| Royals chairman John Madejski was delighted to see his club top the Championship table following their 3-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. |
Multi-millionaire John Madejski, who splashed out on four new players, a new ticketing system and a swish new video screen scoreboard over the summer, was pleased to see his investments begin to pay off this afternoon.
Madejski's Reading topped the table for two and a half hours following their 3-2 win over the Seagulls, whilst an impressive 17,000 people bought tickets for the match.
Manager Steve Coppell had earlier confessed that he was disappointed with Reading's poor defensive display - but chairman Madejski was just pleased to see his club pick up three points on the season's opening day.
"It was very tense but I'm glad we got the three points," said the chairman, speaking to Reading World.
"It's great to win in front of the home crowd and we've got plenty of players not involved today so there's even more in our locker.
"I was heartbroken they scored in the first minute but thankfully we came right back and scored again."
Madejski has ploughed a considerable sum of money into the club this summer, so was no doubt pleased to have 15,658 people in the ground buying Coca-Cola, beer, pies, home shirts and matchday programmes.
"The crowd was not bad when you consider a lot of season ticket holders were on holiday. We would have had a crowd of more than 17,000 if they had all been here," he added.
Meanwhile, the Royals come up against former manager Alan Pardew on Tuesday when they travel to Upton Park to play West Ham in their second Championship fixture.
Pardew left Reading last September in difficult circumstances to take charge of the Hammers - historically a bigger club than Reading.
No one knows exactly how Madejski will greet his former employee when the duo bump into one another in the Upton Park director's lounge on Tuesday evening, but it is sure to be a very difficult moment for all parties.
But Brighton boss Mark McGhee did a similar thing to Reading a decade ago, and although Reading fans will not forget the Scotsman walking out on the club, Madejski revealed he has put the event behind him.
"What happened with Mark McGhee was 10 years ago now and I'm not one to bear grudges. It's all done and dusted," said Madejski.
It's hard to imagine that he feels the same way about Pardew.
LINKS:
>Royals Record Opening Day Victory - Reading 3 Brighton 2 - Match Report
>Coppell Satisfied With Opening Day Victory
>We Were Top Of The Lague - Our Best Ever! |
>> Terms & Conditions