The Tilehurst End - A Reading FC Podcast

Reading start brightly but fade away into a disappointing stalemate at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane. Is it just a slow start, or is it a sign of things to come this season? Ben and Ross discuss with the benefit of a few days' worth of hindsight. 

Plus in an extremely hefty mailbag, the boys discuss ways Leam Richardson could shake up his stuttering Royals team, and whether anybody from the cup sides could break into the starting XI or the subs for the League One matchday squad.

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

Did you enjoy this episode of the podcast? Please consider dropping a few quid into our tip jar on Buy Me a Coffee or supporting TTE on Patreon. We’re hugely grateful for anything you can spare.

Reading take a 3-1 lead in their season opener courtesy of Jack Marriott, again. The old woes come back to haunt the team though and the Royals give up three unanswered goals to lose 4-3.

Ben and Ross discuss a disappointing result on day one of League One, as well as dissecting the penalty shootout victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the Vertu Trophy.

Plus, after a mailbag, the quiz returns with Ross testing Ben on the last time Reading won their season opener at the Mad Stad.

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

Did you enjoy this episode of the podcast? Please consider dropping a few quid into our tip jar on Buy Me a Coffee or supporting TTE on Patreon. We’re hugely grateful for anything you can spare.

Peter and Ross interview Reading FC players Nat Cowell and Sarah Thompson as the pair continue their pre-season. The duo give insight on last season and the revenge matches they’re most looking forward to in 2026/27!

Plus, there’s discussion of the pathway at Reading with Nat coaching the under-16s, and the new players Sarah is most looking forward to playing with at the club in 2026/27.

Season tickets are just £75, available at readingfcwomen.co.uk

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30.

It now IS the season preview. That’s what the title means. 

It’s here! The EFL League One season has dawned upon us like Gandalf and the Rohirrim. How do Ben and Ross expect Reading to do this season, and will Ross re-up his prediction of a second-placed finish?

Elsewhere in the division, the pair discuss the movers and shakers, and just whether a team will crack 100 points for the third year running. It’s a busy division, but somebody has to sort the wheat from the chaff!

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

Did you enjoy this episode of the podcast? Please consider dropping a few quid into our tip jar on Buy Me a Coffee or supporting TTE on Patreon. We’re hugely grateful for anything you can spare.

It’s not the season preview. That’s what the title means. You’ll be getting that on Saturday! Instead, Ross interrupts Ben’s Greek holiday to discuss the League Cup win over new League One side Bromley. 

The boys debate where the mistakes were made in the Bromley goal, but have lots of good things to say about Reading’s wide options.

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

Did you enjoy this episode of the podcast? Please consider dropping a few quid into our tip jar on Buy Me a Coffee or supporting TTE on Patreon. We're hugely grateful for anything you can spare.

Ross speaks to Alan Clements, author of Magic Hat: Madejski, McGhee and Reading Football Club. The book tells the story of the early 1990s in RG2, and comes well endorsed by multiple members of The Tilehurst End staff!

Learn about the process of writing the book and the interviews that made it possible. 

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Buy the book on Amazon at https://amzn.eu/d/0dZEUQ54

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social

A rush of Reading news besets the boys this week, both on and off the field. There’s a recap of the preseason friendlies with Newport County and Woking - both of which Ben attended. Then off the field, Reading release a new kit and announce a new front-of-shirt sponsor: gambling site Mr Vegas. 

And in horse news, Long Kelvin leaves RG2 and English shores altogether, signing with Danish club Horsens. Is this good business, and how hard will Ehibhatiomhan be to replace?

Please note - Ross discusses suicide during the Mr Vegas section. Please listen or skip as best fits your situation.

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

Ben speaks to broadcaster and author Josh Lewin about his new book Rescuing the Royals. Josh was given exclusive access to the club during the 2025/26 season to cover the ups and downs, and the people behind the players.

Learn about the ideas and events from last season that make up the book, and get an overly open perspective on Reading owner Rob Couhig from a writer with a pre-existing relationship. 

The book is out on Amazon in mid-August! 

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

Reading drop a preseason friendly 1-0 to La Liga team Getafe, but put together a decent performance, leaving much to discuss. Ben and Ross discuss the recent Josh Stokes transfer, the win against Farnborough and more, after watching the friendly together. 

Plus, the boys engage in a little therapy in the World Cup Waffle.
Apologies for sound quality issues on the audio version!

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30. 

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas

New faces keep coming through the door in Berkshire as Udoka Godwin-Malife and Jacob Brown join the squad, while John Coleman replaces Rob Kelly in the coaching staff. Ben and Ross discuss it all, and pledge to give Leam Richardson a fair shake of the stick in 2026/27. Is a strategy beginning to take shape?

The World Cup wander becomes a World Cup waffle this week, as the boys have much to talk about a day after England’s victory over Mexico in the Azteca.

Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song.

Thank you to Siren Brewing - Get 10% off your next Siren order. Use code TILEHURST10 at the checkout on a minimum spend of £30.

Follow The Tilehurst End on Twitter @thetilehurstend 
Follow Ross on Bluesky @webberross.bsky.social
Follow Ben on Twitter @mrblthomas