Team set to return to home stadium after two years

A women's football team will play at their home ground for the first time in more than two years following previous financial struggles.

Reading Women will take on Fleet at Reading's Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday, their first game there since 2024.

They were demoted to the fifth tier of women's football weeks later after withdrawing from the second tier, the Championship, because of Reading's financial uncertainty at the time.

Reading Women remain in the Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League but manager Ed Jackson-Norris said they were looking up.

"There's a real buzz around the place," he said.

"The group is incredibly competitive. After a difficult couple of years, we only finished six points off the title and off promotion last year. We feel we've got a group that can take that last little step."

The match, which kicks off at 14:00 BST on Sunday, will be the first time Reading Women have played there since a 1-0 victory over Durham Women in April 2024.

Home matches have been played at Slough's Arbour Park over recent seasons but players have returned to train at Reading's Bearwood Park training ground as part of their reintegration into the club.

They were previously run by the Reading FC Community Trust.

Vice-captain Sarah Thompson said the squad was "really excited" ahead of Sunday.

"The fans that we have every week will tell you that we always want to play exciting football," she said.

"Goals are hopefully guaranteed and it's a great opportunity to bring your family, bring your friends – kids under 16 get to come free so it's a great reason to show them what local women's football is like."

Anyone unable to get to the match can watch Sunday's match online.