Alan Pardew announces that Darren Caskey is to sit down and open contract extension negotiations in two to three weeks. If nothing else, that implies that he will still be with us until at least the Swindon game. Will this stop the media filling space with cast-iron rumours that he is to join clubs X, Y, and Z? Of course not.
Adie Williams visits a knee specialist to see how bad his knee injury is.
Sport First tip Reading as the best bet for the Division 2 title this season, under the heading "Butler can serve up the title". www.1871.cx would like to make it clear that gambling is immoral, but there's obviously nothing wrong with betting on a certainty.
According to the Sutton Guardian, Sutton United striker Scott Forrester is currently on trial at Reading, and if we want him his current club will not stand in his way. Forrester was previously linked with Luton.
Both a reserve side and the first team draw with Southampton, 0-0 and 1-1 respectively. For a report of the first-team game, the first sporting action at Madejski Stadium since we beat Stoke last May, click here. Before the game, Darren Caskey is presented with an award for his club record number of goals for a non-striker last season. And if that sort of thing is not designed to help keep him at the club, I don't know what is - well done, whoever came up with the idea.
The Under-17 Academy side beat Hayes 7-0 in a friendly.
Jimmy Crawford leaves Reading. Many people consider him to be the absolute worst of Burns' signings but I think that's a bit unfair, particularly when you consider the competition. (For the record, there is no doubt that Reilly was the worst.) Crawford showed limited ability, particularly in passing the ball forward, but did at least look excited and pleased when the team scored goals, something that few of Burns' other signings could manage. And don't forget that the one goal that Crawford actually scored for us gave us victory on the opening day last season.
Also, the club destroy any chances of a mass move to the North Stand in the Southampton game by announcing that it will be used for an evacuation exercise immediately after the final whistle. That's the time of day when we expect to be applauding the players after a fine victory, but it seems that you'll have to be in the East Stand to do that. I realise that these things are necessary, but would suggest that the correct time for an evacuation test is 10 minutes into an egg-chasing game - the people foolish enough to attend will thank you for it, believe me.
New website www.1871.cx launched!
Ricky Newman finally signs on a free transfer from Millwall. He has a one-year deal.
Bus services for matches at Madejski Stadium are announced, including another departure point change and price rise on the main station shuttle route. For details of these and other ways to travel to games, click here.
A reserve team beat Bicester Town 4-0. For match details, click here. The team included Jamaican international left-winger Winston Griffiths, an Austrian trialist called Thierry Muddimulla (both of whom scored) and a surprise return appearance from Robert Codner.
Reading announce an open evening at Madejski Stadium from 7pm on Thursday, 3rd August - this includes a training session, question and answer period, and stadium tour. Admission is free, and I can't go (sob).
The Worthington Cup dates are confirmed as 22nd August at Brisbane Road and 5th September at Madejski Stadium, both matches kicking off at 7.45pm. Orient have stated that the tickets for their home leg will be £15 - that's even more than Bournemouth charged for their league cup tie and opening games last year, before realising that their crowds and income had both dropped enormously. Coming to a receivership court near you soon - Leyton Orient Football Club.
Reading beat Crystal Palace 4-0 in a behind closed doors friendly. For match details, click here.
Reading draw Leyton Orient in the Worthington Cup 1st Round. First leg is at Brisbane Road.
Reading beat Torquay 3-0 at Plainmoor with an impressive performance. For a report, click here. Keith Jones goes off with a slight injury.
Under-17 and under-19 Academy fixtures for the season are announced. The structure has changed since last season, and this website will (in time) bring you all the Academy news.
The club announce that entrance for the opening game away to Millwall will be pay on the day. The question is will we have enough fans to need the bottom tier.
A team including many reserves draw 2-2 at Cheltenham Town. For a report, click here. Darius Henderson is subbed after suffering a cut, leaving Jim McIntyre and Nathan Tyson as the only fit forwards at the club.
Injuries are the main news today. It is announced that Neil Smith has a groin injury and will be out for at least a month. This means that he will miss the start of the season.
Also Nicky Forster, Andy Gurney and (surprise, surprise) Graeme Murty have minor injuries. It seems that all three might be fit for the Cheltenham game, though.
The mystery player from the Dulwich Hamlet friendly is revealed as trialist Micky Longfellow, currently with the Army and who played for them in the friendly against Reading last week. The last player we bought after seeing him play against us in a friendly was Elroy Kromheer....
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