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Reading Football Club were founded in 1871 but spent the first 22 years of their existence playing friendly fixtures and competing in local cup competitions.

Elected to Division Three

In 1894, they were founder members of the Southern League, and in 1920 they were elected to the newly formed Third Division.

In 1926, Reading won the Third Division (South) and were promoted to the Second Division.

FA Cup Semi-Final

The following season they reached the FA Cup semi-final, before losing to eventual winners Cardiff City.

In 1931 they were relegated to Division Three (South), where they would spend the next 27 years.

When the regional divisions were scrapped in 1958, they were placed in Division Three where they remained until relegated to Division Four in 1971, the club's centenary season.

In 1979, they won the Fourth Division championship for the first time.

Financial Crisis

The 1982-83 season was a traumatic one for the Royals.

Back to Division Four and faced with a financial crisis, plans were made to sell their Elm Park ground and merge the club with Oxford United to form a new club to be known as Thames Valley Royals.

Revival

Fortunately, the club were able to overcome these difficulties, and in 1984 won promotion to the Third Division.

Two seasons later, in 1986, they won the Third Division title and returned to Division Two after an absence of 55 years.

This success, however, proved short-lived and they were relegated again in 1986/87.

John Madejski Buys the Club

John Madejski bought Reading Football Club in 1990, and in 1993 the Royals won promotion to Division One (formerly Division Two).

In 1998, the club were relegated to Division Two, and in 1999 they moved to the new Madejski Stadium.

In 2002, they returned to Division One and the following season they qualified for the play-offs.

Promotion to the Premier League

2006 saw them run away with the Championship title to reach the top flight for the first time in their history, but they lasted just two seasons in the top flight before relegation in 2008.

In 2009 they qualified for the playoffs but fell at the first hurdle against eventual winners Burnley.

They made the play-offs again in 2011, this time losing the final to Swansea.

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