Fixtures Released - Full Details
Added by HNA? on 22/06/06
Reading's first ever Premiership game will see Middlesbrough visit the Madejski Stadium on 19 August 2006. The fixture list, published this morning, sees a difficult run of home games as Reading try to find their feet in the top tier of English football. After Middlesbrough, Manchester City come to Reading - following by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Tottenham complete the first six home games of the season as season ticket holders start claming what excellent value for money their ticket is this season! The first away trip will be a mid-week trip to Aston Villa, followed by a visit to Wigan on the second week-end of the season. Other highlights see Reading scheduled to play at current Premiership champions Chelsea on Boxing Day - followed by a trip to Old Trafford four days later. The festive period is wrapped up by the visit of Alan Pardew's West Ham United on New Years Day 2007. Looking through the fixture list its amazing game followed by amazing game! There's no easy spell with a visit to Arsenal in March and Liverpool at home in April. The Royals wrap up their season with Watford at home on 5 May 2007 followed by Blackburn away the following weekend. See the fixture list on Hob Nob Anyone? for the full season's Premiership schedule:

Little Voted Player Of Season
Added by HNA? on 25/05/06
Congratulations to Glen Little, who has been voted Hob Nob Anyone? player of the season for Reading's record breaking promotion year. Little played a massive part in Reading's amazing season. Even though the team's form never dropped off, we certainly missed him when he was out injured. Glen took over a third of the vote, as did runner-up Kevin Doyle as the two players finished neck and neck, way ahead of third placed Bobby Convey. Both Doyle and Convey had seasons way beyond everyone's expectations and both players also featured in the top three most improved players. After a disappointing 2004/2005 season, Bobby Convey was a changed player this season and rightly won the award for most improved player, taking over 60% of the vote. Convey was well clear of runner-up Ibrahima Sonko and third placed Doyle. The 2005/2006 season was far away the best season in the history of the club as Reading reached the Premiership for the first time. In fact it was one of the best seasons in the history of any club as Reading notched up new records for the most points in a season and the earliest promotion. There were plenty of season highlights and very few low points - making voting for best and worst performances tough. The home win against Crystal Palace was voted the season's best game as Reading came from behind to win 3-2 thanks to a late Sonko goal. The Royals only managed to lose two league games all season long - so no suprise at all to see those two rare defeats take the top spots for worst performance. Reading's season was so good that a 0-0 draw away at Southampton was considered the third worst performance!

End Of Season Awards 2005/2006
Added by HNA? on 10/05/06
Better late than never - the hangover is fading and it's time to bring you the voting for the Hob Nob Anyone? End of Season Awards 2005/2006.
Hob Nob Anyone?'s end of season awards have been running since 1994, as an entirely unofficial Internet based voting of the high and low points of the season. After this record breaking promotion season it'll be be harder than ever to pick the high and low moments and the players worthy of the awards - but give it a go! Last season Ivar Ingimarsson was voted player of the season and Ibrahima Sonko as the biggest improvement of the season. To find out all previous winners see the links under the voting form from the link below. Make sure you cast your votes to make your opinion count before Wednesday 24 May 2006. Results will be announced on this site shortly after voting closes.

Murty Winner Earns Points Record
Added by HNA? on 01/05/06
Graeme Murty's first goal of the season ensured a perfect end to a perfect season for the Royals. Murty's late penalty strike was enough to secure the win and see Reading end the season on 106 points - claiming the record for the most points ever accumulated in a football league season. The goal was a very special moment indeed with a full house calling for Murty to take the spot kick after a fortunate hand-ball in the QPR area. Murty relished the chance to answer the Reading fans and confidently hammered the ball right into the centre of the net. The stadium errupted and, despite his best efforts to run away, Kingsley was buried underneath a pile of Reading players as the celebrations got underway. After the promotion celebrations at Leicester and the following 5-0 stuffing of Derby to claim the Championship title this was another chance for full scale celebrations - once more. At the final whistle the trophy was presented to the entire team and management staff who truly deserve it after such an incredible season. The players did a lap of honour to raptuous applause and the season, the best ever in the club's history by a long, long way, had finally come to a very satisfying end.

On Target For New Records
Added by HNA? on 23/04/06
Reading remain on target to break the all time Football League points record after picking up a draw at Sheffield Wednesday. The Royals are just two points away from Sunderland's current record of 105 points - meaning a win against QPR on the final day of the season, next Sunday, will see Reading finish the season with an amazing 106 points. After Kitson added another goal to Reading's season total, the Royals are also just three goals away from hitting 100 goals. If the Royals put three past QPR then they will also be the first side to finish the season with both points and goals scored in triple figures. There's already been plenty to celebrate this season, but a win against QPR with Reading hitting three or more, really would be the icing on what has been the best cake ever.
It was all about keeping the unbeaten run going as Reading look to finish the season with just two league defeats. After resting most of the side on Monday, Coppell opted to bring back a few of the familiar faces as Reading fielded a stronger side. It still wasn't quite first choice with Murty an unused substitute, however the intention to remain undefeated was clear. Dave Kitson put Reading ahead just after the half hour mark after Oster and Doyle cominbed to play Kitson through. After the break the home side got more into the game as they looked to draw level. Bobby Convey took down a player in the area and Wednesday equalised from the penalty spot.

Happy Easter As 100 Points Passed
Added by HNA? on 18/04/06
Reading passed the 100 points barrier over the Easter weekend - picking up four points from the two weekend fixtures. The Royals helped Sheffield United confirm automatic promotion - joining Reading in the Premiership - by drawing with Leeds on Saturday. It looked like Reading might slip to only their third league defeat of the season after going a goal down just after the break. With only five minutes left on the clock, Hunt, fresh off the bench, scored the vital equaliser after an Ingimarsson header into his path. The Royals extended their unbeaten run further, and clocked up a total of 102 points, with a straight forward win over Stoke City at the Madejski Stadium on bank holiday Monday. With nothing resting on the game for either side, Steve Coppell opted to rest the first choice team with a number of changes. The game saw Golbourne, Dobson, and Cox all come off the bench as Reading finished the match with just two players from the first choice eleven. The game had a very end of season feel to it but still saw Reading cruise to victory. Sidwell put Reading on their way, heading home an Ingimarsson free-kick from the left. Kevin Doyle won a penalty after being taken down in the area before a sound finish from the spot to make it 2-0. Stoke pulled a goal back, only for Halls to restore Reading's margin and seal the win from close range.

Massive Ticket Price Increases
Added by HNA? on 11/04/06
As partially expected, the club have announced huge increases in ticket prices for next season. With the Royals finally reaching the top tier of English football the club are set to cash in - with the fans set to pump in over two hundred pounds extra each for season ticket renewals. Lower West, East and North Stand renewals will be charged at £545 - for comparison North Stand renewals were just £300 last season. Upper West adult season tickets will cost £575. New applications will cost an extra £20 - providing tickets are available. Single tickets will be charged depending on the fixture as the club look to ensure a full house for every Premiership match. The cheapest adult ticket will be £28 - but prices rise up to a mind blowing £41 per match for the Upper West stand. Time to extend the overdraft facility!
Rumour Rating: Definite

Reading Seal League Title
Added by HNA? on 03/04/06
Reading wrapped up the 2005/2006 Championship title, with five games of the season remaining, in plenty of style as Derby Country were demolished by an amazing second half Royals' performance. The first half was very uneventful but the second half was blistering as Reading tore Derby apart, hitting five goals in a twenty-four minute spell. That spell of top drawer football summed up Reading's incredible season that's seen them crowned clear Champions and earning Premiership football for the first time in the club's history. These are unbelievable times for Reading FC - the club and all the fans. Reading have clearly deserved the title all season long, but this was the way to do it with a huge home win. The final whistle saw fans pour onto the Madejski Stadium pitch to celebrate winning the title - which was confirmed when Sheffield United could no longer catch the Royals after only drawing with Stoke City. Shortly after the game ended, the pitch was nearly entirely covered as the players and management appeared outside the directors boxes in the West Stand to spray themselves and the crowd with Champagne. The party that started last weekend as Leicester was set to continue once more. Things hadn't looked this great at half time. Reading, already promoted of course, only put their foot on the gas after the break when the goals flooded in. A beautiful bit of play by David Kitson set up James Harper to run through the middle to make it 1-0 and put Reading on their way. Bobby Convey put in a perfect cross from the right that Doyle needed the slightest of headers on to guide it into the back of the net to double the lead. With the game now won, Coppell replaced Little and Convey with Oster and Hunt - and both players had immediate impacts for the third goal. Hunt juggled the ball around on the left wing before hooking over a great cross that eventually dropped in the path of Oster who drove it home. Shane Long was next off the bench and hit two goals, including the first with practically his first touch - heading home from Oster's ball in. There was a certain delight with the substitutues having such a big impact and continuing the excellent work the players they had replaced had started. The fifth involved Hunt and Long finished to wrap up a 5-0 victory. The fans went mental once more and the celebrations kicked off in full swing.

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