Reading City Football Club is delighted to announce that Jake Keegan has been appointed as Reserves Manager.

Jake joins us from near-neighbours and local rivals Wokingham Town where after playing for their reserves, made the decision to turn his hand to management ahead of the 2024/25 Season and in his capacity as Player-Manager made fifteen appearances and respectively guided his side to a second-place finish in Division One of the Thames Valley Premier League, earning them promotion to the Thames Valley Premier League’s Premier Division where our Reserves shall also compete, adding an extra level of spice to the RGClásico.

Jake also led his side to the Quarter Final of the Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup, which is the Thames Valley Premier League’s League Cup in his first season at the helm.

Jake, will be supported by our existing Under 18s Manager, Johno, who last season guided our Under 18s, many of whom were only 16 and 17 to securing the Allied Counties Youth Football League Central Division Title and reached the semi-finals of both the Allied Counties Youth Football League Champions Cup & Subsidiary Cup, making his side the most successful Under 18s team to represent the club.

Last season also saw Johno feature as part of the coaching staff for our Combined FA Youth Cup Squad, which for the very first time featured our own youngsters along with students from our Club Partner, John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme.

Prior to last season, whilst competing in the 2023/24 Combined Counties Football League Tony Ford Under 18s Division West. Johno led the youngest squad in the league, as many of the players were aged only 15 and 16 at the time and they defied expectations by becoming the League Cup Quarter Finalists, County Cup Semi Finalists and securing a third-place league finish in the Combined Counties Football League Tony Ford Under 18 Division West.

Last season also saw several of our Under 18s progress to our Reserves (known then as our Under 23s) and the First Team.

We are delighted that Johno has stepped up into this new role as it will strengthen the partnership between our Youth Academy and Senior Section even further as he will also continue in his capacity as Under 18s Manager.

Club Chairman, Martin Law had this to say:

“On behalf of the board, I would like to take this oppurtunity to welcome Jake to the club and congratulate Johno on his promotion to Assistant Manager of our Reserves, I’m also delighted that he’s going to continue to manage our Under 18s alongside his new role.

The appointment of Jake and Johno is very exciting as we embark on this new journey, having both enjoyed success with their retrospective teams they will help us embed that winning culture that Simon and his staff have openly discussed throughout this summer”.

First Team Manager & Head Coach, Simon Johnson had this to say:

“Great to have Jake on board with us for the recently renamed Reserves side for this year. Jake is following on the theme of this summer of having local people back involved in the club. Last season he did a brilliant job at Wokingham Town where he guided their reserves to promotion to the Thames Valley Premier League. He has great contacts in the game and a real hunger to develop the younger players at the club. I look forward to him continuing the good work that Sheldon and Mimi started last season.

It’s also fantastic to have Johno on board as Assistant Manager for the reserves side this season supporting Jake. He has obviously done a fantastic job with the u18’s over the last few years and this role allows him to continue that, whilst helping to strengthen the pathway between the 18’s and senior section this year. Especially with 6 of his players from last year now too old to play for our u18’s, it’s great for them to have that connection to the senior sides supported by Johno.”

We spoke to our newly appointed Reserves Boss, Jake Keegan and here’s what he had to say about joining the Cityzens as well as giving us an idea of what to expect next season: 

“I’m excited to join the club and look forward to developing the team and mentoring the youth as they progress in their careers. My goal is to push the team toward a top-half league finish and ensure we compete strongly in all cup competitions. I want to thank Martin Law for trusting me to lead the team this season; I’m committed to working hard and making a positive impact.”

We also spoke to Johno following his promotion to Assistant Manager of our Reserves, and here’s what he had to say:

“I want to begin by saying how truly honoured and grateful I am to stand here today as the new Assistant Manager of the Reserves.

This is more than just a role for me, it’s a responsibility I take with great pride, and a challenge I embrace with open arms.

I’d like to thank everybody at the club for the trust and confidence they’ve placed in me.

I also want to acknowledge the work that both Mimi and Sheldon put into this team last year and wish them all the best as they move on.

My goal as Assistant Manager is simple: to support Jake and to elevate the team, and to help create an environment where our players can thrive, grow, and succeed both on and off the pitch.

It also gives me the opportunity to work again with some of the boys that were in our successful Under 18s team last year but are too old to play for the 18s next year.

I bring with me a deep respect for the game, a commitment to discipline and development, and a hunger to win.

More important every player has a part to play in our story this season and it’s my job to make sure we’re all pulling in the same direction.

We have big goals ahead of us.

The pathway from the Under 18s right through to the first team was cemented last year and it’s now time to establish that further.

By coming in to assist the Reserves, whilst still managing the Under 18s, I expect more of our boys to work their way through to the first team.”