This summer we are making significant & strategic changes to how the club operates as we look to push on.
In this exciting new era for Reading City Football Club, we are therefore pleased to announce that in a fresh development push for the next generation of footballers, that our ‘Cityzens Squad’ will now be known as our Youth Squad.
Initially created ahead of the 2020/21 season to bridge the gap between our senior section and successful academy, by giving 16–18-year-olds an opportunity to play men’s football.
A phenomenal inaugural season where they narrowly missed out on winning the league, to finish in second place one-point behind Burghfield Reserves saw them promoted to Division Three of the Thames Valley Premier League.
After a two-year stay in Division Three, they were again promoted as runners-up at the end of the 2022/23 Season having only lost two games, narrowly missing out on the league championship to local rivals Binfield & have competed in Division Two of the Thames Valley Premier League since the 2023/24 Season.
During the summer break ahead of the 2024/25 Season, they had the honour of being the first ever side to represent Reading City Football Club in the Reading Community Cup in which they finished as runners-up.
Despite only changing the sides name from ‘Development’ to ‘Cityzens’ last season, giving them the honour of officially playing under the club’s nickname ‘Cityzens’. As part of the wholesale changes being made across the club as we develop a winning mentality and environment throughout the club, something which First Team Manager Simon Johnson and his management team have been open and honest about in recent weeks, it was identified that rebranding again would bring clarity and simplicity.
The term “Youth Squad” instantly communicates the team’s purpose developing young talent & is easily understandable allowing fans, media and prospective players to immediately understand the squad’s role within the club structure.
Club Chairman, Martin Law had this to say: “When we initially launched this third senior side, ahead of the 2020/21 campaign the aim was to complete the pathway for players transitioning from our academy to men’s football, giving our First Team and Reserves, formerly Under 23s a talent pool. Changing the name is a reflection of our vision as the name youth, reflects the club’s deep commitment to nurturing young talent and inspiring the next generation of Reading’s footballers, as demonstrated by our successful pathway”.
