TOP FLIGHT HOPES ON THE LINE IN PENULTIMATE CLASH

READING FC WOMEN’s top flight future is on the line when they face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Royals are currently bottom of the Women’s Super League with just two games remaining to try and save themselves from relegation.

With title chasing Chelsea to play on the final day, Reading’s best hope of picking up a win to drag them off the bottom is likely to come this weekend.

Spurs need just one point from the game to secure their future in what has been a disappointing season for the club who finished in fifth last campaign.

The teams will be playing in front of a bumper crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a double header fixture that sees their men’s

READING FC

READING FC goalkeeper

Luke Southwood is currently unsure whether he will be at the club at the start of next season as the club prepares for life in League One.

Southwood’s current contract with Reading is due to expire this summer and he is uncertain whether the club will decide to extend his stay or release him as a free agent.

The 25-year-old impressed in his latest loan team host Brentford in the Premier League (12.30pm kick-off) before the women’s match at 4.15pm.

Spurs have won just four of their 20 WSL fixtures which puts them on 14 spell with Cheltenham Town in League One where he kept 16 clean sheets to help them to a 16th placed finish.

“I have absolutely loved it, it’s been brilliant,” said Southwood when speaking about his season with the Robins.

“I have felt the support all year, even in games where it hasn’t gone as well for the team.

“I think the connect that we have with the fans and points, just three ahead of Reading who have won one game fewer.

Kelly Chambers’ side have not won in the league since March and have the second worst goal the players, it translates to what we do on the pitch and the boost they give us, it has been brilliant.”

Southwood has made a total of 30 first-team appearances for the Royals and played 25 times in the Championship in the 2021/22 campaign.

However, with his deal due to expire soon, he admitted that his future is currently unclear.

He continued: “It’s going to be an interesting

“We know we’ve always competed with Tottenham and we will definitely use that in terms difference in the division on -28 having conceded more than every team other than ninth placed Brighton.

Reading do have the head-to-head record on their side going into the game having beaten Spurs in their last two meetings.

The last time the teams met was in the FA Cup fifth round which saw Reading progress as 5-4 winners in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.

Reading also took the points when the teams battled at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in December.

The only goal of the game came in the 12th minute when Spurs defender Amy Turner scored an own goal which gave Reading the points.

Vicky Jepson, who took over from previous summer. I’ll have a couple of weeks now to relax and then see where I end up.

“As it stands I am a free agent and whether Reading want me to go back, I am not sure. We’ll have to see but I am an open book.” manager Rehanne Skinner who was dismissed after nine successive WSL defeats, has seen her side collect just two points from their last five games.

Joe Lumley is set to return to Middlesbrough after his one-year loan spell with Reading.

Dean Bouzanis will have two more years left 0on his deal after signing last summer.

Having been on the end of a crushing 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby, Spurs took a point in a 2-2 draw with Brighton and a 3-3 stalemate with Villa in between losses to Everton and Manchester United.

Bethany England, who departed Chelsea in January to get more playing time ahead of a potential World Cup call-up, has impressed since moving across London.

She has netted 10 goals and picked up four assists in just 18 games this campaign which puts her joint third in the list of top scorers.

READING FC have increased season ticket prices despite suffering relegation from the Championship to League One.

The squad will be plying their trade in the third tier of English football for the first time since 2001/02 after they finished in 22nd position which finally saw them succumb to the drop after some near escapes with relegation in previous years.

Season ticket prices have previously been frozen for a considerable period, however next campaign will see fans have to shell out £25 more per season to watch their side.

In a statement released by the club explaining the rising costs, it said: “The operational cost of running matchday at the Select Car Leasing Stadium safely and efficiently has risen by approximately 72%.

“These costs are forecast to increase again for 2023/24 and for the club to be more commercially and operationally sustainable, we must ultimately make slight increases to our ticket prices.

“The incremental rises applied amount to just £25 for those aged 18 and over and £10 for those aged 17 and under.”

Season tickets are now available for fans to renew and those who renew before Friday, June 2 will receive an exclusive invitation to an open training session to watch the team.

Despite Reading’s decision to increase prices, they are still able to offer relatively competitive rates to watch League One football compared to other sides in the division.

Young goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, who made his senior debut on the final day of the season, will also be a free agent this summer if the club does not extend his contract.

21-year-old keeper Jokull Andresson, who has yet to make his Reading debut despite being with the club since 2018, is still under contract next season.

Andresson went on loan to Exeter City and Steveange last season.