Supporters and Rivalries
See also: M4 derby and Supporters' Trust At ReadingIn 2001, Reading became the first football club to register their fans as an official member of their squad, giving the "player" registered with squad number 13 as 'Reading Fans'.
Before going out of business in 1992, Aldershot were Reading's biggest rivals. There was a strong rift between the two sets of fans, with fighting between fans occurring on several occasions. Strong feelings remain between fans of Reading and fans of Aldershot Town, the refounded club in Aldershot. With Aldershot Town rejoining the league in 2008, it remains to be seen whether this traditional rivalry will be reestablished.
Since Aldershot's exile, Reading's main local rivalries have been with Oxford United and Swindon Town. When the three teams had shared a division, their rivalry was referred to as the "Didcot Triangle". However, the rivalry between Oxford and Swindon is stronger than between either of the two and Reading, partly due to them both spending their recent history in lower divisions than Reading.
In 2012, a report showed that Reading's main rivals were Aldershot Town, followed by Swindon Town and Oxford United.
In July 2012, local band 'Violet Class' recorded a song in tribute to the Royals, entitled 'Biscuitmen'.
Read more about this topic: Reading F.C.
Famous quotes containing the word supporters:
“The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)