THERE’S less than one week to go until the EFL fixture release day, and we’re counting down to it by taking a look at all the Championship stadiums Albion will be visiting in the new season. Next up alphabetically, Reading…
Address: Madejski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0FL.
Their home since: 1998.
Previous stadiums: Reading Recreation, Reading Cricket Ground (1871-1882); Coley Park (1882-1889); Caversham Cricket Ground (1889-1896); Elm Park (1896-1998).
Capacity: 24,161.
Record attendance at current stadium: 24,184 (versus Everton - 17 November 2012).
Pitch dimensions: 105m x 68m (115yd x 74.5yd).
Distance from The Hawthorns: 120 miles.
Parking: There are a number of places around Reading that offer parking and a bus ride to the stadium, such as Mereoak Park and Ride (free parking, £4 adult return bus ride) and Shinfield Park and Ride (free parking and £5 family return bus ride). Elsewhere you can park at the Old Greyhound Stadium (£10 pay on the day), which is just an eight minute walk from the ground, or you can park at the Madejski Stadium itself (£10, extremely limited and must book at least three days in advance).
Nearest train station(s): Reading (2.8 miles from the stadium).
Albion’s first visit to the Madejski Stadium: 1 May 2004 - Reading 1-0 Albion.
Albion’s last visit to the Madejski Stadium: 20 February 2016 - Reading 3-1 Albion.
Albion’s record at the Madejski Stadium: P7, W0, D2, L5.
Did you know… The stadium was built on a former household waste dump, so the metallic posts topped with cylindrical discs surrounding the stadium are methane gas vents that were built to accommodate the underground build-up of gases.