Top 6 finishes since 1970

[Royal Rother]

How many have we had?

Don't know where one would fine a quick n easy chart but surely outside of Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool there really can't be many clubs who have had more Top 6 finishes in the last 43 years.

Spare a thought for Coventry supporters - not one single Top 6 finish in all that time. Amazing their attendances have held up as well as they have when there's been sod all to get excited about in so long.

But Reading - we've never had it so good.

[Sutekh]

Top 6 finishes since joining the FL (I've kept the proper names of the divisions to avoid confusion)

1926 - 1st (Division 3S)
1932 - 2nd (Division 3S)
1933 - 4th (Division 3S)
1934 - 3rd (Division 3S)
1935 - 2nd (Division 3S)
1936 - 3rd (Division 3S)
1937 - 5th (Division 3S)
1938 - 6th (Division 3S)
1939 - 5th (Division 3S)
1949 - 2nd (Division 3S)
1951 - 3rd (Division 3S)
1952 - 2nd (Division 3S)
1958 - 5th (Division 3S)
1959 - 6th (Division 3)
1964 - 6th (Division 3)
1967 - 4th (Division 3)
1968 - 5th (Division 3)
1974 - 7th (Division 4)
1976 - 3rd (Division 4)
1979 - 1st (Division 4)
1984 - 3rd (Division 4)
1986 - 1st (Division 3)
1994 - 1st (Division 3)
1995 - 2nd (Division 2)
2001 - 3rd (Division 3)
2002 - 2nd (Division 3)
2003 - 4th (Division 2)
2006 - 1st (Division 2)
2009 - 4th (Division 2)
2011 - 5th (Division 2)
2012 - 1st (Division 2)

Best run of top 6 finishes is 8 between 1932 and 1939, since 1970 we have had 14 top 6 finishes with half of those happening since the turn of the century.

And on 5 occasions we've finished second when only one team was promoted automatically.

Finally, the longest run of seasons without a top six finish is 7 between 1987 and 1993 inclusive.

[From Despair To Where?]

Finally, the longest run of seasons without a top six finish is 7 between 1987 and 1993 inclusive.

1988-92. The years that nearly killed my interest in football. The most unremittingly disillusioning period I've ever experienced as a Reading supporter.

[King of Sting]

Can I mention top 8 finishes ?
Liverpool are well on course for their 53rd consecutive top flight top 8 finish.

[Ian Herring]

Finally, the longest run of seasons without a top six finish is 7 between 1987 and 1993 inclusive.

1988-92. The years that nearly killed my interest in football. The most unremittingly disillusioning period I've ever experienced as a Reading supporter.

It was this bleakness I loved most of all.

For some of us, abject football-based failure is like manna.

However, as I like to think I have an 'embracing' outlook, I feel your pain.

[LUX]

Can I mention top 8 finishes ?
Liverpool are well on course for their 53rd consecutive top flight top 8 finish.

wrong, you board-spamming thicko.

[From Despair To Where?]

Finally, the longest run of seasons without a top six finish is 7 between 1987 and 1993 inclusive.

1988-92. The years that nearly killed my interest in football. The most unremittingly disillusioning period I've ever experienced as a Reading supporter.

It was this bleakness I loved most of all.

For some of us, abject football-based failure is like manna.

However, as I like to think I have an 'embracing' outlook, I feel your pain.

I suppose it gives you the perspective to scoff at anyone who complains about our current on and off the field "crises".

[King of Sting]

Can I mention top 8 finishes ?
Liverpool are well on course for their 53rd consecutive top flight top 8 finish.

wrong, you board-spamming thicko.

I posted that off the top of my head for a laugh. I can not believe you actually checked you arsehole

[Ian Royal]

You have a very strange idea of what's funny.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

How many have we had?

Don't know where one would fine a quick n easy chart but surely outside of Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool there really can't be many clubs who have had more Top 6 finishes in the last 43 years.

Spare a thought for Coventry supporters - not one single Top 6 finish in all that time. Amazing their attendances have held up as well as they have when there's been sod all to get excited about in so long.

But Reading - we've never had it so good.

Reading have finished every FL season in the top half since we left Elm Park. Record reads 11, 10, 3, 2, 4, 9, 7, 1, 4, 9, 5, 1. Surely unrivalled.

As for Coventry, one top 10 finish in 25 years!

[floyd__streete]

Spare a thought for Coventry supporters - not one single Top 6 finish in all that time. Amazing their attendances have held up as well as they have when there's been sod all to get excited about in so long.

Apart from 30+ years of the time period determined by yourself having been spent in the top flight, including an FA Cup win?

Admittedly I'd rather be a Reading fan than a Coventry supporter at present.

[Royal Rother]

Doesn't matter which League they've been in, 43 years and not one single Top 6 finish is an extraordinary stat.

[floyd__streete]

Doesn't matter which League they've been in, 43 years and not one single Top 6 finish is an extraordinary stat.

Not really. 1970-2001 in the top flight, punching above their weight. 2001-2011 in the second tier, failing to make much impact having slipped out of said top flight and endeavouring to battle against a financial shortfall of relegation.

2011 onwards I wouldn't wish on anyone, agreed. Apart from Portsmouth.

[southbank1871]

Finally, the longest run of seasons without a top six finish is 7 between 1987 and 1993 inclusive.

1988-92. The years that nearly killed my interest in football. The most unremittingly disillusioning period I've ever experienced as a Reading supporter.

I first started watching Reading at the start of this spell, which probably explains why the 93/94 season was so gr8, I'd just assumed that Reading would always be complete shit.

[Royal Rother]

Doesn't matter which League they've been in, 43 years and not one single Top 6 finish is an extraordinary stat.

Not really. 1970-2001 in the top flight, punching above their weight. 2001-2011 in the second tier, failing to make much impact having slipped out of said top flight and endeavouring to battle against a financial shortfall of relegation.

2011 onwards I wouldn't wish on anyone, agreed. Apart from Portsmouth.

Ok, find another team to have spent anything like that long without a Top 6 finish. I'd hazard a guess no other team comes close.

PS There's always a REASON for an extraordinary stat. When Reading went 5 games without a single shot on target under Bullivant there was a reason - I.e. we were shite, but it's still an extraordinary stat.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

1994 - 1st (Division 3)
1995 - 2nd (Division 2)
2001 - 3rd (Division 3)
2002 - 2nd (Division 3)
2003 - 4th (Division 2)
2006 - 1st (Division 2)
2009 - 4th (Division 2)
2011 - 5th (Division 2)
2012 - 1st (Division 2)

The last 20 years have been very good for Reading Fans.

Considering there has been 3 season in the Premier League as well with three relegation in those all years it not been bad at all.

[stealthpapes]

When Reading went 5 games without a single shot on target under Bullivant

Christ.

[Royal Rother]

I made that up to make a point.