Women's team back at home stadium after two years

A women's football team have returned to their home ground for the first time in more than two years after a period of financial uncertainty.

Reading Women marked the occasion with a 7-2 victory over Fleet at the Berkshire town's Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Financial difficulties led to Reading Women's withdrawal from the Championship, the second tier of the women's game, resulting in their demotion to the fifth tier.

Ahead of the homecoming fixture, striker Nat Cowell said the squad had been eagerly anticipating the occasion and had been "gearing up to this moment".

Reading Women continue to compete in the Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division.

Sunday's fixture was their first at the stadium since a 1-0 win over Durham Women in April 2024.

In recent seasons, home matches have been played at Arbour Park in Slough. The squad has since returned to training at Reading's Bearwood Park facility as part of its reintegration into the club.

Defender Keziah Banduka said the move back to Reading could help inspire more local girls to consider playing for the team.

"We're here, we're in Reading... and I think it's nice that we're finally connected back where we were," she added.

Reading FC came under new ownership when Rob Couhig purchased the club in 2025, and manager Ed Jackson-Norris believes the American owner's support for the women's game has been beneficial.

"Over in the States, the women's game is enormous and it's probably the second biggest league in the world behind the WSL here," he said.

"So that appreciation for women's sport absolutely helps."