After seven seasons in the Thames Valley Premier League under their current alias, we have taken the decision to rename our Under 23s to Reading City Reserves as of the 2025/26 season, ushering in a new era for the club.

First Team Manager, Simon Johnson who is also the Club’s Head Coach and his Management Team have been open and honest this summer about building a winning mentality and environment throughout the club as we look to progress to the next level and as part of that process it was identified that rebranding to reserves would bring several benefits.

As a club we are extremely proud of our player pathway, which in recent years has seen multiple players progressing through the club’s academy to reach our First Team, along with our proven record of pushing players on to higher levels in the non-league pyramid.

By rebranding our Under 23s to Reserves we can strengthen a players journey to excellence further as it provides a more concrete pathway, with players being able to understand that their performance and development are directly linked to having the oppurtunity to play for our first team, which will also help us in our quest to attract the best talent that Reading has to offer.

Club Chairman, Martin Law had this to say: “This summer is a very exciting one for the club, with lots of work going on behind the scenes. We have been very open about our intentions and this latest development is another key piece of the jigsaw as we look to push-on come the start of the 2025/26 season and we are all looking forward to a new era supporting our Reserves.

Simon Johnson, First Team Manager & Head Coach had this to say: “Changing the name from U23s to Reserves is more than a cosmetic move, it’s a statement of intent. Every player in that squad is now seen as a potential first-team contributor. It’s about raising standards, closing the gap, and creating a culture where the shirt is earned, not given. We’re building one team, with one ambition.”