News and Views
Optimism Crushed By Blackpool
14 December 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Setting aside the continued uncertainty of ownership hanging over Reading Football Club, and the recent and sudden departure of an undoubtedly successful manager, this was a very worrying and disappointing result and performance. There were so many factors contributing to the outcome of this fixture it is hard to know where to begin.
Some of the shock and disappointment of Ruben Selles' departure had subsided following last week's fine away result at league leaders Wycombe, giving way to a degree of optimism with the prompt appointment of Noel Hunt. Despite a relatively small contingent of travelling fans, a crowd of over fourteen thousand (second highest of the season) turned up in anticipation of a continuation of the recent run of strong performances from the home side. Sadly, that was not how it turned out.
Reading 0 Blackpool 3 - Match Report: READ MORE...
Noel Hunt Immediately Replaces Selles
06 December 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Noel Hunt has immediately been appointed as Reading FC's new first team manager after Ruben Selles left for Championship strugglers Hull City. As soon as Selles was out of the door, Hunt signed a two and a half year contract to keep him as manager until the summer of 2027. This time around the Royals avoided the usual weeks of speculation and had clearly already made arrangements for Hunt to step in well before Selles move to Hull was made official. Hunt is a natural appointment for the club, moving into the role from his
previous job as Under 21 team manager and is already being a very familiar face at Reading FC after his playing days as a striker for the Royals. Hunt was also caretaker manager at the end of the 2023/2024 season after
Paul Ince was sacked, and oversaw five matches as team manager which included three draws and two defeats.
After retiring from a long and successful playing career which included spells at Dundee United, Reading, Leeds, Ipswich, Portsmouth and Wigan he took his coaching qualifications and was assistant manager at Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers. Nearly three years ago he came back to the club where he played his best football to manage Reading's under 21s. Reading have relied on their academy players stepping up into the first team in recent seasons, and there is no one that knows them better than Noel Hunt.
Noel will take charge of the Royals for tomorrow's visit to Wycombe Wanderers in the League and will be hoping to continue Reading's good form that has been them move into the play-off positions.
Reading In Top Six With Another Home Win
03 December 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading swept aside the challenge of a struggling United side in a fifteen minute spell after the interval with three superbly taken goals. After dominating possession and creating chances without finding the required finish in the first half, four minutes into the second, Lewis Wing pounced on a loose ball just outside the box and drilled it low into the bottom corner to set Reading on their way. Ten minutes later Elliot bursting forward, slipped a well- timed pass to Camara, who with remarkable composure, made space for a strike before hammering the ball past United 'keeper Reyes from close range.
MATCH REPORT: Reading 3 Cambridge United 0 - Read More...
Reading Get Burnley At Home In Round Three
02 December 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading have been drawn at home against Championship side Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup. The game is likely to take place on Saturday 11 January at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The Royals made it to the third round after beating non-league Harborough Town 5-3 on Sunday after the visitors took the game to exta time. Our last FA Cup fixture against Burnley was also a home match back in January 2010 in the fourth round of the competition with Reading winning 1-0 thanks to an 87th minute goal from Sigurdsson