The 2012–13 season was Reading Football Club's third season in the Premier League, and the first since their relegation to the Championship in 2008. Reading secured automatic promotion on 17 April 2012 following a 1–0 win against Nottingham Forest and were crowned as Championship winners four days later. They began the season in August with a 1–1 draw against Stoke City but had to wait until mid-November for their first league win, a 2–1 win over Everton on 17 November 2012. A run of four wins in six around January saw Brian McDermott and Adam Le Fondre named Manager of the Month and Player of the Month respectively, though one month later, after defeats by relegation rivals Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, McDermott was sacked as the club's manager. He was replaced by Nigel Adkins on 26 March, ending Eamonn Dolan's two-week stint as caretaker manager. On 28 April, following a 0–0 home draw against Queens Park Rangers, Reading were relegated to the Championship for the 2013–14 season. They finished the season with six wins from 38 games, the lowest number in their history.
In addition to the Premier League, the club also participated in the two domestic cup competitions. After beating Peterborough United and QPR in the second and third rounds respectively, Reading were knocked out of the League Cup in the fourth round by Arsenal after a dramatic 7–5 extra time defeat. In the FA Cup they recorded victories over Crawley Town and Sheffield United, before a close 2–1 defeat by Manchester United in the fifth round. At the end of the season Adam Le Fondre, who was Reading's top scorer with 14 goals, was named the club's Player of the Season.
Promotion On 17 April 2012, during the 2011–12 season, Reading required a better performance than rivals West Ham United to achieve automatic promotion from the Championship to the Premier League. On the evening, West Ham drew 1–1 with Bristol City, and Reading's Mikele Leigertwood scored an 81st-minute goal from an Ian Harte free kick against Nottingham Forest to secure promotion. Upon the final whistle, there was a pitch invasion at the Madejski Stadium.
Season review
Pre-season
Transfers
On 2 May, Reading announced that they would be renewing ten players contracts whilst 13 would be released. The players leaving included Andy Griffin, Brian Howard and Tomasz Cywka, as well as a number of youngsters. Experienced duo Ian Harte and Brynjar Gunnarsson were both handed one-year extensions along with several young professionals and scholars including Michael Hector and Gozie Ugwu. Reading completed their first signing of the season on 16 May with Garath McCleary signing a three-year deal on a Bosman transfer from Nottingham Forest. The club were linked with a number of players over the next six weeks before Danny Guthrie joined on a free transfer from Newcastle United, becoming Reading's second signing of the summer. The following week Pavel Pogrebnyak signed a four-year deal on a free transfer from Fulham following the approval of his work permit, and the day after, on 6 July, Irish youngster Pierce Sweeney joined for an undisclosed fee from Bray Wanderers. Nicky Shorey rejoined the club on a one-year deal on 10 July following his release from West Bromwich Albion, whilst three days later the first outgoing business of the season was completed with Mathieu Manset joining Sion on a three-year contract. On 17 July the club completed a double signing with Adrian Mariappa and Chris Gunter joining from Watford and Nottingham Forest respectively. Both signed on three-year deals for an undisclosed fee.
Several young players left the club on loan during the summer. Left back Joseph Mills became the first outgoing player, joining Burnley on a season long loan on 17 July, whilst two days later Gozie Ugwu, having just signed a new 2-year contract, was loaned to Yeovil Town until 1 January 2013. The following week Michael Hector joined League One team Shrewsbury Town until 2 January 2013 and on 30 July Angus MacDonald joined AFC Wimbledon on a six-month deal. On 4 August there were two more loan departures with Karl Sheppard joining Accrington Stanley on a six-month loan and Brett Williams joining Woking on a season long deal. Two days later Michail Antonio left the club permanently, joining Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee and on 17 August, Mikkel Andersen joined Portsmouth on a one-month loan, with Jordan Obita joining him four days later on a similar deal. Having trained with the club since mid July, Stuart Taylor signed a one-year deal on 20 August, completing Reading's summer transfer business.
Friendlies On 14 July the senior team played their first friendly away at AFC Wimbledon in a game they won 7–0. Adam Le Fondre scored twice to give Reading a 2–0 lead at half time, during which Reading made ten changes. Michail Antonio scored five minutes into the second half, before a 15-minute hat-trick for Simon Church and a goal from Jordan Obita completed the scoring. Stuart Taylor came on for the last 30 minutes, replacing Alex McCarthy, as he continued his trial with the club. Reading then flew out to Portugal to play three friendlies, the first of which took place on 21 July against Portuguese third division side Quarteirense in Quarteira. The match finished 1–1 with a trademark Ian Harte free kick only enough for draw. Three days later they lost 0–2 to Sheffield Wednesday, the goals coming from Mike Jones and Chris O'Grady either side of half time. Reading's final game in Portugal was played on 27 July against first division side Olhanense. In a surprisingly ill-tempered game, Reading earned a 1–1 draw with Danny Guthrie scoring for the Royals in the first half before Rui Duarte scored a second half penalty. On 4 August they drew 2–2 away at AFC Bournemouth thanks to goals from Adrian Mariappa and Hal Robson-Kanu before they travelled Brighton & Hove Albion for the Michael Kuipers testimonial three days later. Reading went 1–0 down to a Vicente penalty in the first half, before an 89th-minute equaliser from Robson-Kanu levelled the game. Reading's last friendly was on 11 August against Crystal Palace at the Madejski Stadium. Second half goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Adam Le Fondre were enough to complete a winning end to the pre-season.
In addition to the senior team, the club also fielded a Reading XI composed mainly of players from the development squad to face local non-league sides. Their first pre-season friendly was against Didcot Town on 10 July, and saw a team featuring a couple of trialists win 3–2. The Reading XI were 3–0 up at half time thanks to goals from Jordan Obita, Karl Sheppard and Ryan Edwards before Didcot scored twice in the second half. A week later the development side were in action again away to Ebbsfleet United. For the second game in a row they won 3–2 with second half goals from Jordan Obita and Brett Williams adding to Jake Taylor's first half header. On 21 July, in addition to the senior team's friendly in Portugal, the Reading XI were in action away to Basingstoke Town and suffered a heavy 5–0 defeat. Three days later they faced Boreham Wood and won 2–1 thanks to two Dominic Samuel goals before a trip to Salisbury City on 28 July where they lost 1–0. The Reading XI were soon in action again, earning a 2–1 win away at Hendon on 31 July and then a 1–0 victory over Hungerford Town on 4 August. Three days later they travelled away to Hemel Hempstead Town and earned a 1–1 draw with Jordan Obita scoring his fourth goal in seven pre-season games. The final Reading XI game saw the team came from 2–0 down to win 4–2 away against Eastleigh on 11 August. Goals from Jake Taylor, Aaron Tshibola and a double from Craig Tanner were enough to secure a seventh victory in nine games for the development squad.
August
August began with news that Adam Federici had signed a new contract, keeping him with the club until 2015. On 15 August Reading were drawn at home to Peterborough United in the second round of the League Cup with the tie to be played on 28 August. Reading started their first season back in the Premier League with a 1–1 home draw against Stoke City on 18 August. Stoke took the lead in the first half after a mistake by Federici let Michael Kightly's shot spill into the net. In the 90th minute Dean Whitehead fouled Garath McCleary in the box, resulting in Whitehead receiving a second booking and allowing Adam Le Fondre to score the penalty and draw the game. Reading's next game against Chelsea was moved forward to 22 August from 1 September due to Chelsea's participation in the UEFA Super Cup on 31 August. Chelsea opened the scoring through a Frank Lampard penalty on 18 minutes, before a quick-fire double from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie saw Reading take the lead. Gary Cahill brought things level again in the 69th minute before Fernando Torres, who was arguably in an offside position, gave Chelsea the lead again in the 81st minute. Branislav Ivanović then scored a break away goal in the 95th minute after Adam Federici was caught upfield for a last minute corner, securing a 4–2 win for Chelsea.
Reading's fixture list experienced further disruption after the away game against Sunderland on 25 August was called off an hour before kickoff due to a waterlogged pitch at the Stadium of Light. The last game in August was the League Cup tie against Peterborough United, which ended 3–2 to Reading. Peterborough took the lead in the through Paul Taylor in the 12th minute, before three goals in four minutes saw Reading equalise, through Pavel Pogrebnyak, go behind again, thanks to Lee Tomlin, and then equalise again through Chris Gunter. Nathaniel Knight-Percival's own goal in the 39th minute then edged Reading ahead, and after a goalless second half they held out to progress to the third round.
September With the postponement of the Sunderland game, Reading faced a gap of nearly three weeks between the Peterborough United cup match and the league fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. To keep match fitness levels up the club arranged a friendly against Bray Wanderers, the club they signed defender Pierce Sweeney from during the summer, to take place on 2 September in Bray. Reading played a near full-strength side won the game emphatically 8–1 thanks to hat-tricks from Adam Le Fondre and Jay Tabb, as well as goals from Alex Pearce and Jem Karacan. Three days later the club submitted their 25-man squad for the Premier League campaign. All Reading's senior players were included except Brett Williams and Nicholas Bignall, who was recovering from a long-term injury.