| Year formed | 1871 |
| Turned professional | 1895 |
| Limited company | 1895 |
| Previous names | None |
Ground | Madjeski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0FL (for pictures of the ground click here) |
| Pitch measurements | 115 x 74 yards (105 x 68 metres) |
| Ground capacity | 24,161 |
| Record attendance at present ground | 24,184 v Everton, Premier League, 17th November 2012 (won 2-1) |
| League career | Southern League Division One: 1894 - 1910 Western League: 1897 - 1898 United League: 1898 - 1899 Western League: 1900 - 1909 Southern League Division Two: 1910 - 1911 Southern League Division One: 1911 - 1920 Division Three: 1920 - 1921 Division Three (South): 1921 - 1926 Division Two: 1926 - 1931 Division Three (South): 1931 - 1958 Division Three: 1958 - 1971 Division Four: 1971 - 1976 Division Three: 1976 - 1977 Division Four: 1977 - 1979 Division Three: 1979 - 1983 Division Four: 1983 - 1984 Division Three: 1984 - 1986 Division Two: 1986 - 1988 Division Three/Two: 1988 - 1994 Division One: 1994 - 1998 Division Two: 1998 - 2002 Division One/Championship: 2002 - 2006 Premiership: 2006 - 2008 Championship: 2008 - 2012 Premier League: 2012 - 2013 Championship: 2013 - . |
| First Football League game | 28th August 1920 v Newport County, Division Three, won 1-0 |
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| Honours | |
| European | None |
| Domestic - League | Championship champions: 2005-06, 2011-12 Division One runners-up: 1994-95 Division Three/Two champions: 1985-86, 1993-94 Division Two runners-up: 2001-02 Division Three (South) champions: 1925-26 Division Three (South) runners-up: 1931-32, 1934-35, 1951-52 Division Four champions: 1978-79 Southern League Division One runners-up: 1901-02, 1904-05, 1914-15 Southern League Division Two champions: 1910-11 |
| Domestic - Cup | Simod Cup winners: 1987-88 Division Three (South) Cup winners: 1937-38 Second World War London Cup winners: 1940-41 |
| Best League position | 8th, Premiership, 2006-07 |
| Lowest League position | 16th, Division Four, 1971-72 |
| Furthest in FA Cup | Semi-final, 1926-27 |
| Furthest in League Cup | Quarter-final, 1995-96, 1997-98 |
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| Most League points | |
| 2 for a win | 65, Division Four, 1978-79 |
| 3 for a win | 106, Championship, 2005-06 |
| Fewest League points | |
| 2 for a win | 30, Division Two, 1930-31 |
| 3 for a win | 28, Premier League, 2012-13 |
| Most League goals scored | 112, Division Three (South), 1951-52 |
| Most League goals conceded | 96, Division Two, 1930-31 |
| Fewest League goals scored | 36, Division Three (South), 1922-23 |
| Fewest League goals conceded | 32, Championship, 2005-06 |
| Most wins in a League season | 31, Championship, 2005-06 |
| Fewest wins in a League season | 6, Premier League, 2012-13 |
| Most draws in a League season | 19, Division Three, 1989-90 19, Division Four, 1973-74 |
| Fewest draws in a League season | 2, Division Three (South), 1935-36 |
| Most losses in a League season | 26, Division One, 1997-98 |
| Fewest losses in a League season | 2, Championship, 2005-06 |
| Record League win | 10-2 v Crystal Palace, Division Three (South), 4 September 1946 |
| Record Cup win | 9-0 v Exeter City, Papa John's Trophy 1st round South, 19 September 2023 |
| Record League Cup win | 5-1 v Southend United, League Cup 2nd round, 22 September 1965 5-1 v Oxford United, League Cup 1st round 1st leg, 11 August 1979 5-1 v Luton Town, Carling Cup 2nd round, 26 August 2008 5-1 v Burton Albion, Carling Cup 1st round, 11 August 2009 |
| Record defeat | 0-18 v Preston North End, FA Cup 1st round, 1893-94 |
| Record League Cup defeat | 5-7 v Arsenal, Capital One Cup 4th round, 30 October 2012 |
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| Highest number of League goals scored | |
| in a season | 39, Ronnie Blackman, Division Three (South), 1951-52 |
| in total | 158, Ronnie Blackman, 1947-54 |
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| Most League goals scored in one match | 6, Arthur Bacon v Stoke City, Division Two, 3rd April 1931 |
| Most League appearances | 500, Martin Hicks, 1978-91 |
| Most capped player | 17, Jimmy Quinn for Northern Ireland |
| Youngest League player | Peter Castle, 16 years 49 days v Watford, 30th April 2003 |
| Highest transfer fee received | £8,000,000 for Michael Olise to Crystal Palace, July 2021 |
| Highest transfer fee paid | reported £7,500,000 for Sone Aluko from Fulham, August 2017 |
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