| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Friendly | Wednesday, 26th March | Maidenhead | Home | Won 1-0 |
Match facts:
Reading goal: C Holbrook
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Reading 1 Maidenhead 0
Attendance:
Weather: Certainly dry. At 9am that morning, it was bright with a
north-easterly wind and the barometer showed 30.04 inches (1017.3
millibars). Over the next 24 hours the maximum temperature was 57
degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Centigrade).
Referee: Probably two umpires, one provided by each club. The
Reading umpire was Henderson.
Reading line-up: Edward Brownlow
Haygarth, T Cook, C Holbrook, J W Martin, W J Martin (aka Martin,
junior), H F Rogers, Roper, Micklem, Haynes, Poynder, May
Subs not used: Substitutes not allowed?
Match report:
From the Reading Mercury, 29/3/1873:
"Football - The return match between the Reading and Maidenhead Clubs took place on the Recreation Ground on Wednesday, and was won by the home team, by one goal to none. The home team were: Haygarth, T Cook, C Holbrook, Martin, Martin, jun., Rogers, Roper, Micklem, Haynes, Poynder, and May."
From the Berkshire Chronicle, 29/3/1873:
"Football Match - The return match between the Reading and Maidenhead Clubs took place on the Recreation Ground on Wednesday last, and after some very good play, fast throughout, was won by the Reading men by one goal to none. The Maidenhead having won the toss, Mr. Haygarth kicked off for Reading, and his team turned out to be much stronger than was anticipated, the play of the forwards several times obliging Maidenhead to touch down. Great skill was shown by Nicholson, the visitors' back, but a long kick by Holbrook secured a goal to Reading shortly before half time. The Maidenhead men, stirred by the prospect of defeat, now played up vigorously, the dribbling of turner, Hebbes, and Collins being worthy of remark. For Reading, Haygarth and Roper were well on the ball; Poynder and May also worked with great skill. During the latter part of the game the home team were pressed hard, and it was only by the coninuous exertions of Martin in goal, that they were enabled to hold out until call of time. The following were the teams:- Reading - Haygarth, Cook, Poynder, Martin, Rogers, Roper, Martin, jun., Holbrook, May, Hayne, Micklem, Henderson (umpire). Maidenhead - Goulden (captain), Heaton, Vardy, Turner, Ball, Nicholson F., Nicholson, Hebbes, Collins, Lavett, Baker."
A more detailed weather report, from the Reading Mercury of 29/3/1873:
As at 9am on 26/3/1873 in the Reading public
gardens:
Observed height of barometer - 30.04
Hygrometer - dry bulb 44, wet bulb 43
Dew Point - 41.7
Moisture - .913
Thermometer - Max 57, Min 34
Wind - NE
Rain - 0.00
Weather - bright
As at 9am on 27/3/1873 in the Reading public
gardens (only those items that might have applied to the previous
day):
Hygrometer - dry bulb 43, wet bulb 42
Dew Point - 40.7
Moisture - .892
Thermometer - Max 56, Min 34
Rain - 0.00
Match notes:
Maidenhead were a very strong team at this time - earlier this season they rhad eached the last four of the FA Cup (although because of some bizarre rules, that was not the same as playing in a semi-final). For Reading to beat them probably represented the best result in Reading's short history.
This is the earliest recorded Reading team line-up that I am aware of. The fact that it is recorded in two newspapers, and that they both agree, is therefore something to be thankful for.
The match report in the Berkshire Chronicle is the first lengthy report of any Reading game. It gives a little extra insight into the rules and tactics. For example, there was definitely a half-time and defenders were able to touch the ball down out of play. It also names an umpire supplied by Reading, although not one from Maidenhead.
Match preview:
None.
Ticket information:
The game will be played at Reading Football Club's home ground of Reading Recreation Ground on King's Meadow. As this is in a public park and is not an enclosed ground there will be no admission charge.
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