We recently informed you that our Under 18s top goalscorer Lucas Taplin and Captain Jay Herbert had been called up to the First Team.

With the Under 18s season on an unscheduled break due to the recent bad weather, Lucas Taplin has established himself as one of the first names on Simon Johnson’s teamsheet and has scored three goals, in three appearances as the youngster demonstrates his goalscoring prowess on the biggest stage.

His most recent goal came in last night’s 2-1 defeat on the road to Hilltop when Lucas put us on head with twenty five minutes on the clock.

Despite the result there was still much to celebrate as Under 18s Skipper, Jay Herbert made his long-awaited full debut having earned his first start for the first team, playing alongside his team mate Lucas.

We caught up with John Goodwin, our Under 18s Secretary and here’s what he had to say about the progress of Jay and Lucas: 

“Tappers and Jay have been fantastic since joining the club.

 

Their commitment and desire every time they put on a Reading City shirt is exactly what we want from all of our boys.

Lucas has been superb in front of goal all year round and is now proving himself in the first team, scoring 3 in 3 after the goal on Wednesday night.

 

Not only does he score goals himself, but he creates for others, showing his selfless personality. Lucas has been given the chance he very much deserves and is thriving exactly how we thought he would.

Jay joined our set up towards the end of the 22/23 season. Jay immediately offered a range of qualities.

 

His leadership and maturity made him the perfect option to be our captain, and is also now proving himself for the first team, starting his first match on Wednesday night.

 

His strength and work rate gives him every chance of success for Simon’s first team, along with his versatility, allowing him to play in multiple positions.

We are incredibly proud of Jay and Lucas, along with the rest of our squad who are still playing to win a trophy this season.

 

The pathway to the first team is something that we are immensely proud of at Reading City, and this is an example of the good that comes out of integrating the youth into the first team set-up. Well done boys.”