The New Era

Last season expectations were rather low, with the likes of Shane Long and Matt mills leaving for substantial fees. A play off push was the most realistic target we set ourselves. The new additions of Mikele Leigertwood on a permanent deal from QPR as well as Kaspars Gorkss, Adam Le Fondre, Joseph Mills and Bongani Khumalo adding to the squad. We started the season very poorly with just 4 points from our opening 6 games. The turning point of the season seemed to be the home win to fellow struggler's Doncaster on the 17th September with goals from Simon Church and a 1st goal for Reading, Adam Le Fondre. By the turn of the year we had risen from 23rd to 5th with big wins against West Ham, Ipswich and Birmingham. With 8 wins from 8 during the months of January, February and March we had become promotion contenders, fans started to believe. With the announcement of the TSI takeover imminent, Anton Zingarevich was the talk of the streets.  At the end of March we produced an incredible result against West Ham to go 4 points clear of them in 2nd. A crucial win against Leeds set us in touching distance of a return to the big time, but we had one BIG obstacle in the way.... Southampton, 13th April, the winner almost certain of promotion to the premier league. We fought hard and battled well, it was no means pretty, however evidently effective. When i witnessed Adam Le fondre's 2nd goal at St Mary's, me and all other Reading fans knew, promotion was ours. I had never seen soo many Reading fans go soo crazy for a goal, it was spine tingling. On the 17th April 2012, with West Ham drawing to Bristol City, a win would guarantee us promotion and a goal from ever reliable midfielder Mikele Leigertwood sent us back to the Premier League, the jubilation was immense. The defeat for Southampton at Middlesbrough confirmed us as CHAMPIONS with a valuable point against Palace. 

So here we are 15 days til the new season kicks off and with the additions of Garath McCleary, Nicky Shorey, Chris Gunter, Adrian Mariappa, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie for just a combined total of £4.8million, us Reading fans are in relatively confident mood ahead of the new season. The takeover eventually completed and funds being invested into the squad, who knows what we can achieve this season?

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