The meeting that led to the formation of Reading FC was held in the Bridge Street Rooms under the chairmanship of one JE Sydenham, who became the club's first Honorary Secretary. Their first colours were navy and white hooped jerseys.
The club competed in the FA Cup from 1878 onwards and became founder members of the Southern League in 1894. A year later Reading FC turned professional.
Reading's career in the Southern League was undistinguished but they did win the Second Division in 1911 and held on to their place until the outbreak of the First World War. As a result, Reading were one of the clubs chosen en bloc to form the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920. In 1926 the team won the Third Division (South) championship and took their place in Division Two. The following season they reached the FA Cup semi-final, losing to Cardiff City who went on to win the competition. Reading's glory was, however, short lived and in 1931 they were relegated.
The team wore navy and white stripes and in the seasons leading up to the First World War, but were replaced by royal blue and white hoops immediately before the Second World War, with the broader hoops that were to become associated with the club first appearing in 1948.
Reading's first recorded crest worn appeared on these shirts - a simple letter "R" on a shield, worn just for one season. In 1981 a new crest appeared that featured three elm trees, a reference to Reading's Elm Park ground. This was dropped when the Royals adopted a new colour scheme in 1983.
The season of 1982-83 almost saw Reading go out of business. Relegated to Division Four and facing a financial crisis, plans were made to sell off Elm Park (their traditional ground) and merge the club with Robert Maxwell's Oxford United to form a new club to be known as Thames Valley Royals. These threats were warded off and with former player, Roger Smee installed as chairman, a new manager and new colours of sky blue, dark blue, yellow and white, the Royals won promotion in 1984.
In 1990, the club was bought by John Madejski who injected a new sense of ambition. The hooped shirts were restored in 1992, partly due to pressure from supporters and in 1994 the "Biscuitmen" (a rather whimsical reference to one of the town's traditional industries) won promotion to Nationwide Division One (formerly Division Two) and then a place in the play-offs in 1995 after finishing in second place. Because of the reduction in the size of the Premier League, only two promotion places were available: in any other season Reading would have won automatic promotion to the top flight.
Between 1996 and 1998, the old elm crest was revived. The significance was twofold: 1996 marked the centenary of Reading's Elm Park while 1998-99 would be the season that they would move into a new home.
In 1998 Reading were relegated to Nationwide Division Two, a misfortune offset by the move into the brand new Madejski Stadium in 1999. This fresh start was marked by the introduction of a brand new club badge that featured the club's iconic blue and white hoops, a crown representing Berkshire's status (Windsor Castle is in the county which is often referred to as "Royal Berkshire") and the Maiwand Lion, a prominent local landmark.
In 2002, the club returned to Nationwide Division One and the following season once again qualified for the play offs. Steady consolidation was rewarded when, in 2006, the club ran away with the Coca Cola Championship title to take their place in the Premiership, the first time Reading had played in the top level. They stayed in the top level for two seasons but on the final day of the 2007-08 season they were relegated on goal difference.
Now, they’ve again won the nPower Championship trophy and earned a place in the Barclay’s Premier League!