Reading Football Club ( /ˈrɛdɪŋ/) is an English association football club based in the town of Reading who play in the Championship. Formed in 1871, the club is one of the oldest teams in England, but did not join the Football League until 1920, and never played in the top tier of English football until the 2006–07 season. They were relegated 2 season later.
The club holds the record for the number of successive league wins at the start of a season (13 wins at the start of the 1985–86 Third Division campaign) and also the record for the number of points gained in a professional league season (106 points in the 2005–06 Football League Championship campaign). Reading finished champions of their division on both of these occasions.
Reading are nicknamed The Royals, due to Reading's location in the Royal County of Berkshire, though they were previously known as The Biscuitmen, due to the town's association with Huntley & Palmers.
Reading played at Elm Park for 102 years. Since 1998 they have played at the Madejski Stadium, on the outskirts of Reading, which is named after the club's chairman Sir John Madejski. The ground holds 24,161.
Reading retain a strong rivalry with Aldershot Town, however the two sides haven't met since Aldershot reformed in 1992. Reading also have rivalries with Swindon Town and Oxford United. The later almost merged with Reading, to create Thames Valley Royals. Minor rivalries between Bristol City, Cardiff City, Southampton, Swansea City, West Ham United and Wycombe Wanderers have formed.