Reading Women – the Madejski Stadium

The Madejski Stadium, currently known as Select Car Leasing Stadium, is a football stadium in Reading. It’s the home ground of the Reading Football Club, and also where the Reading FC women previously played their home matches.

The stadium cost more than £50 million to build and the field is made up of a system of synthetic fibers interwoven with natural grass and cost more than £750,000.

Although the grandstand was used for all reading games, including the women’s super league home games, it was normally closed to the London Irish and was only exceptionally opened when necessary.

The South Stand has a capacity of 4,350, including 29 wheelchair spaces, and is where season ticket holders sit to watch games. The initial visiting team allocation is 2,327 and is half of the grandstand adjacent to the east grandstand.

Under the terms of their original lease, London Irish only used the South Stand for the most popular season tickets games.

How to Get to the Madejski Stadium

By Car

Coming from the west on the M4 you’ll see the stadium on the left. Leave the M4 at Junction 11, turn left onto the A33 relay road, which will take you directly to the stadium. The Madejski complex is a really accessible ground and easily seen from exit 11.

By Bus

On Reading match days, this English football stadium is served by a network of special bus routes operated by Reading Buses and Stagecoach Buses. Two of them, Buses F1 and F2, offer regular shuttle services from Reading Train Station and from a parking and ride area in Shinfield Park.

14 other Reading Bus services provide connections from various Reading suburbs and nearby cities and towns, including Newbury and Henley on Thames. Stagecoach services provide connections from Basingstoke, Farnborough, Wokingham and Bracknell.

This home ground of Reading FC has a good record for providing several ways for people to access it so it’s easy to plan for next season – a great sign for the really good support fans.

When there are no men’s team or women’s team games, this community stadium can be accessed from Reading city centre using Reading Buses Greenwave services.

By Train

Reading Train Station is just over 3 miles from Madejski Stadium. Probably the easiest way to get there is by taking the F1 “Football Special” bus, which leaves directly from the train station at Station Hill.

Where to Park

There is limited parking for the game’s fanbase at the stadium for £10, however, exiting the parking on game days can get quite difficult to manage. You can also park at the site of the now demolished greyhound track near the stadium.

You can get there from the M4 at Junction 11, take the A33 towards Reading city center. Follow the freeway past the stadium and McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut locations, then look for the “Alternate Parking” signs in front of you.

There are also several unofficial car parks available on a regular basis in the area or the option to rent a private road near Madejski Stadium which you can book through this link.

Away Friendly Pubs Near the Madejski Stadium

There is a small fan area off the east grandstand with a couple of mobile bar units that can be used regularly by home fans and visitors. If this doesn’t meet your expectations, you can always go for the pubs in the centre which attract locals and first time visitors alike.

When you pass the Holiday Inn on your left, turn left onto Basingstoke Road and go up a hill to find a pub on your right called The World Turned Upside Down. This pub has a mix of local and visiting fanatics and was also popular for dinner. From the pub, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the stadium.

If you get to the area early, you can head to Three Mile Cross which has a couple of good pubs that welcome those supporting the local or visiting teams. Just exit the motorway at J11 and exit the stadium (signposted A33 Basingstoke). After 200 meters at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Three Mile Cross.

Otherwise, it may be helpful to have a drink in the middle of the pre-game reading fc women’s match. The Three Guineas attached to the station was designated as an amateur inn.

It offers a selection of eight beers, food and sports broadcasts. There’s also the Greyfriar on Greyfriar Road, which is also listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and generally has a mix of local and visiting game supporters.

Most of the bars near the Reading Station have checkers and unless you have identification to prove that you are local, you will not be allowed in. The walk also allows the visit of supporters. It has BT and Sky Sports played on their screens so you can watch the current game at play while having a pint.

Whether you’re up for watching the premiership rugby match, the latest news on Manchester city and their rivals, or see updates on the women’s game, this place has you covered.

To find this bar, exit the train station onto John Lewis, along Station Road. At the intersection and at the beginning of the pedestrian zone, turn left onto Friar Street. In the distance on the left you can see a Yates Bar (for local supporters only), but just before there is a strange looking alley on the left, if you go here you will find the Walkabout.

Hotels Near the Madejski Stadium

If you’re looking to watch the Reading FC women play their home games or other teams matches, it may be best to book accommodations nearby so it’s easier for you to get to the venue. You can try booking using sites like Booking.com, Agoda, or other third-party booking sites.

What Have Other Away Fans Said About Their Trip to the Madejski Stadium?

Visitors can be found at one end of the stadium, in the south grandstand, which seats 4,300 (usually 2,327). The facilities in this grandstand are good with plenty of leg room and the views of the field are excellent as there is good height between the rows and the grandstand is quite steep.

Visiting support can make a lot of noise at this booth, so make the most of it. A drummer in the house area also provides the atmosphere.

Entry to the arena is only possible with tickets and, if tickets are still available for the visiting fanbase, they can be purchased on the day in the southstand between gates 9 and 10.

The club’s general reception and support have improved in recent years and they are more considerate of visiting supporters. Visiting fans in need of a cigarette can leave the stadium at halftime.

Though since the coronavirus pandemic was announced, not much has been said about the security of future games, and we can only hope that it will be a memorable as the previous ones.

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Stadium Key Facts

• Capacity – 24, 161
• Address – Junction 11, M4, Reading RG2 0FL, United Kingdom
• Telephone – 0118 968 1100
• Fax – 0118 968 1101
• Ticketing – 0118 968 1313
• Email – [email protected]
• Rival Club – Aldershot Town, Oxford United, and Swindon Town
• Pitch Size – 105m x 68m
• Pitch Type – SIS Grass
• Year Ground Opened – 1998
• Record Attendance – 24,184 Reading v. Everton
• Official Website – https://www.readingfc.co.uk/
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ReadingFC/
• Club Nickname – The Royals, The Biscuitmen, The Kennetsiders
• Construction Cost – £89 million
• Owner – Madejski Holdings plc
• Coordinates – 51°25′20″N 0°58′58″W

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