List of Reading F.C. seasons

For details of the current season, see 2024–25 Reading F.C. season.

Reading Performance from 1920 until 2023

This is a list of seasons played by Reading F.C. in the English Football League. The team, established in 1871, competes in the Championship, the second football league in England. Established in 1871, the club first entered the FA Cup in 1878–79 but did not play league football until the 1920–21 season.

The club has competed in all four tiers of the English Football League and has won the Championship twice, the Football League Second Division three times, the Football League Third Division once, reached the FA Cup semi-finals twice, reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals twice, won the London War Cup, won the Full Members Cup, won the Football League Third Division South Cup and won the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup five times.

Key

Champions Runners-up Promoted Play-Offs Relegated

Seasons

Season League[1] FA Cup[2] EFL Cup[3] EFL Trophy Other[a] Top scorer(s)[b]
Division Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos Competition Result Player(s) Goals
1877–78 R2 – –
1878–79 R2 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup W
1879–80 R1
1880–81 R2
1881–82 R4
1882–83 R2
1883–84 R3
1884–85 R2
1885–86 R1
1886–87 R1
1887–88 R1
1888–89 QR1
1889–90 QR2
1890–91 QR1
1891–92 QR2 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup W
1892–93 QR3
1893–94 R1 FA Amateur Cup R2
1894–95 Southern 1 16 6 2 8 33 38 14 5th QR3 FA Amateur Cup QF
1895–96 Southern 1 18 11 1 6 45 38 23 4th QR3
1896–97 Southern 1 20 8 3 9 31 49 19 7th QR4
1897–98
Southern 1
Western Pro
22
14
8
7
7
2
7
5
39
28
31
25
23
16
5th
3rd
QR3
1898–99
Southern 1
United League
24
20
9
8
8
5
7
7
31
36
24
25
26
21
5th
6th
QR5
1899–1900 Southern 1 28 15 2 11 41 28 32 4th R1
1900–01
Southern 1
Western 1
28
16
8
5
8
5
12
6
24
24
25
29
24
15
9th
6th
R3
1901–02
Southern 1
Western 1
30
16
16
7
7
3
7
6
57
29
24
22
39
17
5th
3rd
R2
1902–03
Southern 1
Western 1
30
16
19
7
7
0
4
9
72
20
30
21
45
14
2nd
6th
R1
1903–04
Southern 1
Western 1
34
16
14
4
13
4
7
8
48
16
35
26
41
12
6th
7th
R1
1904–05
Southern 1
Western 1
34
20
18
6
7
3
9
11
57
27
38
37
43
15
2nd
9th
R1
1905–06
Southern 1
Western 1
34
20
12
6
9
6
13
8
53
28
46
38
33
18
10th
9th
R2
1906–07
Southern 1
Western 1A
38
10
14
4
6
1
18
5
57
12
47
18
34
9
12th
4th
R1
1907–08
Southern 1
Western 1B
38
12
15
4
6
3
17
5
55
20
50
25
36
11
12th
5th
R1
1908–09
Southern 1
Western 1A
40
12
11
4
18
2
11
6
60
19
57
21
40
10
8th
6th
R1
1909–10 Southern 1 42 7 10 25 38 73 24 22nd R1
1910–11 Southern 2 22 16 3 3 55 11 35 1st QR4
1911–12 Southern 1 38 11 14 13 43 69 36 11th R3
1912–13 Southern 1 38 17 8 13 59 55 42 8th R3
1913–14 Southern 1 38 17 10 11 43 36 44 4th R1
1914–15 Southern 1 38 21 7 10 68 43 49 2nd R1
1915–19 The Southern League and FA Cup were suspended until the First World War ended in November 1918.
1919–20 Southern 1 42 16 13 13 51 43 45 7th R1 – –
1920–21 Division 3[c] 42 12 7 23 42 59 31 20th R1
1921–22 Division 3 South[d] 42 14 10 18 40 47 38 13th R1
1922–23 Division 3 South 42 10 14 18 36 55 34 19th QR5
1923–24 Division 3 South 42 13 9 20 51 57 35 18th QR5
1924–25 Division 3 South 42 14 10 18 37 38 38 14th QR6
1925–26 Division 3 South 42 23 11 8 77 52 57 1st R3
1926–27 Division 2 42 16 8 18 64 72 40 14th SF
1927–28 Division 2 42 11 13 18 53 75 35 18th R4
1928–29 Division 2 42 15 9 18 63 86 39 15th R5
1929–30 Division 2 42 12 11 19 54 67 35 19th R3
1930–31 Division 2 42 12 6 24 72 96 30 21st R3
1931–32 Division 3 South 42 23 9 10 97 67 55 2nd R1
1932–33 Division 3 South 42 19 13 10 103 71 51 4th R3
1933–34 Division 3 South 42 21 12 9 82 50 54 3rd R3 Third Division South Cup R2
1934–35 Division 3 South 42 21 11 10 89 65 53 2nd R5 Third Division South Cup R1
1935–36 Division 3 South 42 26 2 14 87 62 54 3rd R3 Third Division South Cup R3
1936–37 Division 3 South 42 19 11 12 76 60 49 5th R3 Third Division South Cup R2
1937–38 Division 3 South 42 20 11 11 71 63 51 6th R1 Third Division South Cup W
1938–39 Division 3 South 42 16 14 12 69 59 46 5th R1 Third Division South Cup R3
1939–40 Division 3 South 3 2 1 0 8 2 5 1st[e] –[f] –
1940–45 The Football league and FA Cup were suspended until the Second World War ended in September 1945.
1945–46 – R1[g] – – Third Division South Cup Group
1946–47 Division 3 South 42 16 11 15 83 74 43 9th R3 –
1947–48 Division 3 South 42 15 11 16 56 58 41 10th R3 –
1948–49 Division 3 South 42 25 5 12 77 50 55 2nd R2 –
1949–50 Division 3 South 42 17 8 17 70 64 42 10th R3 –
1950–51 Division 3 South 46 21 15 10 88 53 57 3rd R3 –
1951–52 Division 3 South 46 29 3 14 112 60 61 2nd R3 –
1952–53 Division 3 South 46 19 8 19 69 64 46 11th R1 –
1953–54 Division 3 South 46 20 9 17 86 73 49 8th R1 –
1954–55 Division 3 South 46 13 15 18 65 73 41 18th R3 –
1955–56 Division 3 South 46 15 9 22 70 79 39 17th R2 Southern Floodlit Cup SF
1956–57 Division 3 South 46 18 9 19 80 81 45 13th R3 Southern Floodlit Cup F
1957–58 Division 3 South 46 21 13 12 79 51 55 5th R3 Southern Floodlit Cup F
1958–59 Division 3 46 21 8 17 78 63 50 6th R1 Southern Floodlit Cup R1
1959–60 Division 3 46 18 10 18 84 77 46 11th R3 Southern Floodlit Cup R2
1960–61 Division 3 46 14 12 20 72 83 40 18th R3 R2 –
1961–62 Division 3 46 22 9 15 77 66 53 7th R1 R2 –
1962–63 Division 3 46 16 8 22 74 78 40 20th R1 R2 –
1963–64 Division 3 46 21 10 15 79 62 52 6th R2 R1 –
1964–65 Division 3 46 16 14 16 70 70 46 13th R4 R4 –
1965–66 Division 3 46 19 13 14 70 63 51 8th R3 R4 –
1966–67 Division 3 46 22 9 15 76 57 53 4th R2 R2 –
1967–68 Division 3 46 21 9 16 70 60 51 5th R3 R3 –
1968–69 Division 3 46 15 13 18 67 66 43 14th R3 R1 –
1969–70 Division 3 46 21 11 14 87 77 53 8th R1 R1 –
1970–71 Division 3 46 14 11 21 48 85 39 21st R3 R1 – Scotland Gordon Cumming 15
1971–72 Division 4 46 17 8 21 56 76 42 16th[h] R4 R1 – Scotland Gordon Cumming 19
1972–73 Division 4 46 17 18 11 51 38 52 7th R4 R1 – England Les Chappell 17
1973–74 Division 4 46 16 19 11 58 37 51 6th R2 R2 – England Les Chappell 28
1974–75 Division 4 46 21 10 15 63 47 52 7th R1 R3 – England Robin Friday 20
1975–76 Division 4 46 24 12 10 70 51 60 3rd R1 R1 – England Robin Friday 22
1976–77 Division 3 46 13 9 24 49 73 35 21st R3 R1 – England John Murray 19
1977–78 Division 4 46 18 14 14 55 52 50 8th R2 R1 – England Pat Earles 18
1978–79 Division 4 46 26 13 7 76 35 65 1st R3 R4 – England Pat Earles 19
1979–80 Division 3 46 16 16 14 66 65 48 7th R4 R2 – England Pat Earles
Scotland Mike Kearney 		16
1980–81 Division 3 46 18 10 18 62 62 46 10th R1 R2 – England Kerry Dixon 13
1981–82 Division 3 46 17 11 18 67 75 62[i] 12th R1 R1 Football League Group Cup Group England Kerry Dixon
England Neil Webb 		15
1982–83 Division 3 46 12 17 17 64 79 53 21st R1 R1 Football League Trophy SF England Kerry Dixon 32
1983–84 Division 4 46 22 16 8 84 56 82 3rd R2 R1 R1 – England Trevor Senior 41
1984–85 Division 3 46 19 12 15 68 62 69 9th R3 R1 R1 – England Trevor Senior 27
1985–86 Division 3 46 29 7 10 67 51 94 1st R4 R1 Group – England Trevor Senior 31
1986–87 Division 2 42 14 11 17 52 59 53 13th R3 R2 – Full Members' Cup R2 England Trevor Senior 24
1987–88 Division 2 42 10 12 22 44 70 42 22nd R3 R4 Full Members' Cup W England Colin Gordon 10
1988–89 Division 3 46 15 11 20 68 72 56 18th R4 R2 R1 – England Trevor Senior 24
1989–90 Division 3 46 15 19 12 57 53 64 10th R4 R2 R1 – England Trevor Senior 22
1990–91 Division 3 46 17 8 21 53 66 59 15th R1 R1 Group – England Trevor Senior 15
1991–92 Division 3 46 16 13 17 59 62 61 12th R3 R1 Group – England Craig Maskell 16
1992–93 Division 2[j] 46 18 15 13 66 51 69 8th R3 R2 R2 – Northern Ireland Jimmy Quinn 23
1993–94 Division 2 46 26 11 9 81 44 89 1st R1 R2 QF – Northern Ireland Jimmy Quinn 40
1994–95 Division 1 46 23 10 13 58 44 79 2nd[k] R3 R2 – Berks & Bucks Senior Cup W Australia Stuart Lovell 14
1995–96 Division 1 46 13 17 16 54 63 56 19th R4 QF – Northern Ireland Jimmy Quinn 17
1996–97 Division 1 46 15 12 19 58 67 57 18th R4 R1 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup F England Trevor Morley 23
1997–98 Division 1 46 11 9 26 39 78 42 24th R5 QF Berks & Bucks Senior Cup F England Carl Asaba 12
1998–99 Division 2 46 16 13 17 54 63 61 11th R1 R2 R1 – England Martin Williams 11
1999–2000 Division 2 46 16 14 16 57 63 62 10th R3 R2 SF Berks & Bucks Senior Cup F England Darren Caskey 23
2000–01 Division 2 46 25 11 10 86 52 86 3rd R2 R1 QF – England Jamie Cureton 30
2001–02 Division 2 46 23 15 8 70 43 84 2nd R2 R3 QF – England Nicky Forster 18
2002–03 Division 1 46 25 4 17 61 46 79 4th R3 R1 – – England Nicky Forster 17
2003–04 Division 1 46 20 10 16 55 57 70 9th R3 R4 – Bermuda Shaun Goater 14
2004–05 Championship[l] 46 19 13 14 51 44 70 7th R4 R2 – England Dave Kitson 19
2005–06 Championship 46 31 13 2 99 32 106 1st R4 R4 – England Dave Kitson 22
2006–07 Premier League 38 16 7 15 52 47 55 8th[m] R5 R3 – England Leroy Lita 14
2007–08 Premier League 38 10 6 22 41 66 36 18th R3 R3 – England Dave Kitson 10
2008–09 Championship 46 21 14 11 72 40 77 4th R3 R3 – Republic of Ireland Kevin Doyle 18
2009–10 Championship 46 17 12 17 68 63 63 9th R6 R2 – Iceland Gylfi Sigurðsson 20
2010–11 Championship 46 20 17 9 77 51 77 5th R6 R2 – Republic of Ireland Shane Long 25
2011–12 Championship 46 27 8 11 69 41 89 1st R3 R1 – England Adam Le Fondre 12
2012–13 Premier League 38 6 10 22 43 73 28 19th R5 R4 – England Adam Le Fondre 14
2013–14 Championship 46 19 14 13 70 56 71 7th R3 R2 – England Adam Le Fondre 15
2014–15 Championship 46 13 11 22 48 69 50 19th SF R3 – England Glenn Murray
Republic of Ireland Simon Cox 		8
2015–16 Championship 46 13 13 20 52 59 52 17th R6 R3 – England Nick Blackman 11
2016–17 Championship 46 26 7 13 68 64 85 3rd R3 R4 R3[n] – France Yann Kermorgant 19
2017–18 Championship 46 10 14 22 48 70 44 20th R4 R3 Group[n] – The Gambia Modou Barrow
Iceland Jón Daði Böðvarsson 		10
2018–19 Championship 46 10 17 19 49 66 47 20th R3 R2 – Berks & Bucks Senior Cup[o] F Ivory Coast Yakou Méïté 13
2019–20 Championship 46 15 11 20 59 58 56 14th R5 R3 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup[o] SF[p] Ivory Coast Yakou Méïté 17
2020–21 Championship 46 19 13 14 62 54 70 7th R3 R2 – Portugal Lucas João[q] 22
2021–22 Championship 46 13 8 25 54 87 41[r] 21st R3 R1 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup[o] W England John Swift 11
2022–23 Championship 46 13 11 22 46 68 44[s] 22nd R4 R1 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup[o] SF England Andy Carroll
England Tom Ince 		9
2023–24 League One 46 16 11 19 68 70 53[t] 17th R2 R2 R3 Berks & Bucks Senior Cup[o] W England Sam Smith
England Harvey Knibbs 		16
2024–25 League One TBC R1 R2

Notes

  1. ^ Covers the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup,[4] FA Amateur Cup,[1][5] Third Division South Cup,[6] Southern Professional Floodlit Cup,[7] Football League Group Cup (known as the Football League Trophy for the 1982–83 season),[8] Associate Members' Cup (known as the Football League Trophy from the 1992–93 season onwards)[1] and the Full Members' Cup.[9]
  2. ^ Includes goals scored in the Premier League, Football League (including play-offs), FA Cup, League Cup, Full Members' Cup and Football League Trophy, (known prior to 1992 as the Associate Members' Cup). Top goalscorers from 1970–71 to 1995–96 are sourced to Royals Record,[10] and from 1996–97 to the present are sourced to Soccerbase.[11]
  3. ^ At the start of the 1920–21 season Reading, along with virtually all of the clubs in the top division of the Southern Football League were elected to the Football League Third Division.[12]
  4. ^ A year after Reading joined the league, the Third Division was split regionally into North and South Divisions.[13]
  5. ^ The outbreak of the Second World War meant that the 1939–40 Third Division South was abandoned after only three games with Reading topping the table. In its place, several regional leagues were set up with Reading competing in League South B and League South D, finish 4th and 9th respectively (of 10 teams).[14]
  6. ^ The FA Cup was abandoned before any matches were played with the Football League War Cup held in its place. Reading reached the second round, losing 4–0 to Birmingham over two legs.[14]
  7. ^ The FA Cup was contested during 1945–46 though the Football League did not resume until the following season.
  8. ^ Lowest League finish.
  9. ^ The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win rather than two which was used previously.[15]
  10. ^ In 1991, following the breakaway of the 22 First Division clubs to form the Premier League, the Football League divisions were renamed. As a result of the re-branding, the Third Division was renamed the Second Division.[16]
  11. ^ The Premier League was reduced from 22 teams to 20 from the 1995–96 season onwards.[17] As a result only one team was promoted automatically from the First Division during the 1994–95 season with the second placed team entering the play-offs. Reading lost 4–3 in the play-off final to Bolton Wanderers.[12]
  12. ^ The First Division was re-branded as The Championship from the 2004–05 season.[18]
  13. ^ Highest League finish.
  14. ^ a b Reading were invited to the EFL Trophy due to having a Category One academy. Officially, they were represented by a development side and were required to feature six under-21 players in their matchday squads.
  15. ^ a b c d e Reading were represented in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup by a development side.
  16. ^ Reading reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 Berks & Bucks Cup, however the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]
  17. ^ Lucas João switched his international allegiance from Portugal to Angola during the 2021–22 season.
  18. ^ Reading were deducted 6 points due to breaching the EFL's profitability and sustainability rules.
  19. ^ Reading were deducted 6 points for breaching an EFL business plan.
  20. ^ Reading were deducted 6 points:
    • One point for failing to pay players on time and in full on three occasions in the 2022–23 season.[20]
    • Three points for failing to deposit wages on time.[21]
    • Two points due to late HMRC payments.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Reading". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  2. ^ "FA Cup past results". The Football Association. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Reading 1877–1888: Results". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 7 July 2013. Other seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  4. ^ "Berks & Bucks Senior Cup History". 1871.net. Archived from the original on 1 April 2002. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Seasons: 1890–94". Royals Record. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Season: 1933–34". Royals Record. Retrieved 6 July 2013. Further results accessed using sideways arrows.
  7. ^ "Southern Professional Floodlit Cup". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  8. ^ "English Football League Trophy 1981–1982 : Results". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 7 July 2013. Further results and seasons accessed using the calendar and dropdown menu.
  9. ^ "Football League Full Members Cup". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Season by season records". Royals Record. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Reading: squad stats". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  12. ^ a b "The Story of Reading FC". Reading F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  13. ^ "History: 1919–1939". The Football League. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  14. ^ a b "1939–40 season". Royals Record. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  15. ^ "History: 1963–1988". The Football League. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  16. ^ "History: 1988–2013". The Football League. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  17. ^ "History of the Premier League". The Premier League. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  18. ^ "Rebranded League lacks fizz". BBC Sport. 2 August 2004. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  19. ^ "Coronavirus Update". Berks & Bucks Football Association. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Reading deducted one point for playing players late". British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Reading deducted three more points for failing to deposit wages on time". BBC Sport. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  22. ^ "EFL Statement: Reading FC and Mr Dai Yongge". efl.com. English Football League. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.