A season of rebuilding and progress has come to an end for Reading FC Women after the Royals concluded their campaign in the Southern Region Women’s Premier Division.
The side, managed by Ed Jackson-Norris, showed clear signs of improvement throughout the 2025-26 season following another summer of major change at the club.
Reading spent the season continuing their recovery after dropping into the regional divisions in 2024 amid the wider financial turmoil surrounding the club. The campaign saw a largely new-look squad assembled under Jackson-Norris, who was appointed last July.
throughout the season, the team managed to find continuing cohesion and growing optimism as their young squad racked up wins in the league. While other sides are yet to fully complete their seasons, the Royals sit in 4th place with 11 wins from 19 matches.
The Royals made a strong start to the campaign, winning three of their opening four league matches, with Jackson-Norris praising his side’s resilience and work ethic after an away win over Southampton earlier in the season.
Reading also impressed during the closing weeks of the campaign, putting together a run of victories over sides including Oxford City, Fleet Town and Woodley United before a dramatic 5-3 defeat against AFC Portchester in one of their final fixtures.
Despite the loss, the season was widely viewed as a positive step forward for a club continuing to rebuild from the collapse of its former Women’s Super League and Championship structure.
Jackson-Norris repeatedly used the club’s social media channels to highlight the togetherness within the squad, while supporters praised the young side’s progress and commitment during the campaign.
Reading played their home matches at Arbour Park in Slough and remained competitive throughout the season in the fifth tier, with the club hoping to continue building stability on and off the pitch heading into next season.
