Birmingham City have broken the points record for a team in the EFL with one game to go, while Reading FC’s legendary 2005/06 squad still hold the record in the Championship.
Big spenders Birmingham have won promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking and earned an incredible 108 points from their 45 games under manager Chris Davies, with one game still to go.
Meanwhile, Reading worked to a strict budget under owner Sir John Madejski whose side were masterminded by the management of Steve Coppell on their way to earning 106 points as champions in the 2005/06 campaign.
Reading’s record still stands as the highest points total achieved by a Championship team, while the Blues now hold the record for the highest points achieved by a team in the EFL.
Bearing in the mind the huge gulf between the spending of each club, here is our Reading ‘106’ v Birmingham City 2024/25 combined XI
Goalkeeper – Marcus Hannemann
USA! USA! USA!. A top goalkeeper is vital for any title winning team. The USA international kept 22 clean sheets and played 45 of the 46 league games that season and was named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year,
Left back – Nicky Shorey
Still the only player to have won an international cap for England while playing at Reading.
A wand of a left foot which saw him net twice in the season, both of which from free kicks. Also named in PFA Team of the Year.
Centre back- Ibrahima Sonko
Yet another addition in the PFA Team of the Year. He played in all 46 Championship games that season and score three times.
Centre back – Ivar Ingimarsson
Part of a formidable duo alongside Sonko as the centre back pairing played together in every single match of the Championship campaign.
Right back – Graeme Murty (c)
The skipper. Always reliable, always dependable at the back. Only scored twice in more than 300 games for the Royals, but his penalty in the win against QPR will forever be an iconic moment.
Central midfield – Steve Sidwell
Another addition in the PFA Championship Team of the Year. His energy, determination and quality on the ball shone in the middle of the park. A vital cog in the team and went on to have a solid career in the Premier League and Championship.
Central midfield – James Harper
The perfect partner for Sidwell in the heart of the pitch, contributed with seven goals in 45 gams
Right midfield – Glen Little
Having gone through his entire first season at Reading the year before without scoring a goal, Little found his feet in the 2005/06 campaign and netted five times in 35 appearances, but more vitally contributed with 14 assists, the most in the division.
Left midfield – Bobby Convey
Having arrived from America the previous season, Convey showed his best form in Reading shirt by far during this campaign. He scored seven times in 45 matches, including two in a 5-0 win over Millwall.
Striker – Dave Kitson
Having scored 19 times in the previous campaign, Kitson netted 18 in 34 games to help Reading win promotion. An absolute bargain at just £150,000 and was eventually sold to Stoke Cty for £5.5million.
Striker – Kevin Doyle
The final Reading entry in the PFA Team of the Season. Doyle equalled Kitson’s league tally with 18 goals as the pair continued to fire in goals throughout the season to help the Royals reach the top flight.
Manager – Steve Coppell
He will forever be regarded as a legend at Reading. His side achieved a tally that has yet to be beaten in the Championship and it shouldn’t be forgotten how exceptionally his team performed in their debut season in the Premier League the following campaign.
Birmingham City
Division: League One
Position: 1st
Points: 108* (one game to play)
Wins: 33
Draws: 9
Losses: 3
Goals: 82
Goals against: 30
Top scorer: Jay Stanfield (19)
Transfer spend: £35million
Reading:
Division: Championship
Position: 1st
Points: 106
Wins: 31
Draws: 13
Losses: 2
Goals: 99
Goals against: 32
Top scorer: Dave Kitson & Kevin Doyle (18)
Transfer spend: £2.67million
