Chinese Selection Boxes, willing volunteers and a bar to be proud of: Reading City are going far this season

Reading City are going to go far in 2025/26 if my experiences at the club recently are anything to go by.

You might be thinking I am pitching them to win the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, or start looking up directions to Wembley – and lets be clear, based on the squad at Simon Johnson’s disposal they might – but I’m talking something far more grassroots.

A year ago I joked with Vicky Pyke, the club treasurer, that if the youngsters on the turnstile were still there at Christmas for the December fixtures, then I’d owe her a couple of pints. The joke’s (and pints) on me, they were still there and they are still there now.

Behind the bar, emptying bins, taking your money on the way into the ground – essentially making the whole thing work.

Regulars at The Rivermoor will be hoping there’s something building on the pitch this season, but I’ve been saying for sometime, there’s something going on off the pitch. I can’t think of anything other than ‘a vibe’, it’s completely unquantifiable, but it is happening.

Watch as Football in Berkshire goes behind the scenes at Reading City

A lot has changed

I’ve been going to The Rivermoor (previously just ‘Scours Lane’) for years, whether it was with Bracknell Town visiting Reading Town, or just because I lived nearby and I don’t think it’s unfair to say that 5, 10 years ago the ground wasn’t exactly top of anyone’s groundhopping list.

In July though, Football in Berkshire were at the club where were hosting the PLAION Launchpad Berkshire 5s for the first time. They could not have been more accommodating, Fiona and Ellis running the bar and kitchen through to Sheldon Baptiste helping us get the goals in place.

The tournament has so far raised over £2,000 for Reading’s homelessness charity Launchpad and we couldn’t have done it without the club.

—

This vibe then.

Trying to pinpoint when it all began, the first thing you come across is a joke that went viral. The Twitter account @FootyScran was in its infancy, showcasing the mediocre fare on offer in the Premier League, often juxtaposed against some incredible offerings in the non-league game.

A post went out about a new Chinese Selection Box offering at the club in November 2021. It went mega viral. The numbers on the Tweet below don’t do it justice. The trouble was, it was a hoax.

Chinese selection box at Reading City FC (@ReadingCityFC) pic.twitter.com/WglydThnAo

— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) November 7, 2021

In all the years I’ve known Martin Law though, I’ve never known him to miss an opportunity and the club starting churning them out at games. So popular was it there are two separate reviews on this website here and here. On Tuesday, there were six sold to the hungry crowd watching the Cityzens 2-0 FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Reply win over Cirencester Town.

There was something else though. A steady crowd of disaffected Reading FC fans found their way to the club during the Royals troubled recent period, with former Reading Borough Council Cllr Ash Pearce, a regular now at The Rivermoor, telling me: “I was at City’s first ever game in 2018, and have been going ever since, family and weather permitting.

“The change in ownership at Reading FC after Sir John Madejski left made it feel impersonal and disconnected with the fan base. I felt the club was distant to what I want a foot all club to be about.”

If that’s loosely where it started, the club have not been shy in building on momentum. Media Officer Ryan Sheehan told Football in Berkshire the club now has 10 people working on the clubs media team covering everything from social media updates to photography and graphic design.

I’m not sure there’s a club in the world that has more social media accounts than the Cityzens, which is all well and good but does that have an effect on attendances?

The clubs last home game as Highmoor-IBIS at the end of the 2016/17 season reportedly attracted a crowd of 63. Sheehan tells me the average in 23/24 was between 100 and 150, and last season FootballWebPages says it was 139 with a high of 242. Putting that into the context of a below par season on the pitch, the Cityzens had the second highest average attendance in the league.

Now, no one is retiring on those numbers. I know that. But it feels relevant given every visit I pay to the club on a match day, the attendance feels bigger, and thus the vibe that I get.

Supporter Marc Sangwell agrees: “I’ve been going there three seasons and honestly can’t see it stopping anytime soon. I’d recommend anyone to go down even for a game.”

“Best thing about it I’d say is that it kind of brings everyone together you’ll see older generation even the younger generation are coming down and its not just for football they’re socialising with family friends,” he adds

Pearce concurs: “All the off field stuff is hugely important. Watching City for me is not just about winning or losing (although winning is nice!) It’s having a beer with mates, my kids having fun running around, and everyone at the club being lovely. People who work tirelessly behind the scenes, who have been there for years and make everyone feel massively welcome and appreciated. A real grassroots community club.”

—

What’s behind this then? It’s personal conjecture, but there’s a few threads to pull at.

Sangwell says: “Launchpad are heavily involved. They’re on pre-match shirts so I think that helps and kids are always getting the chance to be mascots. They can walk out with players which is something special for them and can meet their idols so to speak in the clubhouse after the game. The players are always willing and welcoming to take photos with youngsters and I think that helps keep bringing families. Sometimes Lawsy the Lion makes an appearance for them as well.”

Despite being on the outskirts of town, the ground is incredibly accessible (although I’ll accept arguments that Tuesday nights getting across Reading at 6pm are not for a rookie). Multiple bus routes, train stations and plenty of parking are up there.

Ticket prices are friendly with £8 for adults and £16 for a family of four plus concessions and under 16 tickets at £4. Buy on the gate with cash and card or cut out the middleman and buy online.

Food and drink. Always a winner for me. A good beer on the bar and in Parka, Ding and Rivers from the other side of the railway line at Double Barrelled Brewery, the club certainly have that, along with all the others you’d expect. Then there’s the plentiful and varied food menu.

Found the new footballing love of your life? You’ll want to show off your new colours. Reading City wear Adidas so that’s going to set you back £90 £30. You read that right. Adidas replica shirts for £30. £20 if you aren’t to worried about wearing last years kit.

None of this mentions what’s going on on the pitch, and that’s on purpose. The club have brought in non-league legend Dave Tarpey and have added some excellent footballing talent to the squad. Whether City win the league, finish in the play-offs or end up mid-table, I’ve every confidence the vibe is going to continue.