Academy:
The Reading Academy is held in high regard among the nations elite football leagues and it has proven to be a success by bringing players through the youth system and into the 1st team. Players such as: Darius Henderson, Nathan Tyson, Shane Long, Jamie Ashdown and Darren Campbell are a few of Readings home grown talents. The Academy enjoys the facilities of the Madejski centre which includes the Madejski Stadium Dome acoomodating a state of the art astro pitch.
Female Soccer: In May 2006, Reading Football Club delightedly announced the launch of its first ever women's football team, which came after three years of planning and development within our Girls Centre Of Excellence. The launch of the Reading FC women's team came after a very careful analysis of women's football in the area and this initiative was in partnership with Reading Girls FC. The team were exceptionally successful, winning both the League and League Cup. They then followed it up the next season with another title and promotion. Since their formation in 2001, Reading Girls have specialised in developing girls and women's football and are now considered to be one of the leading all female football clubs in the south of England. They have been fundamental to the success of the current centre of excellence squads by finding, developing and progressing the best young local talent. Girls and women's football is the fastest growing sport in the UK, and our Girls Centre of Excellence already competes with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Charlton and Fulham. This development will allow us to compete on a senior level in the near future.
