As Newport County prepare for a midweek trip to Reading on Tuesday night, we take a closer look at the Royals.
What’s Their Story?
Founded in 1871, Reading FC is one of the oldest clubs in England, though they didn’t join The Football League until 1920.
It wasn’t until the 2006-07 season that the club first played in the top tier of English football, and in 2012-13, they competed in the Premier League for the first time. However, their stay in the top flight was short-lived, as they were relegated after just one season.
Reading's achievements include winning the 1987-88 Full Members' Cup, where they triumphed 4–1 over Luton Town in the final at Wembley – a feat that saw them become one of only two Second Division clubs to lift the trophy. Their best FA Cup run came when they reached the semi-finals twice, first in 1927 and then in 2015.
The club’s home for 102 years was Elm Park, before they moved to the Madejski Stadium in 1998. In 2021, the stadium was renamed the Select Car Leasing Stadium due to a sponsorship deal.
Reading hold several notable records, including the most consecutive league wins to start a season (13 in the 1985-86 Third Division campaign) and the highest number of points in a single league season (106 in the 2005-06 Football League Championship). They achieved their highest-ever Premier League finish of 8th in 2007, during their debut season in the top flight.
Who’s the Boss?
Rubén Sellés is the current manager of Reading FC, taking the reins in the summer of 2023.
Sellés has a diverse coaching background, having worked as an assistant coach across Europe, including stints in Greece, Russia, and Azerbaijan. Before joining Reading, Sellés managed Southampton for a brief period in the Premier League in 2022-23.
Born in Valencia, Spain, Sellés was a boyhood fan of the iconic Mestalla stadium. After completing a master's degree in Sports Science and earning his UEFA Pro Licence at just 25, he began his coaching career. His first major role was with Greek side Aris Thessaloniki, followed by a move to Russia as assistant manager at Shinnik Yaroslavl.
He gained considerable success in Azerbaijan, first with Neftchi Baku, then with Qarabag, where he helped the club win back-to-back league titles. Sellés then moved to Denmark, where he helped Aarhus qualify for Europe and achieve their best league finish in over 20 years. His success continued with a short stint at FC Copenhagen, where he helped the club win their first Danish title in three years.
In 2022, Sellés arrived in the UK to join Southampton as assistant manager under Ralph Hasenhüttl. After Hasenhüttl’s departure, Sellés was named caretaker manager and impressed with some notable results, including a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Although Southampton were relegated that season, Sellés’ work earned him a spot at Reading, where he is now tasked with guiding the club back to the Premier League.
Who’s the Skipper?
Andy Yiadom is the captain of Reading FC, having joined the club in the summer of 2018. A versatile full-back, Yiadom has built a solid reputation over the years, climbing the football pyramid from non-league to the Championship.
Yiadom began his career at Watford's youth academy before moving to Hayes & Yeading United in the Conference Premier. His performances there earned him a move to Braintree Town, where he impressed with eight goals in one season. From there, he joined Barnet, where he quickly became a key player, even captaining the team as they earned promotion back to the Football League in 2015.
A move to Barnsley followed in 2016, where Yiadom further honed his skills in the Championship and earned a senior call-up to the Ghana national team. He continued to impress at Oakwell and was named Barnsley's captain before moving to Reading in 2018.
As Reading’s captain, Yiadom has been a key figure both on and off the pitch, earning his place in Ghana’s national squad, where he represented the Black Stars at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and helped secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup. In 2022, he signed a new three-year deal with Reading and has continued to be a leader on the field.
Key Player
A promising attacking talent, Harvey Knibbs joined Reading from Cambridge United in 2023.
A product of Aston Villa’s academy, Knibbs made his name at Cambridge, finishing as the club’s top scorer in his first season. His performances helped Cambridge achieve automatic promotion to League One, where he continued to impress.
He joined Reading after his contract with Cambridge expired and scored his first goal for the Royals in a 2-1 loss to Exeter City. Known for his pace and finishing ability, Knibbs is a key player in Reading's forward line.
