Reading Football Club are set to face the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off winners Fulham at Aldershot Town’s EBB Stadium on Saturday 14th July, kick-off 1.30pm – the final fixture to be announced in the Royals’ UK-based pre-season preparation schedule ahead of the start of the 2018-19 season.
The Royals’ relationship on the pitch with Fulham has been an interesting one over recent years. Most notably during the 2016-17 Championship season, both sides met on no fewer than five occasions – one of which was called off at half-time due to heavy fog at Madejski Stadium.
Having shared three points each during the regular season that campaign, our paths crossed twice more in the semi-finals of the play-offs; Reading progressing to Wembley having edged a narrow 2-1 aggregate victory courtesy of Yann Kermorgant’s penalty in the second leg.
However, a stand out campaign in 2017-18 saw the Cottagers complete an unbeaten run stretching 23 games in total to earn another crack at the play-offs - and they overcame both Derby County and then Aston Villa at Wembley to return to the top flight after a four-year absence.
The announcement of a second fixture against Premier League opposition this summer sees a full-list of pre-season fixtures in the UK confirmed for Paul Clement’s side.
Beginning with a trip to Eastleigh (Saturday 30th June, kick-off 12.30pm), the Royals will then face AFC Wimbledon at their Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday 7th July, kick-off 3pm.
At Aldershot, Clement’s side will get their first taste of Premier League opposition in Fulham (Saturday 14th July, kick-off 1.30pm), before jetting off to Austria the following day for a seven-day training camp.
Back on home soil, the Royals’ campaign will draw to a close against established Premier League side Crystal Palace at Madejski Stadium on Saturday 28th July, kick 3pm.
Ticket details for all these pre-season games will be announced in due course and more information about our pre-season schedule, including games to be played whilst out in Austria this summer, will be confirmed in the near future.
