On this day in 2012, Reading secured their Premier League return with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

After a run of one defeat in 17, the Royals went from play-off challengers to table toppers, famously beating competitors West Ham and Southampton in March and April to leapfrog them in the race for promotion.

Recovering from the 2011 play-off final defeat, Brian McDermott's men knew that a win against Forest, twinned with scores going their way elsehwhere, would secure a top-flight return after four years away.

A tense, nervy match- Mikele Leigertwood popped up with 10 minutes remaining to convert Ian Harte's free-kick and send the Madejski Stadium into raptures.

Adam Federici and Alex Pearce were called into action late on, but the Royals held on and thousands swarmed the pitch to celebrate the achievement.

From Jobi McAnuff's famous 'are we up?' to the image of a drugged-up Jem Karacan being wheeled into the changing room in a wheel-chair, the band of merry-men will forever be idolised in RG2.

Winning the Championship title just four days later after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, a sold-out contigent travelled to Birmingham City on the final day.

Despite a 2-0 defeat, the mood could not be dampened and celebration began in earnest with inflatable objects.

Reading Chronicle:

It would be a week later that the players got their hands on the trophy, celebrating with an open-top bus tour through the town and a stadium ceremony.

Over a decade on, it feels like an eternity ago as the current side- managed by title-winner Noel Hunt- battle for Championship survival.

However, football is cyclical, and the good times will return...one day.