Reading are preparing to return to League One action on Saturday as strugglers Crawley Town visit the SCL Stadium for the first time ever and the sides are set to do battle in a first-ever league meeting.

Winning promotion from League Two via the play-offs last season, Rob Elliott recently replaced the MK Dons-bound Scott Lindsay and the Red Devils look to survive back in the third tier.

In preparation for Saturday, take a stroll down memory lane and remember six former Royals who also called the Broadfield Stadium their home.

(Image: Rhianna Chadwick/PA Wire)

Liam Kelly

No doubt the best-known link between the two clubs, midfielder Kelly rose through the ranks in Reading and went on to make almost 100 appearances. A favourite of Jaap Stam, the Dutch giant took Kelly to Feyenoord for a short spell but it is in the EFL with Oxford United and Rochdale where Kelly excelled.

Moving to Crawley in 2023, the Republic of Ireland youth international was a standout star as they won promotion via the play-offs, Kelly contributing goals in both semi-finals and the Wembley showpiece.

However, the diminutive star was one of the first to exit over the summer and will link up with former Crawley boss Scott Lindsay at MK Dons.

Tyler Frost

Another to rise through the Academy alongside Kelly, Frost never managed an appearance for his hometown club but has gone on to enjoy a career across the divisions in the south of England.

Currently with Aldershot, the midfielder made over 50 appearances for Crawley in League Two between 2020 and 2022.

Still only 25, there is plenty of time for an EFL revival for Frost.

Kwesi Appiah

The Ghana international has lived a journeyman's career since making his debut in 2008, making appearances for 21 teams across the top seven divisions.

Signed on loan by Reading from Crystal Palace in 2015, the striker scored once in six appearances.

After a spell in India, Appiah returned to England with Crawley in 2021 and registered 12 goals in 34 appearances.

Last season, the 34-year-old scored three goals in 15 appearances for Boreham Wood in the National League.

Jordan Mutch

A Championship regular with Birmingham City and Cardiff City in the early 2010s, Reading signed Mutch on loan from Crystal Palace in January 2017 as they were fighting for promotion.

Scoring against Ipswich Town on his debut, he made just nine appearances for the Royals and moved to Canada, South Korea, Australia and Norway before returning to the EFL in 2022.

Crawley town signed Mutch in March 2023 and he managed three appearances before returning to Australia this year.

Jamie Ashdown

Another Academy graduate, Ashdown joined Reading in 1991 and made his debut in 2000. Making 13 appearances, it is his eight-year stay with Portsmouth that brought the most success, including an FA Cup winners medal.

In 2014, Ashdown played nine times for Crawley before winding down his professional career with Oxford United.

At 43, the goalkeeper is still a player-coach with non-league Ascot United.