Reading fans and staff have been reacting positively after the club's academy was returned to Category One status.
Named among one of the most effective youth system's in the country under the leadership of the late, great Eamonn Dolan, the club were demoted to Category Two last season following the move to Bearwood.
Making it clear that the aim was to return to Category One at the first attempt, they have delivered on their promise.
READ MORE: Reading FC confirm return to a Category One academy
Academy Manager Michael Gilkes said, “Within our Academy are a totally devoted team who rightly take immense pride in developing young footballers, both as people and as players. And on behalf of everyone involved in Reading Football Club and its Academy, I’d like to sincerely thank and congratulate every single person who has helped the Royals to regain this prestigious status. Now, we can all truly look to the future.”
⬆️ …. pic.twitter.com/FBMDwfkv0D
— Reading FC Academy (@RFCAcademy) July 10, 2023
Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, said: “The greatest compliment I can pay to the outstanding staff who help our esteemed Academy tick every day is that the young players who have returned for pre-season training at Bearwood Park in recent weeks won’t have noticed any difference to previous seasons. We have continued to operate our Academy at the very highest standards and those levels have rightly been recognised as elite within the realms of youth player development in this country. I am delighted for our young players, I am thrilled for our talented staff and I am excited for Reading Football Club and its future.”
Other coaching staff took to social media to show their pride.
What a club, but more importantly what a group of people! Lots of hard work, and pushing standards to get the club where we belong, all with a smile on our faces. Up the ding 🔵⚪ https://t.co/u0NywHXDBN
— Matt Burdekin (@BurdekinMatt) July 11, 2023
Good people working tremendously hard achieve great things, Up the ding🔵⚪️🔵 https://t.co/k7CbI8qwmt
— David breakspear (@breakie90) July 10, 2023
Great work by everyone in the academy. The hard work and dedication paying off 👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/9YhIXVD2Bh
— ℬⅈǤℳ₳ƬƬ (@BigMatt45) July 10, 2023
💙🤍💙 Up the ding! 🧤 https://t.co/N2xFaTntGk
— Robert Shay (@Rob_Shay1) July 10, 2023
🔵⚪️🔵⚽️ we keep pushing and developing. https://t.co/AiQOPVeOrr
— christopher sweetman (@christo92335515) July 10, 2023
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