It would seem that news of Reading FC Women’s permanent move to the Madejski Stadium was premature.
On Wednesday, Football in Berkshire published a piece title ‘Reading FC Women are coming home‘ based on post made on the BBC Sport website.
It would seem our excitement at having an FA WSL club on the doorstep – the Royals women currently play their games at Wycombe Wanderers Adams Park in Buckinghamshire – got the better of us.
Manager Kelly Chambers is quoted in the original BBC article – then headlined ‘Reading Women: Top-flight side to move to Madejski Stadium’ but now changed to ‘WSL side plan more games at Madejski Stadium‘ – as saying: “We have always wanted to be in Reading and the plan for next season is we will be there.”
On Friday, the Reading Football Club website appeared further dampen that excitement with a story titled: “Season’s end is sad but hoping more matches at the Madejski to look forward to”, referring to the curtailed FA WSL program.
In it, Chambers says there is more potential to play some games at the Madejski following the departure of London Irish Rugby Club to Brentford: “There’s definitely potential to play some more of our games at the Madejski next season, but there’s still a lot that needs to happen behind the scenes – things that need to be ironed out, scheduling of all the games. The men’s team play at the Madejski of course, then there’s the Under-23s that play there a lot, so it’s got to fit. It’s still a work in progress.
“But it would be great if we can play more games there and start to build a fanbase in Reading. It will be nice for us as a club to have a fanbase in the heart of the town.”
So while it is great it appears with some certainty there will be women’s fixtures at the Madejski in the 2020/21 season, whenever that may be, it’s not quite the permanent move were all hoping and believing it to be.
In the piece, worth a read here, Chambers also talks about the curtailing of the season, looking back on the season which is likely to see the Royals finish fifth for the second consecutive season and how she is keeping in touch with the players – Reading were the first WSL side to put their players on furlough following the suspension of the season in February.
