|  Nickname:
The Royals
Year formed: 1871
Ground: The Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,200
2007/08 average:
23,585
For visitors: 4,500
in the Fosters Lager South Stand
Record attendance:
33,042
Position last season:
18th in the Premier League
Manager: Steve Coppell
(October 2003)
Players
in: None
Players out: Adam
Bygrave (Weymouth, free)
Key man: Kevin Doyle
Record transfer fee paid:
£2.5m (Greg Halford, Colchester,
2007)
Record transfer fee received:
£2.5m (Greg Halford, Sunderland,
2007)
Ticket
office: 0870 999 1871
Ticket prices: Adults
£32-£39, Over 65's &
Under 21's £22-£31, Under
16's £16-£25, Under 12's
£10-£20
Official website: www.readingfc.co.uk
Journey: 164
miles
Journey time: 2hr
56mins
For directions to the ground click
here
 Last
meeting: Reading 4, Norwich City
0 (January 31, 2006): Norwich City's
faltering play-off hopes suffered
another body blow as they were ruthlessly
put to the sword by the best side
in the Championship. Reading were
rampant from the very first minute
and fully deserved to be 2-0 up at
the break with Nicky Shorey firing
home a sixth minute free-kick and
Steve Sidwell doubling his side's
advantage 11 minutes later with a
thumping header. Steve Coppell's side
duly doubled their advantage in the
second period with a scrambled goal
from Leroy Lita and an excellent solo
effort from American international
Bobby Convey giving the final score
line a more realistic look. Full
Match Report
Last Norwich away win:
Reading 0, Norwich City 1 (April 12,
2004): Referee Neale Barry provided
a priceless assist as Norwich City
moved to within touching distance
of the Premiership at the Madejski
Stadium. An unexceptional match looked
to be heading towards a goalless draw
when the Lincolnshire official got
his back in the way of an attempted
clearance from Dean Gordon, and all
of a sudden City midfielder Phil Mulryne
had a decent sight of goal. The City
substitute still had plenty to do
but made full use of an excellent
'pass' as he curled the ball home
to spark wild celebrations among the
4000 visiting fans behind the goal.
Chances: Don’t
mention it to Coppell, but Reading
were the victims of ‘second
season syndrome’ last campaign.
That and the fact they did not score
enough goals and conceded too many
put paid to hopes establishing themselves
in the top-flight. However, the Royals
seem to have fought off most of the
vultures circling the Madejski Stadium
and the likes of Dave Kitson and Kevin
Doyle should quickly be back among
the goals in the Championship. A good
bet for a quick return to the Premier
League.
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