Reading FC's only home pre-season friendly called off
The club say the new pitch isn't ready
Last updated 30th Jul 2026
Reading Football Club has called off it's only home pre-season friendly which was due to be played on Saturday.
The club say that following a period of unusually hot and dry weather during the growth of the Club's newly laid playing surface, it has become clear that the pitch is not yet sufficiently developed to host the fixture.
As a result, the match against Charlton will now be played behind closed doors at The Valley, with kick-off at 2pm.
In conjunction with Charlton Athletic, the Club will stream the full match live and free of charge, ensuring supporters can still watch the Royals' final pre-season outing ahead of the new campaign.
Supporters who have purchased tickets for the fixture at the Select Car Leasing Stadium will receive a full refund.
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Reading FC Co-Chief Executive Officer Joe Jacobson said: "This is not a decision anyone at the Club wanted to make, but it is the right one.
"We've invested significantly in providing the team with the best possible playing surface for the season ahead. Unfortunately, the recent spell of hot and dry weather has slowed the development of the new pitch and, after taking expert advice, we've concluded that protecting it now gives us the best chance of having it in the condition we all want for the start of the League One campaign.
"We know this will be disappointing for supporters who were looking forward to returning to the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and we're sincerely sorry for the inconvenience this causes. While we understand the frustration, our responsibility is to make decisions that are in the long-term interests of the football club, and this is one of those occasions.
"We're grateful to Charlton Athletic for their understanding, cooperation and support in helping us rearrange the fixture. We also thank our supporters for their patience and continued backing, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Select Car Leasing Stadium when we begin our League One campaign against Luton Town."
The club's first home league game will take place on 15 August - Reading FC officials will be hoping the next two weeks is enough to allow the pitch to be ready.