The Tilehurst End - A Reading FC Podcast

Are Reading getting back on track? That’s the main question Ben and Ross ponder after three unbeaten in all competitions. Plus, Matt Ritchie and Jack Marriott arrive and bolster an expanding Royals squad.

A mailbag of emails sees the boys discuss both what may increase the pressure on Noel Hunt, and what could have been done in the pre-season to ensure a better start. 

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

Even the hot dogs aren’t up the snuff. It’s really not going well on the pitch for Reading at the start of the 2025/26 season, with the Royals losing a third game on the bounce and sitting on zero points. 

Ross dissects why it’s not working on the field, and a light mailbag spurs a long discussion about the first three months under new ownership. 

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

Following Ben’s recent jaunt onto Royals TV, new match commentator Phil Catchpole joins the boys for a reverse fixture on the pod! The lads quiz Phil about his path through football media and put him on the spot about his ties to a certain local club...

Phil gives insight on working under Rob Couhig both while at Wycombe Wanderers and Reading, and talks about plans for the club’s media team moving forward. Plus, there’s time for a review of the Portsmouth game, and an exclusive complete ignoring of the Huddersfield Town loss. 

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

The Royals lose their opening day match 2-0 away to Lincoln, despite Ben cheering them o from the press gantry. Ben and Ross break down the game, and discuss what the new signings brought to the table.

Ross goes into how Kamari Doyle could help the Royals stale attack, and a lively mailbag wonders if a formation switch might be in the offing.   

And there’s time for yet another town to be added to Ben’s list of not-so-favorable places in the UK. 

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

The TTE Extra and TTE Pod teams are together to preview Reading’s 2025/26! Wimb joins Ben and Ross to go over where the squad is at right now and where it could be in a few weeks time.

The trio also go through the League One pack for the 2025/26 season, and pick out who might give Reading trouble and who’s there to make up the numbers. 

And of course, there’s a final league position prediction from the boys, with Ross at his most optimistic yet. 

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

With the start of the season drawing ever closer for Reading, Wimb reunites with the Reading Chronicle's James Earnshaw to talk over all the latest transfer news, including updates on some of this summer's triallists and reaction to the club's newest arrival, Liam Fraser.

There's also discussion around the changes made behind the scenes at the club following the takeover by Rob Couhig, plus James explains why he's not quite as optimistic about a play-off push this season.

As always, thanks to our sponsors ZCZ Films.

You can follow James on Twitter @james_e1871
You can follow Wimb on Twitter  @Wimby

The Whitley Bowl is open and Ben is there, but not in the Dolan! Ross picks his brain on Reading’s return to a packed stadium for a pre-season clash with Tottenham Hotspur. The pair discuss the performance against the Europa League champions and touch on the clashes with Gillingham and Swindon Town.

A big mailbag includes chat about what Reading still need before the season starts, and what’s yet to emerge among this squad.

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

The Royals get a rare Berkshire away day as they kick off their pre-season schedule at Hungerford Town. Constant away-dayer and stalwart editor of The Tilehurst End Simeon Pickup joins the pod for his yearly visit to discuss the trip and a 5-1 victory for the Royals courtesy of a young lineup.

Plus, Reading sign three players in a week! Ross analyses what Mark O’Mahony, Finley Burns and Matty Jacob could bring to the team. Meanwhile, Ben leads the trio through an international mailbag.

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

The boys are back in town, and Ben and Ross are here too. The pair discuss the returning players who have signed new contracts, and ponder whether the club could have done more by this stage of the summer.

Could the Royals start the new season with a centre-back pair of Paudie O'Connor and Michael Stickland, or are more reinforcements needed?

Plus, Reading have a new investor on the board, and a large mailbag sees the boys big up Hungerford, and throw unnecessary slander at cricket.

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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

The new home kit drops, Reading sign Paudie O’Connor and Joel Pereira is staying! The Royals are acting like a real football club, and there’s a lot for Ben and Ross to talk about. 

In the middle section, Reading FC retail store manager Dale Why pops on to answer questions about the home kit launch.

Recap: 5:00
Dale Why Interview: 28:45
Mailbag: 52:45

Thanks as always to our friends at ZCZ Films for sponsoring the pod!
Thank you to The Amazons for providing the theme song! 

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