

Smith, Azeez, Lewis Wing and Ehibhatiomhan did the damage in what proved an unusually comfortable afternoon in League One.

Bristol Rovers 0-2 Reading, April 9

Reading’s fourth and final away win of the season came on another warm evening down the M4, with a sell-out crowd making a short hop to the Memorial Stadium for the first time in over two decades.

Matt Taylor’s men were in holiday mode, having already sealed their place in League One, and it showed as the Royals went through the gears against the Gas.

Smith and Wing hit the net spectacularly in the first half, while Joel Pereira was kept busy between the sticks in the second half.

Moving nine points clear of the relegation zone, results elsewhere rendered it almost impossible for Reading to be relegated.

Reading 3-2 Blackpool, April 27

46 matches, nine months and countless sleepless nights, Reading had made it to the end of the season in existence and in League One following a remarkable turnaround of form in the second part of the campaign.

Almost 19,000 turned out for the final day extravaganza, ‘Dia Del Jefe’ and the players performed, preventing the Tangerines from sneaking into the final play-off spot at Barnsley’s expense.

Thousands remained for the traditional Lap of Appreciation as the SCL Stadium kept its party atmosphere going long into the afternoon.

This kept going through the evening too, with staff and players partying with supporters until the early hours in various town centre locations.