READING FC WOMEN
By Dan Godfrey
Founded: 2006
Nickname: The Royals
Manager: Kelly Chambers
Ground: Adams Park, Wycombe
Last season (League): 1st, FA WSL 2 (promoted)
Last season (FA Women’s Cup): 3rd round – won tie but were disqualified due to fielding two ineligible players
Transfers in: Amber Keegan-Stobbs (Washington Spirit); Kayleigh Hines (Oxford United); Jade Boho-Sayo (Bristol City)
Transfers out: Eloise Wilson (Bristol); Georgina Giddings (Millwall); Bianca Bragg
Reading make their bow into the top level of women’s football this year following their storming of the WSL 2 last campaign, in tandem with fellow promoted side Doncaster Rovers Belles. Kelly Chambers’ side pipped Belles to the summit by winning all of their final four league matches to take the title on goal difference, even though they suffered a huge blow by losing prolific England striker Fran Kirby to double winners Chelsea early in the season. Despite only playing five games in the 2015 championship-winning season before making the move to the capital, Kirby hit a remarkable 11 goals, only finishing two behind top scorer Emma Follis.
Huge credit must be awarded to the Royals in the manner in which they regrouped after the loss of Kirby, with some determined performances seeing them over the line including a remarkable 3-0 win over Belles, and a 2-0 triumph against third-placed Everton. The final day of the campaign proved a suddenly anxious one, with the Royals leading 3-0 against Aston Villa going into the final three minutes of the encounter, level on points with Belles but with a superior goal difference. In spite of the two sides already being comfortably promoted, two late goals for the Villains may have been a costly factor in the race for the championship had they arrived any earlier, with the Villa comeback hopes proving too little, too late. The trophy will inevitably drive more confidence into this Reading team to at least hold their own against the well-established names in the top flight.
The Royals won their FA Cup 3rd round tie 3-0 at Crystal Palace, but were subsequently disqualified from the year’s competition due to their fielding of two ineligible players. Kelly Chambers’ squad did however give WSL 1 sides Arsenal, Chelsea and Notts County close-run games in the WSL Continental Cup – something which they will look to further improve on as they show their credentials against the ‘big guns’.
Reading’s ladies’ team may only have existed for a decade, but they have certainly worked hard in recent years to reach where they are today. Having begun in the Southern Region Women’s League in 2006, the team won a league and cup double before an unbeaten campaign in the South West Combination Women’s Football League. The Royals plied their trade in both the Premier League Northern and Southern divisions – varying depending on geography – before winning promotion to the Premier League National Division in 2010, winning many plaudits and raising numerous eyebrows. Despite relegation in 2013, the Berkshire outfit bounced straight back up at the first attempt before being granted a WSL licence in 2014. This meteoric rise has brought a wealth of massively welcome attention to the women’s game in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, and with a squad hungry for more success, one would struggle to bet against them making a real good go of their debut season at the highest level.
Player to watch: Emma Follis – Striker:
Follis made the move south to Reading last year in preparation for the promotion campaign after spending a remarkable 14 years at Aston Villa. The forward hit the ground running with a series of goalscoring displays early last season, finishing as the Royals’ top scorer with a creditable 13 league strikes. The young and exciting Follis has won over the impressions of fans and managers alike, formerly part of the England U23 setup during her time at Villa. Follis will be looking to continue the bright start to her Reading career against some of the leading teams in the country.
Prediction: 7th – Some will have Kelly Chambers’ side as a strong tip to fall through the trap door at the first time of asking. However, the solidarity and the momentum they will be carrying forward into the new season should be enough to help the girls relish the opportunity with a few points under the belt in the early weeks of the campaign. The biggest tests for the Royals will be whether they can hang onto their most talented assets, and how they can cope with the rollercoaster marathon that is a debut top flight season. Reading should just about have what it takes to consolidate their name in the WSL 1, as long as they stand strong against the hurdles they may not have faced last year.
