Reading

Ground: Madejski Stadium

Visits: 1

Date: 8th August 2009

Match: Reading - Nottingham 0-0 (CC Championship)

Attendance: 19 640

Last year I went to England for the opening weekend of the CC Football League. One of the games back then was Nottingham vs Reading and when I looked through the fixtures for this year's opening day I noticed the reversed fixture, Reading vs Nottingham at the Madejski Stadium. Madejski Stadium was opened on 22 August 1998 when Luton Town were beaten 3-0 and Grant Brebner scored the first ever goal at the stadium. The Stadium is named after Reading FC chairman John Madejski and has a capacity of 24 161.

The train to Reading, from London Paddington, was a bit delayed but after boarding the "Football special" bus from Reading train station I was at the stadium approximately an hour before kick-off.

Reading have lost some experienced players since last season and have a young squad for this season. In the first half both teams failed to create some good chances but fortunately the entertainment value in the second half was much better. Reading should have scored from some of their chances but as Nottingham missed some glorius chances as well the game finished 0-0, just as last year. At least there was a controversial sending off (Nottingham, 86th min.) in this game but after seeing Reading play Nottingham twice and both games finishing goalless I can't see myself going to one of these games in the future....

north stand, rear