Reading F.C. Women
Full name | Reading Football Club Women | |||
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Nickname(s) | The Royals, RFCW | |||
Founded | 2006 | |||
Ground | Select Car Leasing Stadium | |||
Capacity | 24,161 | |||
Director of football | Dai Yongge & Dai Xiu Li | |||
First-team manager | Liam Gilbert | |||
League | Southern Region Women's Football League | |||
2023–24 | Women's Championship, 10th of 12 (voluntarily relegated) | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Reading Football Club Women is an English
History
Reading FC began an association with women's football when it affiliated with Reading Royals LFC (previously Twyford Comets) in 1988.
In May 2006, Reading ended this affiliation and started their own women's team, Reading FC Women.
After finishing sixth in the Northern Division, Reading were transferred to the Southern Division for the 2009–10 season. In 2010 they won their last four games of the season to finish runners–up to Barnet and secure promotion to the FA Women's Premier League National Division.[4]
On 3 April 2011 Reading successfully defended the Berks and Bucks County Cup trophy, cruising past Milton Keynes Dons 3–0 in the final.[5]
Their first season in the FA Women's Premier League National Division (the second highest league, following the formation of the
In 2012–13 Reading FC Women won the FA Premier League Southern Division by eight points and a goal difference of 41,[8] while both the first and reserve team retained the County Cup.[9]
Reading's top scorer in 2012–13, Fran Kirby, was rewarded for her campaign by being named as Player of the Season – as well as receiving a call up to play for Great Britain in the World University Games in Kazan, Russia. Striker Kirby surpassed the 30-goal mark this season and was also selected for an England under-23s Camp.[10]
Reading were granted a licence to play in the FA Women's Super League 2 from 2014.
Reading finished the
Reading were relegated from the WSL on the final day of the
On 18 August 2023, Reading announced Liam Gilbert as their new First Team Manager.[16] The first team finished 10th in the Championship in the 2023-24 season, one place (six points) above the relegation zone.[17] In June 2024, before the start of the following season and after a failed takeover bid for the club, Reading asked to withdraw from the Women’s Championship due to continuing financial difficulties. Sell Before We Dai, a fan group calling for an owner change at Reading, described the withdrawal from the Women’s Championship as "an absolute disgrace".[17]
Management
From 2015, Reading F.C. Women Director of Women's and Girls' Football and First Team Manager was former captain of Reading F.C. Women,
Players
Current squad
- As of 17 June 2024[20]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Stadium
Reading FC Women currently play at the Madejski Stadium (rebranded as the Select Car Leasing Stadium from 2021), having moved to it before the 2020–21 FA WSL season.[21] Before then, they played at Rushmoor Community Stadium in Farnborough, Hampshire before moving to Adams Park in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The club moved there after they gained promotion to the FA WSL in 2015.[22][23]
Honours
- South West Combination Women's Football League:
- Winners (1): 2007/08
- FA Women's Premier League Southern Division:
- Winners (1): 2012/13
- FA WSL 2:
- Winners (1): 2015
References
- ^ "Women's success celebrated".
- ^ "Background of our women's team". readingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ "Women secure league & cup double". readingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ "Royals celebrate promotion to top flight!". readingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ "Home of the Royals!".
- ^ "Home of the Royals!".
- ^ "Vixens announce new signings". Bristol Academy WFC. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Women seal the title".
- ^ a b "Women secure cup double".
- ^ "Ladies in the limelight!".
- ^ @wwfcofficial. "Reading FC Women come to Adams Park".
- ^ "England - FA WSL (Women's Super League) 2017/18 Standings".
- ^ "England - FA WSL (Women's Super League) 2018/19 Standings".
- ^ "Champions again! Chelsea win fourth successive Women's Super League title and condemn Reading to relegation with victory".
- ^ "READING FC WOMEN TO OPERATE ON PART-TIME MODEL IN SECOND TIER". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "LIAM GILBERT TAKES THE REINS OF READING FC WOMEN". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ a b Garry, Tom (28 June 2024). "Reading Women ask to leave Championship and aim to play in fifth tier". Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "KELLY CHAMBERS SET TO LEAVE THE CLUB FOR PASTURES NEW". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Reading FC Women part company with Phil Cousins". 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Reading FC | Women's First Team". readingfc.co.uk.
- ^ "Reading Women: Top-flight side to move to Madejski Stadium". BBC Sport. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "Reading Women to move to Adams Park". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Reading FC Women come to Adams Park - News - Wycombe Wanderers". www.wycombewanderers.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2021.