When : Tuesday October 8 2023, 7pm
Where : Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, GL52 5NA
Capacity : 6,700
Next up is a first ever Trophy visit to Gloucestershire.
Cheltenham disappeared from the 3rd tier fixtures after failing to finish above 4 other teams in the old third division last season. Their season restart at the lower lever hasn't exactly been too bright either given they sit 20th in their new division, having been beaten 2-1 at Barrow on Saturday.
However 9 of their 10 points have arrived courtesy of home games and we all know how wonderful it is to be able to support Reading when they go on their travels even when they're obvious favourites #kiddy #eastleigh
The game will gave to be "concluded" on the night, there will not be any extra time though, it will go to penalties if it's all square at full time. Reading need to win to more or less guarantee progression to the knock out bit, but defeat wouldn't be the end of the world with the home fixture v Newport still to come next month.
Changes will be made by Reading given the perceived cr@pness of the competition. Abrefa has, I think, joined the list of casualties while Pereira and Camara will remain out until at least after the international break. WiFi will either miss this game or the league visit from Crawley in serving his 1 game ban following being sent off at Rovrum. That said, think Wareham or Tuma will start over him anyway while Akande will be preferred to Campbell, CBBC over Button and Dean will probably start.
Referee
James Durkin
Previously
No previous games
Historically
Reading have won 4 of the previous 6 games against Cheltenham in all competitions with the other 2 games ending as draws so this fixture sees a record you'd want to keep intact. 4 of those previous games have been in the FA Cup so this game is a return to the more usual fare between the two sides. Reading have only won once at Whaddon Road (back in 1956) and never lost but Cheltenham will fancy their chances if it's Charity FC that turn up on Tuesday.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Sky button thing
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)