The 2015–16 season was Reading's 145th year in existence and third consecutive season in the Championship, and covered the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. Reading finished the season 17th in the Championship, whilst also reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Third Round of the League Cup.
Season review
Pre-season Following the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, Reading announced that their preseason would include a tour of Thailand and Malaysia, beginning 5 July. Reading then announced, on 26 May 2015, that they would play a pre-season friendly against Bristol Rovers on 21 July 2015, and a day later announced a friendly match against Crawley Town would take place on 27 July. On 29 May 2015, Reading announced they will face Swansea City at Adams Park on 24 July 2015. On 1 June, Michael Hector signed a new three-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2018. On 3 June, the club announced six pre-season friendlies for the under-21 squad. On 16 June 2015, the first round draw for the Football League Cup was made, with Reading being drawn away against Colchester United. The next day, 17 June 2015, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.
On 22 June 2015, Reading announced a new sponsorship deal with Thai energy drink company Carabao Dang for their home shirt during the 2015–16 season, and three days later Reading added Dave Beasant, Steven Reid, Jonathan Urwin and Stewart Bannister to the backroom staff. Youngster Tarique Fosu signed a new two-year contract with the club on 26 June. On 29 June, Thai Airways were announced as the club's away shirt sponsors for the 2015–16 season.
On 30 July, Jordan Obita signed a contract extension with the club until 2018.
Transfers Following the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, Reading announced that they would not be renewing the contracts of Daniel Lincoln, Jonathan Henly, Aleksandar Gogic, Zat Knight, Jure Travner, George McLennan, Danny Guthrie, Ryan Edwards and Yakubu. The announcement also stated that Mikkel Andersen also wouldn't be offered a new deal at the time, whilst Adam Federici, Alex Pearce, Stephen Kelly and Jem Karacan had all been offered new contracts. On 27 May 2015, it was confirmed that Adam Federici had rejected the clubs offer and signed a three-year contract with A.F.C. Bournemouth. 12 days later, on 8 June 2015, Derby County announced that they had signed Alex Pearce on a three-year contract, ending his 14-year stay with Reading. On 25 June 2015, Mikkel Andersen returned to Denmark, signing for FC Midtjylland. On 8 July, Galatasaray confirmed the signing of Jem Karacan on a free transfer, following the expiration of his Reading contract at the end of the previous season. Jure Travner re-signed for NK Celje on 15 July, whilst Danny Guthrie joined Blackburn Rovers on 5 August 2015.
On 29 June 2015, Reading confirmed the signing of Orlando Sá on a three-year deal from Legia Warsaw, with Stephen Quinn signing a three-year deal the following day from Hull City. Paul McShane followed Quinn in signing for Reading from Hull City on the 2 July, penning a three-year deal. Youngster Jake Sheppard signed his first professional contract with Reading on 3 July, keeping him at the club until 2017. Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond joined Reading on 4 July, for a reported £250,000 from Watford, signing a three-year deal. On 14 July, Reading confirmed the Ali Al-Habsi had joined on a two-year contract, whilst youngster Niall Keown had signed a new three-year contract. On 15 July, Lisandro Semedo was signed from Sporting CP, whilst Rowan Liburd joined from Isthmian League side Billericay Town, on a two-year contract, on 22 July. On 29 July 2015, Kuhl joined RCD Mallorca on trial with a view to a season-long loan deal with the Spanish Segunda División side. Sultan Al Harthy from Arsenal Soccer School Oman joined the club on trial at the end of July.
Defender Andrew Taylor joined Reading on a season-long loan from Wigan Athletic on 5 August, with Craig Tanner moving to Plymouth Argyle on loan to Plymouth Argyle on the same day until January 2016. Young keeper joined Chesham United on a Four-Month loan deal two days later, before midfielder Jake Taylor left on a season-long loan to Motherwell, and Hope Akpan joined Blackburn Rovers on a permanent deal on 11 August. The following day Reading announced the signing of Paolo Hurtado on a three-year contract from Paços de Ferreira. On 18 August, midfielder Álex Fernández joined the club on a season-long loan deal from RCD Espanyol.
On 20 August 2015, Robert Dickie joined Cheltenham Town on a one-month loan deal, with Pavel Pogrebnyak moving back to Russia on 27 August 2015, signing for Dynamo Moscow. On 31 August, Lasha Dvali signed for MSV Duisburg on a free transfer, with Lucas Piazon signing a season-long loan deal from Chelsea on the same day.
On transfer deadline day, Reading sold defender Michael Hector to Chelsea, before loaning him back for the remainder of the season, loaned out Aaron Kuhl to Dundee United until 4 January 2016, and signed Matěj Vydra and Ola John join the club on season-long loan deal from Watford and Benfica respectively.
August Reading started the 2015–16 season with a 2–1 defeat to Birmingham City, away at St Andrew's, on 8 August. Birmingham went 2–0 up through goals from David Cotterill and Jon Toral either side of half-time, before Nick Blackman just before the hour mark and Orlando Sá had a 98th-minute penalty saved. Three days later, Reading defeated Colchester United 1–0, after extra time, in the League Cup with the goal coming from Chris Gunter. On 16 August, Reading hosted Leeds United in a scoreless draw, before visiting Sheffield Wednesday three days later in a game that finished 1–1. Danny Williams scored Reading's goal in the 49th minute before Modou Sougou scored a 90th-minute equaliser. Reading played out their third draw of the season on 22 August, a 0–0 home game against MK Dons before a midweek Second Round League Cup victory over Portsmouth on 25 August. Portsmouth took the lead in the 40th minute through Conor Chaplin, before second half goals from Nick Blackman and Garath McCleary gave Reading the victory. Reading ended August with a 3–1 victory away to Brentford on 29 August, with the goals coming from Sá, a double from Nick Blackman, and Lasse Vibe scoring for Brentford.
September On 9 September, Aaron Tshibola signed a new contract with the club, keeping him at Reading until the summer of 2019. On 11 September, youngster Harry Cardwell joined Woking F.C. on loan until the end of October. The same day, Reading hosted Ipswich Town, with a final score of 5–1. Sá scored a hat-trick, with a strike by Blackman and a 25-yard goal from Norwood in the 87th minute adding to the score. Four days later, on 15 September, Reading lost 1–0 to Derby County. Tom Ince scored the winner for Derby in the 69th minute after Sá received a red card for an off-the-ball incident during first-half stoppage time. On 18 September, Dominic Samuel signed a new contract with the club on a deal until the summer of 2018. The following day, Bristol City hosted Reading, who produced a 0–2 win from early goals from Blackman and McCleary. On 22 September, Reading hosted Everton in the third round of the League Cup. Despite a first-half goal by Blackman, second-half goals from a corner and a free kick gave Everton a 1–2 win and thus knocking Reading out of the competition. On 23 September, Robert Dickie extended his loan at Cheltenham Town for another month. Reading's last match of the month was on 26 September away to Burnley, where goals from Blackman and Lucas Piazon in the first 10 minutes saw Reading through to a 1–2 win and move to 3rd place in the league.
October On 3 October Reading hosted second-place Middlesbrough at the Madejski Stadium. Within 15 seconds of kick-off, Hal Robson-Kanu crossed the ball to Danny Williams who headed the ball in, scoring Reading's third-fastest goal. Blackman added to Reading's lead in the 88th minute with a penalty. On 8 October, manager Steve Clarke and forward Nick Blackman were nominated for September's "Manager of the Month" and "Player of the Month" awards respectively, whilst later the same day defender Jake Cooper extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2018. On 9 October, Reading played a behind-closed-doors friendly against West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground. The teams were level 2–2 at half-time thanks to goals from Piazon, a Blackman penalty and two from Mauro Zárate. After the break, Tshibola put Reading ahead before a West Ham own goal extended the lead. Andy Carroll pulled one back for West Ham, with the final score 3–4. Later on in the same day, Simon Cox joined Bristol City until the beginning of January 2016.
Harry Cardwell returned to the club on 12 October, whilst Noor Husin joined Hemel Hempstead Town. On 16 October, youngster Sean Long joined League Two side Luton Town on an initial one-month loan deal, whilst fellow U21 defender Rob Dickie extended his loan at Cheltenham Town for another month.
Following the mid-October International break for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, Reading hosted Charlton Athletic on 17 October. A 76th-minute header by Blackman was the only goal of the game, giving Reading three points and moving the club up to second place in the league. On 19 October, academy graduate Jack Stacey signed a new contract with Reading, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2019. On 20 October, Reading played away to Rotherham United, where they drew 1–1 following Blackman's 25-yard strike in the 26th minute. Reading's five-match unbeaten run in the league ended on 24 October away to Fulham. Despite Reading's two goals from Piazon and Sa before half-time, Fulham equalised within the first 10 minutes of the second half, later adding to their score to defeat Reading 4–2.
Reading's final match of the month was against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Madejski Stadium on 31 October. Top-of-the-league Brighton gained the lead shortly after half-time, before Matěj Vydra scored his first Reading goal to equalise. Reading ended the month one place below the playoff positions in 7th.
November Reading's first match of November was hosting Huddersfield Town on 4 November. Despite Reading conceding in the second minute, Norwood scored a free kick in the 15th minute to level the score. A second Huddersfield goal took the score to 1–2 by half time; Reading substitute Ola John equalised in the 84th minute to gain the club a point for the 2–2 draw and remain 7th in the league. On 7 November Reading lost 2–0 away to Cardiff City, and consequently dropped to 8th in the league. On 9 November it was reported that Colorado Rapids midfielder, Dillon Powers, had joined the club on a two-week trial. The following day it was announced that Kevin Foley was also training with the squad with the view to signing a short-term contract with the club. On 11 November, Tarique Fosu moved to League One side Fleetwood Town on loan until 2 January 2016, with Dominic Samuel joining Gillingham F.C. on loan until 10 December two days later.
On 18 November, manager Steve Clarke was linked with the vacant Fulham manager's job. The following day it was announced that Clarke would stay as manager of Reading. On 21 November, Reading defeated Bolton Wanderers at 2–1 at home, with Piazon and Williams supplying Reading's goals. On 23 November, Jack Stacey joined Barnet F.C. on a short-term loan deal. Three days later, on 26 November, Andrija Novakovich joined Cheltenham Town on loan until 2 January 2016, whilst Dominic Hyam joined Basingstoke Town until the same date.
Reading's last game of the month was on 28 November away to Nottingham Forest. Despite an early goal by Vydra, Reading lost 3–1 and dropped to 9th in the table; though just one point from the play-off positions.
December