Reading F.C. season 2008-09

Infobox Football club season
club = Reading F.C.
season = 2008–09
manager = Steve Coppell
mgrtitle = Manager
chairman = John Madejski
chrtitle = Chairman
league = Football League Championship
league result =
cup1 = FA Cup
cup1 result =
cup2 = Football League Cup
cup2 result = Third Round
league topscorer = Kevin Doyle 8
season topscorer = Kevin Doyle 8
highest attendance = 20,441
lowest attendance = 18,159

Reading Football Club began the 2008–09 season in the Football League Championship, having been relegated on the final day of the 2007–08 Premier League season.

Review and events

Pre-season

Reading opened their pre-season with an away game against Didcot Town, winning 9-0, [cite news | date=2008-07-15 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1343086,00.html | title=Royals hit nine to sink Didcot | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] with nine different scorers, including a fan who won the opportunity to play at a charity auction. After further away wins at Forest Green Rovers (2-0), [cite news | date=2008-07-16 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1344746,00.html | title=Royals edge out Forest Green | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] Havant & Waterlooville (1-0) [cite news | date=2008-07-16 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1345538,00.html | title=Royals edge past gutsy Havant | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] and MK Dons (2-1), [cite news | date=2008-07-19 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1347203,00.html | title=Royals see off MK Dons | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] Reading went on a three-game friendly tour of Sweden, winning their three games against FC Trollhättan (4-1) [cite news | date=2008-07-25 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1350646,00.html | title=Lita scores four in friendly win | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] in which Leroy Lita scored all four, against Lerkils IF (1-0) [cite news | date=2008-07-26 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1351841,00.html | title=Long goal sees off Lerkils | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] and against Halmstads BK (3-1) [cite news | date=2008-07-30 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1353804,00.html | title=Royals see off Halmstads 3-1 | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] in which new signing Noel Hunt scored for the first time, ultimately scoring two. Reading's last friendly, and only home friendly, was against Aston Villa, and finished 1-1. [cite news | date=2008-08-04 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1356996,00.html | title=Karacan nets in Villa draw | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-08-05] It was Reading's only pre-season game that they did not win.

August

Reading's league campaign began with a 0-0 draw at promoted Nottingham Forest. In a game of few chances, Kevin Doyle came closest for the Royals, glancing a header goalwards from a Stephen Hunt cross, that Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith did well to tip on to the crossbar.

Two days later, the Royals enjoyed their first victory of the season, as a late Noel Hunt goal, on his competitive debut for Reading, secured a 2-1 victory at Dagenham and Redbridge in the 1st round of the League Cup. James Henry had opened the scoring for Reading in the first half, with his first goal for the club, tapping home after Shane Long had beaten the Dagenham goalkeeper to a cross.

Reading's first home league match followed on 16 August, a game the Royals deservedly won 2-0, Ibrahima Sonko crashing home two headers, one in each half, both from Stephen Hunt corners.

A week later, the Royals lost a thrilling game 2 - 4 against Charlton Athletic. Matt Holland and Andy Gray's penalty gave the Addicks a 2 - 0 lead but Ibrahima Sonko kept up his scoring form with a thumping header before half-time. Stephen Hunt's retaken penalty completed the comeback for Reading, but further goals for Luke Varney and Hameur Bouazza gave Charlton all three points.

The Royals returned to the Madesjki on 26 August with a thumping 5 - 1 victory over Luton Town in the Carling Cup 2nd Round. Noel Hunt opened the scoring after nodding in brother Stephen Hunt's cross. Soon later it was the other way around, Noel Hunt sliding in a cross and Stephen Hunt slotted home. Alex Pearce, Jem Karacan and James Henry all got their first goals for the club. A consolation for Luton Town was scored by Ryan Charles.

Match results

Legend

¹Stoke City won 4-3 on penalties and advanced to the fourth round.

Player details

"Last updated: 22:46, 30 September 2008 (UTC)"

Transfers

In

Out

Team kit

Reading's kit for the 2008–09 season is manufactured by Puma, and the main sponsor is Waitrose.

References