Reading Women will play some home games at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as the team comes under the Reading FC umbrella ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The Royals’ Community Trust has kept the team going since its withdrawal from the Barclays Women’s Championship, but the latest move will also see the Women’s First Team return to training at the ‘state-of-the-art training ground’ at Bearwood Park.
Rick Catania and Alec Lundberg will serve as Co-Operating Managers, Manager Ed Jackson-Norris and Head of Women’s and Girls’ Football Emma Hopkins will remain in their current roles as part of the new structure, which will see the First Team joined by the U-16s and U-14 sides to help re-establish a clear pathway for young players.
Last season saw Reading improve on eighth place in the Southern League Premier Division to finish fourth, just six points short of champions Wycombe Wanderers, as they played their home matches at Slough Town FC.
Rick Catania told readingfc.co.uk: “Having a women’s football club is an important part of being a community club. Reading has a proud history in the women’s game and, over time, we want to restore the prestige and success that this club has enjoyed in the past.
“To do that, we felt it was important to bring the team back into the wider football club and give it access to the facilities, support and resources available here.”
Emma Hopkins said: “I think, in terms of my time at the club, it’s probably my proudest achievement that we’ve been able to continue the pathway and the women’s team over the last couple of years in really difficult circumstances.
“The aim next season is to get out of Tier Five and win promotion to the Women’s National League. It’s going to be a really competitive division, but we feel we’ll be very much part of that conversation.”
Ed Jackson-Norris commented: “Although we ultimately fell short in what we wanted to do last year, the biggest achievement was that we’ve given people permission to believe and dream again.
“To have that dream in the back of your mind about seeing a Reading team win trophies, win league titles and get promotions, rather than looking forward with dread at what might happen next, that’s certainly our biggest achievement.“
Meanwhile, there are plans to live stream Women’s First Team fixtures on Reading FC’s official YouTube channel.
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