The highlight of Reading FC's history was undoubtedly the 2005-6 season under Steve Coppell, when the football club secured promotion to the Premiership - for the first time in their history - with more than two months of the season remaining.

Reading Football Club then went on to end the campaign with a record number of points (106), after losing only two League games and going 33 matches unbeaten - the longest undefeated run outside the top tier.

The dream ride continued as Reading FC finished eighth in their first season in the elite of English football, but in 2008 they were relegated on goal difference.

Reading Football Club was formed in 1871 and was already on its fifth ground when it turned professional in 1895. A bigger site was needed, so Elm Park was built and opened in 1896, becoming the Royals' home until 1998 when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium, named after the club chairman.

Reading FC were elected to the Third Division of the Football League in 1920 and in 1926 they won Division Three (South), but they were relegated in 1931 and remained there until dropping down to Division Four in 1971, by which time the regionalisation of lower leagues was over.

The Royals yo-yoed between the bottom two divisions until in the 1982-83 season they just managed to fight off a merger with Oxford United and the sale of Elm Park.

Since then it has been onwards and upwards for Reading FC, clambering out of Division Four the following season and not returning since as they started to climb the Football League, leaving Division Three in 1992 and Division Two 10 years later.

Reading Football Club's solitary trophy came in 1988 when they won the Simod Cup, beating several top-flight sides on their way to Wembley before overcoming Luton Town in the final.