Football Ground Guide: Madejski Stadium, Reading FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Future Developments Madejski Stadium (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? East Stand (photo) Where To Drink? West Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park View From The Away Section On Matchday (photo) By Train Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme Fixtures 2010-2011 Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
This stadium opened in 1998 is light years away from the old Elm Park, the Club's former home for over a century. It is purpose built on the very outskirts of Reading, close to the M4, and the complex even boasts a hotel attached to the back of the West Stand. So if you have plenty of money and don't fancy the journey home, or if miraculously you have pulled inside the ground.... The stadium is of a fair size and is totally enclosed, with all four corners being occupied. Three sides are single tiered, whilst on one side the West Stand is two tiered, including a row of executive boxes. The ground has been designed with the supporter in mind as the supporters are very close to the pitch and the acoustics are good. The stadium also has a video screen in the South East corner. The stadium, named after Reading's multi millionaire chairman, is shared with London Irish Rugby Club and was recently voted as having the best facilities for disabled supporters in the League. Often at football matches you can still make out the white lines used for the previous rugby match. Top Of Page
Future Developments
The Club have received planning permission to increase the capacity of the stadium to 38,000. This would involve further extending three sides of the stadium (the West Stand would remain as it is) and replacing the roof and would take around three years to complete. This would be achieved by first by increasing the size of the East Stand, adding around 7,000 additional seats. The following Summer the North Stand would be extended adding another 3,500 seats and a year later a similar construction would happen at the South end of the stadium. However, it is unclear when work will commence. Top Of Page
Madejski Stadium
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are located in one end of the stadium, in the Fosters Lager South Stand, where up to 4,300 can be accommodated (although the normal allocation is 2,100). The facilities in this stand are good with plenty of leg room and the views of the pitch are superb, as there is good height between rows. Away fans can really make some noise in this stand, so make the most of it. The atmosphere is also boosted by a drummer in the home section. Entrance to the stadium is by ticket only and if tickets are still available for away supporters then they can purchase them on the day at the South Stand ticket office located between gates 9 & 10. You enter the stadium by inserting your ticket into a ticket reader which scans the bar code on the ticket and gives you a green light to go in. This often confuses visiting fans. I first visited this stadium shortly after it opened and again recently. When I first went in 1998 I truly believed that it was a fantastic stadium. Subsequently after going back and with a number of other new stadiums being built during that time, the Madejski seems just like another nice functional ground. Considering that as it also lacks character and that essential 'wow' factor and coupled with the fact that there are few facilities around the stadium such as pubs for away fans, then there is not a lot to 'write home about'. Add to that, that the security staff outside the away entrance seems to be rather over the top which sets the tone of the visit. I have also received reports of fans not being admitted into the away section for being (in the opinion of the stewards) 'too drunk'. Not one of the better days out in the League. Top Of Page
East Stand
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Where To Eat & Drink?
There are no pubs as such near to the stadium. However I did locate a Holiday Inn which was around a 15 minute walk away. The hotel had a small bar inside it, but then attached had a larger Irish themed separate bar area, called Callaghans. This bar had Sky Television, but as you would expect was very crowded with away fans and served drinks at what I can only term as 'hotel prices'. Across the road from the hotel is a very good fish & chip shop. To find this hotel, leave the M4 at Junction 11 and take the A33 towards Reading, turn right at the first roundabout into Imperial Way. Go down this road and you will come to the hotel on your left. There is also street parking to be found in this area. On my last visit the Holiday Inn was mobbed, so I went in search of another pub. Passing the Holiday Inn on my left I turned left onto Basingstoke Road and walked up over a hill to find a pub on the right called 'The World turned upside down.' This chain pub had a mixture of home and away fans and also was popular for food. From the pub it is around a 15 minute walk to the stadium. Dave Harris adds; 'If you arrive early, then you could drive to Three Mile Cross where there are a couple of god pubs to be found. Come off the motorway at J11 and head away from the stadium (signposted A33 Basingstoke). After 200 yards take the first exit at the roundabout into Three Mile Cross'. Alcohol is available inside the stadium, where Courage Bitter & Fosters Lager (�3 per pint) are on offer. On the concourse, which can get very busy the food outlets offer a range of Shire Pies and Pasties, including the Chicken Balti Pie, all at �2.60, as well as rollover hot dogs at �3. The club offer a 'Pie & Pint deal' for �5.40. Next to the ground on a Retail Park are the following food outlets; McDonalds, KFC & Pizza Hut. Otherwise it may be an idea, especially if you are making the journey by train, to drink in the centre of Reading before the game. Dave McKerchar adds; 'The Three Guineas on the station approach has been designated as an away fans pub. It offers a range of eight real ales and is listed in the CAMRA good beer guide. It has a big screen Sky TV and it also does food'. Top Of Page
West Stand
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
If you are travelling along the M4 from the west you can see the stadium on your left. Leave the M4 at Junction 11, bear left on to the A33 relief road which leads you directly to the stadium. The Madejski Complex is well signposted from Junction 11. Kevin Gray informs me; 'Please note that as a recent visitor to Reading it is worth advising away fans that getting off the M4 at Junction 11, westbound can be a bit of a pain. On match days a long tail back can start on the motorway as far as one mile away from this junction. This should be approached with caution and patience. As kick off approaches it can take 40 minutes to complete the journey from the back of the Junction 11 queue to the designated parking sites. So allow extra time for your journey'. Please note that in addition there are major road works taking place at Junction 11 of the M4, throughout the 2009/10 season, so please allow additional travelling time for this. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). Car Parking If you arrive early enough then there is street parking to be had along Imperial Way. To find this, leave the M4 at Junction 11 and take the A33 towards Reading. After you come off M4 and head towards the stadium on the A33, turn right at the first roundabout into Imperial Way. There is also some parking at the Old Depot by the Courage Brewery on the A33/Imperial Way roundabout at a cost of �7 per car. Bon Hale a visiting Sheffield United fan informs me; 'We parked in at a warehouse car park located on Acre Road at a cost of �5. Passing the Madejski on your left, follow the A33 for about half a mile, then turn back on yourself, passing Bennet Road on your left, and then take the next left into Acre Road. You will see sign "match parking", where there is a large warehouse on the left. It is gated with security. It is then only a short walk to the ground from here. We also spotted another matchday car park in Bennet Road but this cost �10.' Mark Sugar adds; 'Don't park in the nearby Business Park, unless there is an individual unit charging for matchday parking. You may find yourself with a parking ticket if you do, or even clamped'. Alternatively the Club operate a 'Park & Ride' scheme at Foster Wheeler at Shinfield Park. This costs for the return shuttle bus; Adults �3, Children �1.50. From Junction 11 of the M4, take the B3270 towards Earley and then follow the signs to 'Football Car Park C'. The car park opens at 1pm for Saturday afternoon games with the first bus departing at 1:30pm. Supporters should not attempt to park in the residential estate next to Foster Wheeler. As there is a residents only parking scheme is in place as well as an active clamping company in operation. To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
View From The Away Section On Matchday
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By Train
Get the train to Reading mainline station and then the No 79 'Football Special' bus. The buses leave just down from the station, commencing at 1pm for Saturday afternoon games.. Once you come out of the main station entrance turn right and they are about 200 yards down the road on the opposite side - there is normally one waiting. Dave Stuttard a visiting Leicester City fan informs me; 'I would recommend getting in the bus queue no later than 45 mins before kick off as all football traffic goes down the same dual carriageway to the stadium'. The fare is �3.50 return for adults and �1.75 for children and normally takes about fifteen minutes to get to the ground. A single fare costs �3 for adults, so don't lose that ticket! Paul Willems a visiting Bristol City supporter adds; 'the bus from the station is good provided that away fans do not cause any trouble. If you do then the buses (quite rightly, editor) refuse to pick you up after the game. I have a bitter experience of this, when the slowest police escort in history by Thames Valley Police got me back to the station at 7.30 pm!' Nicholas Small provides the following walking directions from the railway station to the ground:'I would estimate that the ground is about three miles away from Reading Station, and that unless you walk quite quickly, the journey could take over an hour: Leaving the station, head straight up the road in front of you, crossing over Friar Street onto Queen Victoria Street and heading towards the town centre. Upon reaching Broad Street, you will find yourself opposite the John Lewis store. Cross and head down a narrow passageway (Chain Street) which runs down the right hand side of John Lewis. Soon, you reach a churchyard, which you can cross, bearing right, to the corner of Gun Street and Bridge Street. Cross to the other side of Bridge Street and continue down, turning right into Fobney Street. At the end here, you will soon encounter a couple of blue footpath/cyclepath signs, which point the way to the Madejski Stadium. These will lead you down the left hand footpath alongside the busy A329, which becomes the A33 after about 1200 yards. Keep following this road and eventually you will come to a roundabout. Take the road ahead and continue walking along the roadside. You will briefly walk along a dirt track by the roadside as the A33 crosses a waterway, before walking down the bank to the towpath. The towpath now continues straight ahead towards the stadium, still following the blue cycle path signs. You can't miss it from here, but it is still at least a further 15 minutes walk away'. Top Of Page
Local Rivals
Swindon Town, Oxford United, Wycombe Wanderers. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
Upper West Stand Adults �27.50 Over 65's & Under 21's �19.50, Under 16's �14.50 All other areas of the stadium Adults �24.50, Over 65's & Under 21's �18.50, Under 16's �13.50 * The prices above are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets bought on the day of the game can cost up to �4 more. Top Of Page
Programme
Official Matchday programme �3. Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Fixtures 2010-2011
For the Reading fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
At The Madejski Stadium: 24,135 v Manchester United Premier League, January 19th, 2008. At Elm Park: 33,042 v Brentford, FA Cup 5th Round, February 19th, 1927. Average Attendance: 2009-2010: 17,408 (Championship League) 2008-2009: 19,936 (Championship League) 2007-2008: 23,585 (Premier League) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of The Madejski Stadium
Phil Culverhouse (Bristol City) 21/2/09 Martin Hart (Visiting Scottish Fan) 1/10/05 Dave Fratson (Sheffield United) 1/10/05 J Sheppard (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 30/4/05 Lori Kilpatrick (Coventry City) 19/2/05 Neill Uttley (Rotherham United) 22/2/03 Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Reading page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.


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