Here are a selection of current and former Reading FC stars and the one individual performance that changed the course of their Royals career.

Alex McCarthy – Liverpool (H) 12-13

Although a 0-0 draw ultimately did little to help Reading’s survival bid, Reading hosted a Liverpool side who included the likes of Luis Suarez, Phillipe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge and kept a clean sheet.

Alex McCarthy played a massive part in this by producing a series of outstanding saves to maintain his clean sheet and put a significant dent in Liverpool’s European qualification bid.

The result also ended a dismal run on eight successive defeats in all competitions for Reading.

McCarthy’s performance caught the eye of England boss Roy Hodgson, who called him up for the friendlies against Ireland and Brazil.

McCarthy has gone on to be an established Premier League goalkeeper, but this was arguably one of – if not the best – individual showings in his career.

Dave Kitson – West Ham (H) 03/04

This was the game that endeared Kitson to the home support at the Madejski Stadium.

The Royals forward scored twice on Alan Pardew’s return to the Madejski Stadium in the visiting dugout following his acrimonious departure.

He was off and running in a Reading FC shirt and ultimately became on of the most popular figures in recent Royals history following his role in the record-shattering promotion campaign of in 2005-06, two years after this game.

Adam Le Fondre – Southampton (A) 11-12

The performance that sealed Le Fondre’s hero status amongst Reading FC fans.

His two goals secured a priceless and season-defining victory at St Mary’s that went a long way to sealing Reading’s second ever promotion to the top-tier of English football.

Le Fondre secured his spot in Reading FC folklore, with the scenes in the away end following the 3-1 triumph living long in the memory of Royals fans old and young.

George Puscas – Cardiff (H) 19/20

It may seem a strange inclusion, given how early in his career this game was, but George Puscas’ two-goal performance against Cardiff earlier this season only increased the expectations from Reading fans.

After his big money move last summer, the pressure was on Puscas to shine from the start. His first goal against Cardiff will live long in the memory for Royals fans, a stunning individual surge from halfway before shaping to produce a succulent finish.

He nipped in at the front post to give a dominant Royals side a healthy two-goal advantage before John Swift capped off a fine win for Jose Gomes.

The reason I feel this performance changed his Reading career is that it ramped up the pressure on Puscas’ shoulders, which he arguably struggled with for long periods in the first half of the season.

It’s impossible to predict how his first season would’ve panned out without this game – but chances are, it may have had a slightly different trajectory – in one way or another.

Jamie Cureton – Brentford (A) 01-02

Much like Le Fondre’s performance against Southampton, this is the game that secured Cureton’s legendary status at the Madejski Stadium.

A deft flick in the closing stages secured a point for Alan Pardew’s men which was enough to seal Reading’s promotion to the second tier of English football.

In a game that remains one of the most memorable in Reading’s 149 year history. It saved Reading the agony of the play-off’s and sent the Royals on an upward trajectory that ultimately culminated in a second promotion.

Without Cureton’s performance, not only would his Reading FC career have lost it’s defining moment – but the entire recent history of Reading may have been different.