Reading City kick-off the new season with a much-changed squad that was largely responsible for their history-making 2023-24 campaign.
At the last count, they had seen nine players depart Rivermoor Stadium.
No wonder manager Simon Johnson admitted: “It has been the most stressful pre-season I have ever experienced.”
Several players have decided to move up the football ladder, which at least shows that Johnson and his assistant, Michael Butcher, have done an excellent job of coaching them.
But it has meant Johnson has had to spend a lot of time looking to bring in new players at a time when he is in the early stages of settling into married life.
The player who has made the biggest leap is Emil Mursalov, who is on trial with Championship club Burnley.
Last season’s hot-shot Dan Warre signed for Basingstoke, Oliver Bourne has gone to Thatcham Town, Eddie Lee to Flackwell Heath, Natty Boakye to Hanwell Town, James Richardson to Wallingford, and Tyler Robinson has gone to Bedfont Sports who are based close to his home.
Cal Stokes and Justin Bangura have taken up scholarships in America, while Jack Thomson-Wheeler has decided to take a break from the game.
Johnson said: “We have had to spend a lot of time rebuilding and bringing in the right people. This takes time, and we have probably only reached the squad level that we want in the last week or so. But I am now happy with what we have assembled.”
A lot of new players have been brought in, and the official signing of Ben Hutchings early this week brought the total number of summer arrivals to 12.
The talented winger, previously with Overton United, is a product of Basingstoke Town’s academy, where he was the leading goal scorer last season.
Ewan Lynch, who was most recently with Ascot United, will add more experience to the city’s front line. He previously spent time with Binfield, Maidenhead United, and Sandhurst Town and also had spells with United States League clubs.
And how Johnson managed to persuade him to join City came in rather bizarre circumstances. The manager explained: “I’ve known Ewan for many years and have always been a fan of his both as a person and as a player. He trained with us briefly in spells in between his time out on a scholarship in America.
“I had been trying to get Ewan across the line since I saw him at the airport on the way back from my stag do while I was wearing a Spider-Man flat cap. I knew from that moment we had a chance of getting him.
“Once he mentioned he had moved on from Ascot after the start of pre-season, I was very keen to get him sorted as soon as possible. He’s had interest from other clubs, so I am thrilled he chose Reading City.”
Lamin Sankoh, a highly experienced attacking midfielder who played for City a couple of seasons ago, is returning to the club. Most recently, he was at Burnham, and the number of clubs on his CV is in double figures.
With a whole new squad, Johnson says it will take time for them to gel, but he is happy with the way they are coming together.
He added: “We are looking forward to what this squad can produce in another tough league. We will go into it to enjoy the journey, and as the togetherness builds week on week, we will only get stronger.
“We have to target making the play-offs again, and any run we put together can support that, as proven last season when we started April in 14th place in the league and ended the month in fourth.”
Reading enjoyed their best-ever run in the Emirates FA Cup last year and will be looking to emulate this season, which starts this Saturday with an extra preliminary round tie against Ardley United at Rivermoor Stadium.
They warmed up with a friendly against Ashford Town last Saturday, drawing 2-2 draw with Phil Veal and a trialist scoring the goals.
City, who won the Premier Division North’s fair play award last season, start their Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League campaign kicks off next Tuesday (August 6th) evening when they host Wokingham Town.
