[T_Rock]

To many this may seem like a stupid questions, but I was wondering who is considered Readings major rivals. With their addition to the Premership, along with the two US starters, I will be following the club this year with some rooting interests. I want to know who the big derby will be with, or if the biggest rival is out of the top flight at the moment. Thanks in advance!

[prvev]

They don't really have a true rival in the Premiership because they haven't played a lot of these teams much. They're closest to the London clubs. West Ham is probably the main one this year.

[John L]

Clubs in the lower half of the table last year - There aren't really any local or geographic rivals

I hope Reading's management doesn't look at this season as just a way to get TV money and put it in the bank and be content to go back to the Championship a richer club, instead of using the money to buy enough talent to stay up in the EPL for as many seasons as they can - That all sorta depends on how much commitment Madejski has and whether new owners (or partners) could be found

If they want to stay up, then realistically the club's biggest rivals are those it will have to fight to stave off Relegation

[ChancellorElmer]

Reading won't really have a rival in the Premiership. Like a previous poster suggested perhaps West Ham. Their current manager, Alan Pardew, used to manage the Royals.

The Pardew split from Reading involved a court battle and a settlement, so there might be some added fire when the two teams play.

I also recently read at this site: http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s253/st44311.htm that a poll found that Reading fans in the UK apparently rank West Ham as their 3rd most hated rival.

[T_Rock]

Originally Posted by ChancellorElmer

Reading won't really have a rival in the Premiership. Like a previous poster suggested perhaps West Ham. Their current manager, Alan Pardew, used to manage the Royals.

The Pardew split from Reading involved a court battle and a settlement, so there might be some added fire when the two teams play.

I also recently read at this site: http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s253/st44311.htm that a poll found that Reading fans in the UK apparently rank West Ham as their 3rd most hated rival.

Thank you for that article. That is good information and pretty much what I was looking for.

[English_Gent]

Originally Posted by trock008

Thank you for that article. That is good information and pretty much what I was looking for.

Please don't take the West Ham thing seriously, that poll was done not long after Pardew left and the situation was ridiculous. West Ham have never been our rivals, we gave them stick for about 2 years over Pardew and that is that.

Our true rivals are Aldershot but unfortunately they went bust in 1992 and reformed under a very similar name, same stadium etc but had to start from the bottom again. They have done well over the past 14 years and have gained 5 promotions meaning they are now in the conference.

After Aldershot's demise our 'local' rivalry was Swindon & Oxford became more prominent as we were in the same divisions as them at various times during the 90's

As far as the Premiership goes there really isn't anyone. Pompey is very quick and easy to get to from here and will probably see the best Reading away following of the season

[T_Rock]

Well, I looked up some info on Aldershot and I guess it is a two-sided coin.
One always wishes the worst for their rivals, but to have them disapear and never to have the chance to beat them again is sad in a way.

I look forward to following the Premership in earnest this season. Hopefully Reading will be able to compete with the big boys, and maybe develop a few serious rivals along the way.

[English_Gent]

Originally Posted by trock008

Well, I looked up some info on Aldershot and I guess it is a two-sided coin.
One always wishes the worst for their rivals, but to have them disapear and never to have the chance to beat them again is sad in a way.

I look forward to following the Premership in earnest this season. Hopefully Reading will be able to compete with the big boys, and maybe develop a few serious rivals along the way.

There were many dissapointed Reading fans when Aldershot went bust as that was pretty much the end of our local derby for a good number of years but as I have said, they have actually done pretty well and are now only 1 division away from being professional again so you never know.

We did play them in a pre season friendly a few years back and there were some 'heated' exchanges between fans, Aldershot fans still proudly admit that they sing anti Reading songs during their matches.

You have to understand that Reading's rise kicked in around the same time as Aldershot's fall and so a large percentage of our fans now were not following the team back then and have little knowledge of our rivalry, most fans these days will simply say that Oxford & Swindon are our local rivals

[ChancellorElmer]

Originally Posted by English_Gent

Please don't take the West Ham thing seriously, that poll was done not long after Pardew left and the situation was ridiculous. West Ham have never been our rivals, we gave them stick for about 2 years over Pardew and that is that.

I realize that most of the acrimony surrounding West Ham comes from the Pardew situation. I was just trying to provide some information. The article also states the distaste for Swindon and Oxford.

I was trying to provide some information about who a rival could be in the Premiership, and West Ham seems as good as any.

[mschofield]

Originally Posted by ChancellorElmer

I realize that most of the acrimony surrounding West Ham comes from the Pardew situation. I was just trying to provide some information. The article also states the distaste for Swindon and Oxford.

I was trying to provide some information about who a rival could be in the Premiership, and West Ham seems as good as any.

West Ham will be a rivalry. I mean, Reading have to have someone to claim as an enemy this year. I would think Watford and Sheff Utd will be adopted, as well, just because that's who Reading will be judged against early on, at least.