When : Sunday December 1 2024, 2pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
FA Cup again and after the rather embarrassing outings suffered by the club in recent seasons comes another chance to progress. Defeat here though would outclass the disgrace at Kidderminster and the “what the hell was that” at Eastleigh by quite some way and probably be the most embarrassing result the club has ever suffered. However we all know Reading have it in them to produce performances that are very rank indeed and just when you don’t expect them.
The game is on the telly I think somewhere in the world, thus the club agreeing to moving it to the Sunday so hopefully there’s a bit of money coming to the club as a result. And that’s what it is about at the moment, money. The winner will get £75000 and a chance of a shot at £120000 and also maybe a big tie on the telly in the U.K. in the 3rd round, therefore this game matters.
Harborough are based in Market Harborough in Leicestershire. They reached this round by dumping out the likes of Darlaston (1Q), Stourbridge (2Q), Leamington (3Q), Bury (4Q) and Tonbridge Angels (1P). Tonbridge play 1 tier above Harborough (Nat South (tier 6) v Southern Premier Central (tier 7)) and Harborough thoroughly trounced them at Tonbridge by 4 goals to 1 so are well capable of raising their game and causing a shock if they are not given due respect and opponents are not in the right frame of mind.
Harborough’s most well known player is 35 year old ex Spurs and QPR, Brazilian midfielder Sandro who joined the club earlier this month, despite announcing his retirement last year, so it will be interesting to see if he can influence proceedings.
Reading will probably play a hybrid team of first teamers mixed with a few more youngsters than usual - sort of a Vertu Trophy Plus team line up - given the immediate demands of a visit from Cambridge to follow 2 days afterwards (for the record Cambridge play at home to Wigan on Saturday).
Expect a packed and noisy away end for this one as it will be Harborough’s biggest game in their history. They also will have ZERO to lose so expect a fight all the way and let’s hope the club don’t end up being shown first on the FA Cup highlights program (6pm BBC 2). IF Reading do manage to progress then the 3rd round draw is at 7pm on BBC 2 on Monday 2 December.
Lastly, there will be NO replay so the game MUST be decided on the day. Therefore extra time and penalties will follow if all is level at the final whistle (obviously the last thing the club wants with a game on Tuesday).
Referee
Declan Bourne
Previously
14 Sep 24 > Reading 0-1 Leyton Orient
Historically
Unsurprisingly the two sides have never met before, however Reading have played many non league sides at home in the FA Cup and while winning most of them they have been beaten. Just the once though, 42 years ago when Bishops Stortford arrived to outperform Pat Earles’ and co in a 2-1 win in front of 2900 or so at Elm Park in November 1982.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the game
- Possibly live coverage if you’re not in the British Isles
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
