Reading FC haven’t been able to reach these heights since.
Brian McDermott was in his first stint as Reading manager when they were promoted
When Reading were promoted in 2012 they came from behind West Ham and Southampton to win the league, and no result was bigger than the 3-1 win away to the Saints in April.
All the 13 players who featured that day have left the club, and their trajectories underline how good a job manager Brian McDermott did to top the Championship.
Adam Federici
Having spent a decade at Reading, he left in 2015 to be Bournemouth’s back-up goalie.
Shaun Cummings
Cummings also left Reading in 2015 and moved to Millwall, for whom he still plays. He recently scored the winner in Millwall’s FA Cup triumph over Leicester.
Shaun Cummings has been crucial to Millwall’s FA Cup success
Kaspars Gorkss
Gorkass has had a nomadic career after struggling for game-time following Reading’s promotion. In four years, Gorkss has played for six clubs across four different countries, currently turning out for Riga in his native Latvia.
Alex Pearce
Pearce has been a regular for Derby County this season, having also left Reading in 2015 after making more than 200 league appearances.
Ian Harte is better known for his exploits with Leeds United
Ian Harte
Having helped Reading to an unlikely promotion, Harte did they same with Bournemouth three years later, but promptly retired and now works as an agent.
Hayden Mullins
Only on loan at Reading, he moved to Birmingham at the end of the season, and soon after Notts County, before retiring. He’s currently at Watford helping to coach the under-23 side.
Jimmy Kebe
A mercurial talent, Kebe was one of the few players who impressed in the Premier League and scored five times for reading there, but his career has stalled since and he hasn’t played since an underwhelming loan spell at Leeds in 2014. Currently a free agent.
Jobi McAnuff
Now 35 and playing for Stevenage in League Two.
Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt is one of many players whose careers have gone downhill since Reading’s triumph
Another in League Two, Hunt is currently playing for Portsmouth having played for Leeds, Ipswich and Southend after being released by Reading a year after their promotion.
Jay Tabb
A free agent after being released by Ipswich last year.
Jason Roberts
The Royals were Roberts’ last club, and he now works in the media having retired from playing three years ago.
Adam Le Fondre still knows where the goal is
Adam Le Fondre
The game’s hero, he came off the bench to score a brace. Despite scoring 12 goals in the top flight, his career’s tailed off since, and today he finds himself on loan at Bolton from Cardiff.
Benik Afobe
The other substitute, he made only three league appearances on loan at Reading, of which this was one. Now plays for Bournemouth.
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