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2002/03 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goal: Nathan Bailey (25 minutes)
Assist: Leon Bird
Opposition goals: After 92 minutes (in second-half injury-time) and 92 minutes (in the first period of extra time)
Half-time: Reading 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0
90 minutes: Reading 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Half-time of extra time: Reading 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: About 400, including Alan Pardew, Kevin Dillon, Nicky Hammond, Phil Parkinson, Andy Hughes, Chris Turner (manager of Sheffield Wednesday), Colin West (assistant manager of Sheffield Wednesday)
Weather: Brief showers, cold
Referee: Evetts
Linesmen: Hock, Coe

Reading line-up: 1 Jamie Young; 2 Johnny Mullins, 5 Adam Theo, 6 Ahmet Rifat, 3 Gary Middleton; 7 Darren Campbell, 8 Chris Davies (15 Russell Lucas, 73 minutes), 4 Andre Boucaud, 11 Louie Soares; 10 Leon Bird (14 Richard Bouton, 71 minutes), 9 Nathan Bailey (16 Peter Castle, 105 minutes)
Subs not used: 13 Bradie Clarke, 12 Callum Earl
Starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: Johnny Mullins (foul, 99 minutes), possibly others
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

To follow

Match notes:

To follow

Match preview:

As a Division 1 club, our FA Youth Cup campaign starts in Round 3 this season. Although Sheffield Wednesday might appear to be difficult opponents, both their FA Premier Academy League sides have performed poorly this season and so we should be in with a good chance of progressing to the next round, away to either Newcastle United or Manchester United.

Although the two Reading Academy sides did not start the season with good results, both have improved recently and the Under-19s in particular recorded three successive wins without conceding a goal during November. However, the FA Youth Cup is for Under-18s so that not all of those players are available. For our last Under-19 game, Reading actually put out a side of Under-18 players in preparation for the Youth Cup, so that line-up gives a pretty strong clue as to who might play this evening. It was:

Goalkeeper - Jamie Young
Defence - Johnny Mullins, Gary Middleton, Peter Castle, Ahmet Rifat
Midfield - Darren Campbell, Richard Bouton, Andre Boucaud, Chris Davies
Forwards - Louie Soares, Nathan Bailey
Substitutes - Russell Lucas, Curtis Osano, Simon Cox

Other players who are eligible to play in the tournament include Adam Theo, Simieon Howell, Callum Earl, Leon Bird and Bradie Clarke. Of these, Clarke will be the reserve keeper, whilst Howell is still out injured. Adam Theo is quite likely to play at centre-back, though.

Looking at the available players, we seem to be very strong at goalkeeper, centre-back and midfield, with the biggest worry being a lack of depth up front. Assuming that no forward players are out injured, the side certainly looks capable of making progress in the competition.

Last season, we had to start in Round 1 and eventually lost at home in Round 4 to an impressive Barnsley side. Our best showing was in 1987/88 when we went out in a quarter-final replay (the quarter-finals being Round 6 this season).

Ticket information:

Only the Lower West stand will be open. Ticket prices are:
Adults - £3
Juniors / Seniors - £1

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