2023/24 - Important dates for your diary

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Going to Barbados early May next year so will miss the playoffs, so I'm looking for autos if Wilder comes here

[Snowball]

Going to Barbados early May next year so will miss the playoffs, so I'm looking for autos if Wilder comes here

AUTOs confirmed late March. No problem

[Clyde1998]

On the reverse question (how many we'll take away), I did a regression of our league away attendances against a number of factors* (for those games I've got a figure for) and I reckon we'll average ~1100 away fans if we're mid-table next season (before knowing which games will be midweek games), compared to a median of ~900 in the 2001-02 season (for the 19 league games I have a figure for).

The games I predict an 80% filled away crowd are (based on their maximum away attendane this season): Bristol Rovers, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Exeter, Leyton Orient, Northampton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Wycombe.

*The factors were (in order of importance):

1. Distance (stadium to stadium);
2. Seasons since last visit to the ground (capped at 20 years);
3. Midweek;
4. Our final league position (although I should probably adjust this to our league position at the time of the game);
5. Tier of league;
6. Football Manager reputation of club (as a proxy for size of club we're playing).

Incidently, can anyone provide away attendance figures from the any season prior to 2011-12 and the 2012-13 season? I've got around half of them between 2005-06 and 2010-11, as well as most of the 2001-02 season and a handful elsewhere from old programmes I have lying around.

[Clyde1998]

I'm not sure any supporter will be falling over themselves to come to Reading m8.

We used to have one of the highest average away attendances at the Madejski because it's easy to get to Reading by rail or road. And we're not at the arse end of the cou try somewhere.

Assume not much has changed with that. So agree visiting attendance next year should be pretty high up for the league.

Milton Keynes had the highest number of travelling fans in League One this season - with Derby, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday taking over 6,500 there. They averaged ~1,900 away fans at their ground.


The travelling fans at the Madejski for the 2001-02 season averaged ~1,400 (with four games missing from my dataset: Brighton; Oldham; Northampton; Peterborough). With an allocation of 2,100 away fans (as with this season) it would've been closer to ~1,100. The median was 802.

We've not played about half of the teams in League One next season for about twenty years - so a large percentage of those clubs' fans wouldn't've had the opportunity to come here. I think Bristol Rovers, Charlton, Derby, Leyton Orient (possibly), Oxford, Portsmouth, Sheff Wed (if they don't win the play-offs) and Wycombe could bring 2,100 here next season for a typical Saturday game. On the flip side, I can't imagine Burton, Fleetwood or Salford (if promoted) would bring more than a couple hundred tops.

Chances are, as you say, we'll be towards the top end of away fans at our ground next year.

[Sutekh]

I'm not sure any supporter will be falling over themselves to come to Reading m8.

We used to have one of the highest average away attendances at the Madejski because it's easy to get to Reading by rail or road. And we're not at the arse end of the cou try somewhere.

Assume not much has changed with that. So agree visiting attendance next year should be pretty high up for the league.

Milton Keynes had the highest number of travelling fans in League One this season - with Derby, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday taking over 6,500 there. They averaged ~1,900 away fans at their ground.


The travelling fans at the Madejski for the 2001-02 season averaged ~1,400 (with four games missing from my dataset: Brighton; Oldham; Northampton; Peterborough). With an allocation of 2,100 away fans (as with this season) it would've been closer to ~1,100. The median was 802.

We've not played about half of the teams in League One next season for about twenty years - so a large percentage of those clubs' fans wouldn't've had the opportunity to come here. I think Bristol Rovers, Charlton, Derby, Leyton Orient (possibly), Oxford, Portsmouth, Sheff Wed (if they don't win the play-offs) and Wycombe could bring 2,100 here next season for a typical Saturday game. On the flip side, I can't imagine Burton, Fleetwood or Salford (if promoted) would bring more than a couple hundred tops.

Chances are, as you say, we'll be towards the top end of away fans at our ground next year.

Don’t give a **** about how many away fans turn up (the less the better ), getting home fans in is far more important.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yeah I'd suspect there would be a few clubs who would take a good following to us. I'm not sure I could see an average of over 1000 going to away games next season if we are to be sitting in mid table in League One.

At the moment, I can see 8 teams (Wycombe, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Stevenage) that are definitely within reason for us to be taking 1000+ (or the maximum allocation) away from home.

I think anything else will depend on other factors. Places like Cambridge, Derby etc are not horrible journeys or anything, but if it's on a midweek and we are in mid tale, I could imagine a few fans passing it up. If it's a weekend and we are towards the top, then possibly not. All depends on how the season plays out for us and when we play teams.

[Dirk Gently]

Milton Keynes had the highest number of travelling fans in League One this season - with Derby, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday taking over 6,500 there. They averaged ~1,900 away fans at their ground.

But you're not taking ground capacity into account here. MKD had the most fans visit them because they have a big ground and the ability to give away crowds a massive allocation because they can't sell it themselves.

Unless we close C1871 or make more radical changes then the most will offer away fans is about 2k.

[RG30]

Milton Keynes had the highest number of travelling fans in League One this season - with Derby, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday taking over 6,500 there. They averaged ~1,900 away fans at their ground.

But you're not taking ground capacity into account here. MKD had the most fans visit them because they have a big ground and the ability to give away crowds a massive allocation because they can't sell it themselves.

Unless we close C1871 or make more radical changes then the most will offer away fans is about 2k.

As discussed on https://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=190226 away fans will also get offered additional tickets in the UW (GU3-gu5) to accommodate clubs that have the demand.

[Royal_jimmy]

Yeah I'd suspect there would be a few clubs who would take a good following to us. I'm not sure I could see an average of over 1000 going to away games next season if we are to be sitting in mid table in League One.

At the moment, I can see 8 teams (Wycombe, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Stevenage) that are definitely within reason for us to be taking 1000+ (or the maximum allocation) away from home.

I think anything else will depend on other factors. Places like Cambridge, Derby etc are not horrible journeys or anything, but if it's on a midweek and we are in mid tale, I could imagine a few fans passing it up. If it's a weekend and we are towards the top, then possibly not. All depends on how the season plays out for us and when we play teams.

I also expect us to take loads to the likes of Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Fleetwood despite the fair distances

[Royal_jimmy]

Milton Keynes had the highest number of travelling fans in League One this season - with Derby, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday taking over 6,500 there. They averaged ~1,900 away fans at their ground.

But you're not taking ground capacity into account here. MKD had the most fans visit them because they have a big ground and the ability to give away crowds a massive allocation because they can't sell it themselves.

Unless we close C1871 or make more radical changes then the most will offer away fans is about 2k.

They're also relatively central in England. Not a million miles away from a lot of clubs

[Snowflake Royal]

So like Reading then. Only shitter.

[From Despair To Where?]

Yeah I'd suspect there would be a few clubs who would take a good following to us. I'm not sure I could see an average of over 1000 going to away games next season if we are to be sitting in mid table in League One.

At the moment, I can see 8 teams (Wycombe, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Stevenage) that are definitely within reason for us to be taking 1000+ (or the maximum allocation) away from home.

I think anything else will depend on other factors. Places like Cambridge, Derby etc are not horrible journeys or anything, but if it's on a midweek and we are in mid tale, I could imagine a few fans passing it up. If it's a weekend and we are towards the top, then possibly not. All depends on how the season plays out for us and when we play teams.

I also expect us to take loads to the likes of Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Fleetwood despite the fair distances

Doubt we'll take more than 831 to Fleetwood.


I like the fact that Fleetwood built a new stand in front of an old stand and then decided not to knock the old stand down. Its still got a better view than half of Loftus Rd.

From this



To this

[Clyde1998]

Milton Keynes had the highest number of travelling fans in League One this season - with Derby, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday taking over 6,500 there. They averaged ~1,900 away fans at their ground.

But you're not taking ground capacity into account here. MKD had the most fans visit them because they have a big ground and the ability to give away crowds a massive allocation because they can't sell it themselves.

Unless we close C1871 or make more radical changes then the most will offer away fans is about 2k.

Ofc. The point around Milton Keynes was context about what a high number of travelling fans would be in League One and what clubs may take away when not constrained by capacity.

[Clyde1998]

Yeah I'd suspect there would be a few clubs who would take a good following to us. I'm not sure I could see an average of over 1000 going to away games next season if we are to be sitting in mid table in League One.

At the moment, I can see 8 teams (Wycombe, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Stevenage) that are definitely within reason for us to be taking 1000+ (or the maximum allocation) away from home.

I think anything else will depend on other factors. Places like Cambridge, Derby etc are not horrible journeys or anything, but if it's on a midweek and we are in mid tale, I could imagine a few fans passing it up. If it's a weekend and we are towards the top, then possibly not. All depends on how the season plays out for us and when we play teams.

I think we'll take 1,000 to Cambridge next season if it's on a weekend and we seem to plateau around 500 for the furthest journeys:


For those we're (or could be) playing next season, we've averaged (for non-PL league Saturday games & minimum of three matches):

1. Charlton (4 matches) - 1,657
2. Peterborough (3) - 1,004
3. Blackpool (4) - 850(!)
4. Derby (5) - 742
5. Sheff Wed (6) - 621
6. Wigan (7) - 549
7. Barnsley (5) - 524

Of those we've played twice in my dataset: Northampton (1,217); Port Vale (518)

As Royal_jimmy says, I think we could take over 1,000 to Fleetwood, based on that Blackpool figure, Shrewsbury and Lincoln given they're new grounds for most.

[Jackson Corner]

Yeah I'd suspect there would be a few clubs who would take a good following to us. I'm not sure I could see an average of over 1000 going to away games next season if we are to be sitting in mid table in League One.

At the moment, I can see 8 teams (Wycombe, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Stevenage) that are definitely within reason for us to be taking 1000+ (or the maximum allocation) away from home.

I think anything else will depend on other factors. Places like Cambridge, Derby etc are not horrible journeys or anything, but if it's on a midweek and we are in mid tale, I could imagine a few fans passing it up. If it's a weekend and we are towards the top, then possibly not. All depends on how the season plays out for us and when we play teams.

I also expect us to take loads to the likes of Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Fleetwood despite the fair distances

Doubt we'll take more than 831 to Fleetwood.


I like the fact that Fleetwood built a new stand in front of an old stand and then decided not to knock the old stand down. Its still got a better view than half of Loftus Rd.

From this



To this

Wow was that based on the new Spurs ground?

[Clyde1998]

I like the fact that Fleetwood built a new stand in front of an old stand and then decided not to knock the old stand down. Its still got a better view than half of Loftus Rd.

Looks like it'll have a better view (apparently this seat was £38 when they were in the Premier League ):

[From Despair To Where?]

I also expect us to take loads to the likes of Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Fleetwood despite the fair distances

Doubt we'll take more than 831 to Fleetwood.


I like the fact that Fleetwood built a new stand in front of an old stand and then decided not to knock the old stand down. Its still got a better view than half of Loftus Rd.

From this



To this

Wow was that based on the new Spurs ground?

No, other way round.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yeah I'd suspect there would be a few clubs who would take a good following to us. I'm not sure I could see an average of over 1000 going to away games next season if we are to be sitting in mid table in League One.

At the moment, I can see 8 teams (Wycombe, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Stevenage) that are definitely within reason for us to be taking 1000+ (or the maximum allocation) away from home.

I think anything else will depend on other factors. Places like Cambridge, Derby etc are not horrible journeys or anything, but if it's on a midweek and we are in mid tale, I could imagine a few fans passing it up. If it's a weekend and we are towards the top, then possibly not. All depends on how the season plays out for us and when we play teams.

I think we'll take 1,000 to Cambridge next season if it's on a weekend and we seem to plateau around 500 for the furthest journeys:


For those we're (or could be) playing next season, we've averaged (for non-PL league Saturday games & minimum of three matches):

1. Charlton (4 matches) - 1,657
2. Peterborough (3) - 1,004
3. Blackpool (4) - 850(!)
4. Derby (5) - 742
5. Sheff Wed (6) - 621
6. Wigan (7) - 549
7. Barnsley (5) - 524

Of those we've played twice in my dataset: Northampton (1,217); Port Vale (518)

As Royal_jimmy says, I think we could take over 1,000 to Fleetwood, based on that Blackpool figure, Shrewsbury and Lincoln given they're new grounds for most.

Yeah possibly. Again, I think it all depends on how successful, or not, we are in the league next season as well as when we play teams. I think Blackpool's average may be slightly more based on the fact it was the opening game of the season this time around and we took a decent following, it probably skews the figures a bit, but still not bad,

[Clyde1998]

@ReadingFC: "@Carabao_Cup and @TheEFLTrophy draws to be televised on Thursday 22 June, as part of EFL fixture release day".

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/j ... announced/

[Sutekh]

@ReadingFC: "@Carabao_Cup and @TheEFLTrophy draws to be televised on Thursday 22 June, as part of EFL fixture release day".

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/j ... announced/

Woopeedoo! We get to see Reading get that money spinning first round league cup tie at Cardiff and sharing a Trophy group with the likes of Arsenal's u21s and Sutton United