# 2026–27 Reading F.C. season
The 2026–27 season is [Reading Football Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/reading-f-c)'s campaign in [EFL League One](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-league-one), the third tier of English football, and its fourth consecutive season at that level after relegation from the Championship in 2022–23.[1](https://www.royals.org/news/1192/Fixtures_Released_Reading_Start_With_Luton_At_Home) Leam Richardson is the club's manager for the season.[2](https://dragonfootball.co.uk/teams/reading/through-the-years/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Division | EFL League One, fourth consecutive season in the third tier[1](https://www.royals.org/news/1192/Fixtures_Released_Reading_Start_With_Luton_At_Home) |
| Manager | Leam Richardson[2](https://dragonfootball.co.uk/teams/reading/through-the-years/) |
| Previous season | 12th in League One (2025–26)[3](https://www.royals.org/previous_seasons.html) |
| First league match | 15 August 2026, home to Luton Town, lost 3–4[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html) |
| League Cup | Reached round three, eliminated at home by Brentford[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html) |
| EFL Trophy | Group stage: draw with Wycombe, 0–2 defeat to Chelsea U21[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html) |
| Final league fixture | 8 May 2027, away to Doncaster Rovers[1](https://www.royals.org/news/1192/Fixtures_Released_Reading_Start_With_Luton_At_Home) |
## League season
When the schedule came out in late June 2026, it showed Reading beginning their campaign at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday 15 August 2026 with a home game versus Luton Town, then heading to [AFC Wimbledon](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-wimbledon) a week later; their final match, on Saturday 8 May 2027, is away at Doncaster Rovers.[1](https://www.royals.org/news/1192/Fixtures_Released_Reading_Start_With_Luton_At_Home) The opening league match ended in a 4–3 defeat to Luton, in which [Jack Marriott](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-marriott-footballer) scored a hat-trick in front of a crowd of 14,065.[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html)
**Early form.** Through the match on 10 October 2026, Reading had played nine league matches with three wins, four draws, and two defeats, leaving them sixth in the table.[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html) The run included a 5–0 home win over Mansfield Town, a 5–1 away win at MK Dons, and a 0–0 draw at AFC Wimbledon that gave the club its first point of the season away from home.[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html) • [5](https://www.royals.org/newsseason/2026-2027)
## Cup competitions
In the League Cup, Reading drew 1–1 at Bromley in the first round and advanced 5–4 on penalties, then beat [Stevenage](https://www.edgepedia.org/stevenage) 3–0 away with goals from Jacob Brown, Paddy Lane, and Randell Williams. Premier League side [Brentford](https://www.edgepedia.org/brentford) ended the run in round three, winning 2–1 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on 15 September 2026.[4](https://www.royals.org/matches.html)
## Squad and transfers
Deadline-day signings completed on 31 August 2026 added Josh Knight and Jamie Reid to the squad.[5](https://www.royals.org/newsseason/2026-2027) Winger George Earthy joined on loan from Bristol City, wearing number 17.[6](https://www.readingfc.co.uk/profile) [Charlie Savage](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-savage-footballer), the defensive midfielder wearing number 8, is club captain.[6](https://www.readingfc.co.uk/profile) Other first-team squad members include Andy Rinomhota, Lewis Wing, Daniel Kyerewaa, Randell Williams, Jack Marriott, Jacob Brown, and [Kyreece Lisbie](https://www.edgepedia.org/kyreece-lisbie).[6](https://www.readingfc.co.uk/profile)
## Pre-season expectations
Reading finished 12th in League One in 2025–26, and the BBC's club-by-club preview noted the club entering a fourth consecutive third-tier season.[3](https://www.royals.org/previous_seasons.html) • [7](https://bbc.com.im/sport/football/articles/cgewydzqyjyo) The Betarades supercomputer BETSiE, which simulated the 2026–27 League One campaign 100,000 times, forecast a mid-table finish well short of the promotion race, projecting 15 wins, 12 draws, and 19 defeats, with an estimated 51.9 goals scored and 58.8 conceded.[8](https://rdg.today/where-will-reading-fc-finish-supercomputer-gives-its-202627-verdict/) Independent coverage framed a top-two finish or a play-off win as the club's aim for the season.[9](https://thebiscuit.counterpress.media/features/six-teams-who-can-stop-reading-reaching-the-top-six-in-league-one-101391)
## References
1. [Fixtures Released - Reading Start With Luton At Home, Hob Nob Anyone?](https://www.royals.org/news/1192/Fixtures_Released_Reading_Start_With_Luton_At_Home)
2. [Reading through the years: every season, manager and transfer, Dragon Football](https://dragonfootball.co.uk/teams/reading/through-the-years/)
3. [Reading FC Season by Season History, Hob Nob Anyone?](https://www.royals.org/previous_seasons.html)
4. [Reading FC Match Reports: 2026/2027 - League One, Hob Nob Anyone?](https://www.royals.org/matches.html)
5. [Reading FC News 2026/2027, Hob Nob Anyone?](https://www.royals.org/newsseason/2026-2027)
6. [First Team, Reading FC](https://www.readingfc.co.uk/profile)
7. [League One 2026-27 season preview: Club-by-club guide, BBC Sport](https://bbc.com.im/sport/football/articles/cgewydzqyjyo)
8. [Where will Reading FC finish? Supercomputer gives its 2026/27 verdict, Reading Today Online](https://rdg.today/where-will-reading-fc-finish-supercomputer-gives-its-202627-verdict/)
9. [Six teams who can stop Reading reaching the top six in League One, The Biscuit](https://thebiscuit.counterpress.media/features/six-teams-who-can-stop-reading-reaching-the-top-six-in-league-one-101391)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Seasons and editions › Club seasons › English lower league club seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license