When : Tuesday August 18, 2026, 7pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Vertu Trophy game so a quick turn around for Reading to try and erase some of the opening day cr@p a bit quicker. Which youngsters will join which first teamers against what will be a similar Wycombe team?
Don't believe anything has changed in this competition from last season, in which case the following still applies -
Player eligibility
Each FL league club MUST play a minimum of four qualifying outfield players in their starting XI. A qualifying outfield player is one who meets any of the following requirements:
- Any player who started the previous or following first-team fixture
- Any player who is in the top 10 players at the club who has made the most starting appearances in league and domestic cup competitions this season
- Any player with forty or more first-team starting appearances in their career, including International matches
- Any player on loan from a Premier League club or any EFL Category One Academy club
- A club can play any eligible goalkeeper in the competition
- Any player out on a long loan term at a National League, National League North, or National League South team can play as long as the loaning team agree to allow the player to return for the match
For invited teams (the U21 sides)
- Minimum of six players in the starting line-up who are aged under 21 on 30 June 2026
- Maximum of two players on the team sheet who are aged over 21 and have also made forty or more senior appearances
Referee
Isaac Searle, new referee to the league list
Previously
Nothing
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the game
- SKY//SkyGo or Now app
- Listen to a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
