Reading Football Club News: June 2018

New Season Fixtures Released: Derby First Game

21 June 2018
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading will start the new 2018/2019 season with a Friday night fixture at the Madejski Stadium against Frank Lampard's Derby County on 3 August. The game will be the first Championship game of the season as it was picked out by Sky Sports to be screened live, due to the interest in Lampard's first game in charge of the Rams after becoming their new manager this summer.

Our Boxing Day fixture this season will be a trip to Millwall, and as well as starting the season at home, the Royals will end the campaign with a home fixture against Birmingham City on Sunday 5 May.

Reading FC 2018/2019 - Fixture List >>

Reading FC 2018/2019 - New Season Fixtures in full:

DATE OPPOSITION COMPETITION H/A
Fri 3 August Derby County Championship H
Sat 11 August Nottingham Forest Championship A
Mon 13 August Birmingham City League Cup H
Sat 18 August Bolton Wanderers Championship H
Wed 22 August Blackburn Rovers Championship A
Sat 25 August Aston Villa Championship A
Sat 1 September Sheffield Wednesday Championship H
Sat 15 September Preston North End Championship A
Wed 19 September Norwich City Championship H
Sat 22 September Hull City Championship H
Sat 29 September Brentford Championship A
Tue 2 October Queens Park Rangers Championship H
Sat 6 October West Bromwich Albion Championship A
Sat 20 October Millwall Championship H
Wed 24 October Birmingham City Championship A
Sat 27 October Swansea City Championship A
Sat 3 November Bristol City Championship H
Sat 10 November Ipswich Town Championship H
Sat 24 November Wigan Athletic Championship A
Tue 27 November Leeds United Championship A
Sat 1 December Stoke City Championship H
Sat 8 December Sheffield United Championship H
Sat 15 December Rotherham United Championship A
Sat 22 December Middlesbrough Championship H
Wed 26 December Millwall Championship A
Sat 29 December Queens Park Rangers Championship A
Tue 1 January Swansea City Championship H
Sat 12 January Nottingham Forest Championship H
Sat 19 January Derby County Championship A
Sat 26 January Bolton Wanderers Championship A
Sat 2 February Aston Villa Championship H
Sat 9 February Sheffield Wednesday Championship A
Wed 13 February Blackburn Rovers Championship H
Sat 16 February Sheffield United Championship A
Sat 23 February Rotherham United Championship H
Sat 2 March Ipswich Town Championship A
Sat 9 March Wigan Athletic Championship H
Tue 12 March Leeds United Championship H
Sat 16 March Stoke City Championship A
Sat 30 March Preston North End Championship H
Sat 6 April Hull City Championship A
Tue 9 April Norwich City Championship A
Sat 13 April Brentford Championship H
Fri 19 April Bristol City Championship A
Mon 22 April West Bromwich Albion Championship H
Sat 27 April Middlesbrough Championship A
Sun 5 May Birmingham City Championship H

John O'Shea Agrees Move To Reading

07 June 2018
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading have agreed the signing of defender John O'Shea, who will complete his move from Sunderland when his contract expires this summer. O'Shea is Reading third summer signing, and like midfielder David Meyler and full back Andy Yiadom he will also arrive at Reading on a free transfer after failing to agree a new contract at his existing club. Thirty-seven year old O'Shea appears to looking for a final chance at Championship level after Sunderland were relegated to League One at the end of the season. He recently retired from International football, playing his last match for the Republic of Ireland last weekend. He played the first 33 minutes to earn his 118th cap for Ireland as they defeated the United States 2-1.

Opinion is split on the signing of a player at the end of his career who has been involved in consecutive relegations with Sunderland. However there is no doubt, as Reading manager Paul Clement points out, that "John has played and won at the very highest level". After retiring from International duty, O'Shea has signed a one year contract at Reading and will be hoping to make a final impact after an impressive career with Manchester United and Sunderland. From 1999 to 2011 he made 256 appearances for United, scoring ten goals, and played in every position for the club. In the summer of 2011 he moved to Sunderland for an undisclosed fee and went on to record a further 226 appearances - the vast majority in the Premier League.

David Meyler To Join On A Free

06 June 2018
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Midfielder David Meyler has become Reading's second confirmed signing of the summer, following full back Andy Yiadom who will sign a four year contract with Reading next month when his contract at Barnsley expires. Meyler will join Reading, signing a two year contract, from Hull City and will also be a free signing when his contract at Hull expires this summer.

Twenty nine year old Meyler spent his youth at Cork City before moving to Sunderland, then in the Premier League. He failed to secure a regular first team place at Sunderland before moving to Hull City in November 2012, initially on loan. After impressing on loan he was signed up for 1.5 million pounds before the January transfer window closed and went on to become a regular in Hull's side as they secured promotion to the Premier League.

Meyler then went on to make 78 Premier League appearances for Hull over two spells in the top tier, and he leaves Hull after failing to agree a new contract after the club struggled in the Championship last season. His Hull City career saw him make 191 appearances and scoring 19 goals. During his successful time at Hull he also managed to hit the headlines for being on the receiving end of Alan Pardew's infamous touchline headbutt.

Meyler is a current Republic of Ireland International and came on as a second half substitute in Ireland's 0-2 defeat in France last week.