# 2023–24 Reading F.C. Women season

The 2023–24 Reading F.C. Women season was the club's 17th season and their first season back in the Women's Championship, the second tier of the football pyramid, since 2013 following relegation the previous season.

## Season events

On 28 July, Reading announced the return of Charlie Estcourt to the club from Birmingham City.
On 31 July, Reading announced the signing of Ava Kuyken from Hibernian.
On 3 August, Reading announced the singing of two goalkeepers, Emily Orman on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea, and of free-agent Rose Kite following a successful trial.
On 18 August, Reading announced Liam Gilbert as their new First Team Manager.
On 25 August, Reading announced the signing of Rachel Dugdale from Coventry United. Later the same day, Reading announced the signing of Georgia Wilson from Plymouth Argyle.
On 1 September, Reading announced the signing of Josie Longhurst from Lewes.
On 7 September, Reading announced the season-long loan signing of Halle Houssein from West Ham United.
On 14 September, Reading announced the season-long loan signings of Lulu Jarvis from Brighton & Hove Albion and Freya Gregory from Aston Villa, whilst Caitlin Smith joined on a permanent transfer from Clemson Tigers.
On 21 September, Reading announced that Jacqueline Burns had signed a new contract with the club.
On 4 January, Reading announced the loan return of Freya Gregory to Aston Villa, the dual registration of Freya Meadows-Tuson with Maidenhead United and the departure of Rose Kite by mutual consent. On the same day, Player Pathway graduate, Mae Hunt, was registered for the first team.
On 11 January, Reading announced the departure of Sanne Troelsgaard from the club by mutual consent.
On 12 January, Reading announced the signing of Jesse Woolley on loan from Bristol City until the end of the season.
On 26 January, Reading announced the signing of Jessie Stapleton on loan from West Ham United for the remainder of the season. Five days later, on 31 January, Keira Flannery also joined Reading on loan from West Ham for the remainder of the season, and the departure of Lily Woodham to Seattle Reign for an undisclosed fee.
On 30 June, Reading announced their withdrawal from the Women's Championship for the upcoming season, moving instead to the Southern Region Women's Football League due to ownership and financial constraints.

## Squad

    As of match played 28 April 2023
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Emily Orman | GK | (2002-11-05)5 November 2002 (aged 21) | on loan from Chelsea | 2023 | 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 25 | Jacqueline Burns | GK | (1997-03-06)6 March 1997 (aged 27) | Unattached | 2022 | | 16 | 0 |
| 41 | Eve Annets | GK | (2006-03-19)19 March 2006 (aged 18) | Academy | 2023 | | 4 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Rachel Dugdale | DF | (1996-11-19)19 November 1996 (aged 27) | Coventry United | 2023 | | 23 | 0 |
| 3 | Jessie Stapleton | DF | (2005-02-07)7 February 2005 (aged 19) | on loan from West Ham United | 2024 | 2024 | 11 | 1 |
| 5 | Deanna Cooper | DF | (1993-06-20)20 June 1993 (aged 30) | Chelsea | 2020 | 2024 | 79 | 4 |
| 6 | Caitlin Smith | DF | (2003-05-20)20 May 2003 (aged 20) | Clemson Tigers | 2023 | | 13 | 0 |
| 15 | Brooke Hendrix | DF | (1993-05-06)6 May 1993 (aged 30) | Melbourne Victory | 2022 | 2024 | 34 | 1 |
| 16 | Easther Mayi Kith | DF | (1997-03-28)28 March 1997 (aged 27) | Kristianstad | 2023 | 2024 | 35 | 0 |
| 31 | Bethan Roberts | DF | (2003-05-14)14 May 2003 (aged 20) | Academy | 2019 | | 28 | 1 |
| 33 | Bella Cox | DF | | | 2023 | | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 4 | Halle Houssein | MF | (2004-12-11)11 December 2004 (aged 19) | on loan from West Ham United | 2023 | 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 8 | Tia Primmer | MF | (2004-05-02)2 May 2004 (aged 19) | Academy | 2021 | 2024 | 58 | 5 |
| 10 | Ava Kuyken | MF | (2001-06-15)15 June 2001 (aged 22) | Hibernian | 2023 | | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Keira Flannery | MF | (2005-09-24)24 September 2005 (aged 18) | on loan from West Ham United | 2024 | 2024 | 10 | 1 |
| 17 | Charlie Estcourt | MF | (1998-05-27)27 May 1998 (aged 25) | Birmingham City | 2023 | | 56 | 2 |
| 20 | Georgia Wilson | MF | (2002-02-01)1 February 2002 (aged 22) | Plymouth Argyle | 2023 | | 5 | 0 |
| 21 | Mae Hunt | MF | (2005-11-29)29 November 2005 (aged 18) | Academy | 2021 | | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | Amelia Elwood | MF | (2005-11-03)3 November 2005 (aged 18) | Academy | 2023 | | 17 | 1 |
| 23 | Lulu Jarvis | MF | (2004-05-06)6 May 2004 (aged 19) | on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion | 2023 | 2024 | 13 | 0 |
| 24 | Josie Longhurst | MF | (2002-02-24)24 February 2002 (aged 22) | Lewes | 2023 | | 21 | 0 |
| 32 | Stevie Kennedy | MF | | Academy | 2023 | | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Imogen Poile | MF | | Academy | 2023 | | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Gesa Marashi | MF | | Academy | 2023 | | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Charlie Wellings | FW | (1998-05-18)18 May 1998 (aged 25) | Celtic | 2022 | | 38 | 10 |
| 9 | Madison Perry | FW | (2006-01-24)24 January 2006 (aged 18) | Academy | 2022 | | 21 | 5 |
| 11 | Lauren Wade | FW | (1993-11-22)22 November 1993 (aged 30) | Glentoran | 2022 | | 49 | 5 |
| 27 | Jesse Woolley | FW | (2001-03-27)27 March 2001 (aged 23) | on loan from Bristol City | 2024 | 2024 | 11 | 0 |
| U21 ||||||||||
| | Anne Thomann | MF | | Academy | 2021 | | 0 | 0 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| 18 | Freya Meadows-Tuson | MF | | Academy | 2021 | | 3 | 0 |
| 36 | Natasha Rasmussen | MF | | Academy | 2023 | | 0 | 0 |
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 19 | Freya Gregory | MF | (2003-01-12)12 January 2003 (aged 21) | on loan from Aston Villa | 2023 | 2024 | 11 | 2 |
| 27 | Rose Kite | GK | (2001-01-29)29 January 2001 (aged 23) | Unattached | 2023 | | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | Lily Woodham | DF | (2000-09-03)3 September 2000 (aged 23) | Bristol City | 2018 | 2024 | 84 | 0 |
| 51 | Sanne Troelsgaard | MF | (1988-08-15)15 August 1988 (aged 35) | Rosengård | 2021 | | 52 | 8 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 28 July 2023 | MF | Charlie Estcourt | Birmingham City | Undisclosed |
| 31 July 2023 | MF | Ava Kuyken | Hibernian | Undisclosed |
| 3 August 2023 | GK | Rose Kite | Unattached | Free |
| 25 August 2023 | DF | Rachel Dugdale | Coventry United | Undisclosed |
| 25 August 2023 | MF | Georgia Wilson | Plymouth Argyle | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | MF | Josie Longhurst | Lewes | Undisclosed |
| 14 September 2023 | DF | Caitlin Smith | Clemson Tigers | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| 3 August 2023 | GK | Emily Orman | Chelsea | End of season |
| 7 September 2023 | MF | Halle Houssein | West Ham United | End of season |
| 14 September 2023 | MF | Lulu Jarvis | Brighton & Hove Albion | End of season |
| 14 September 2023 | MF | Freya Gregory | Aston Villa | 4 January 2024 |
| 12 January 2024 | FW | Jesse Woolley | Bristol City | End of season |
| 26 January 2024 | DF | Jessie Stapleton | West Ham United | End of season |
| 31 January 2024 | MF | Keira Flannery | West Ham United | End of season |

### Out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| 8 August 2023 | DF | | Diane Caldwell | Zürich | Undisclosed | |
| 31 January 2024 | DF | | Lily Woodham | Seattle Reign | Undisclosed | |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
| September 2023 | MF | | Natasha Rasmussen | Maidenhead United | dual-registration | |
| 4 January 2024 | MF | | Freya Meadows-Tuson | Maidenhead United | dual-registration | |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 4 January 2024 | GK | Rose Kite | Moneyfields | 13 January 2024 |
| 11 January 2024 | MF | Sanne Troelsgaard | AS Roma | 2 February 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | GK | Eve Annets | Manchester City | 5 August 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | GK | Jacqueline Burns | Bristol City | 7 August 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | DF | Easther Mayi Kith | Saint-Étienne | 19 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | DF | Deanna Cooper | Newcastle United | 5 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | DF | Brooke Hendrix | Tampa Bay Sun | 1 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Bethan Roberts | Rugby Borough | 17 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Amelia Elwood | Texas Tech Red Raiders | |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Mae Hunt | South Alabama Jaguars | |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Ava Kuyken | Plymouth Argyle | 3 August 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Tia Primmer | Blackburn Rovers | 11 October 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Georgia Wilson | Plymouth Argyle | 8 August 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Charlie Estcourt | DC Power | 10 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | MF | Josie Longhurst | Whitecaps FC Girls Elite | 22 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | FW | Madison Perry | Watford | 16 August 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | FW | Charlie Wellings | Nottingham Forest | 19 July 2024 |
| 30 June 2024 | FW | Lauren Wade | Heart of Midlothian | 5 July 2024 |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Championship | 27 August 2023 | 28 April 2024 | Matchday 1 | 10th | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 40 | −20 | 022.73 |
| FA Cup | 10 December 2023 | 14 January 2024 | Third round | Fourth round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 050.00 |
| EFL Cup | 11 October 2023 | 24 January 2024 | Group Stage | Group Stage | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 28 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 26 | 56 | −30 | 021.43 |
Last updated: 28 April 2024 Source: Competitions

### Women's Championship
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 28 April 2024. Source: The FA

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16$^3$ | 18 | 13$^2$ | 19 | 20 | 11$^1$ | 21 | 22 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | D | D | L | W | W | L | L | L | D | D | D | W | L | W | L | L | L | L | D | W | L |
| Position | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
* $^1$ Matchday 11 (vs Blackburn Rovers) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
* $^2$ Matchday 13 (vs Birmingham City) was postponed due to an illness.
* $^3$ Matchday 16 (vs Charlton Athletic) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

#### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 8 | London City Lionesses | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 36 | −10 | 25 | |
| 9 | Durham | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 44 | −20 | 23 | |
| 10 | Reading | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 40 | −20 | 22 | |
| 11 | Lewes (R) | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 22 | 39 | −17 | 16 | Relegation to the National League |
| 12 | Watford (R) | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 44 | −22 | 15 | Relegation to the National League |

### League Cup
#### Group stage

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Arsenal (Q) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 11 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 7 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking |
| 3 | Southampton | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Bristol City (E) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 | |
| 5 | Reading (E) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 2 | |

## Squad statistics

    As of match played 28 April 2024

### Appearances

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Emily Orman | 19 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | NIR | Rachel Dugdale | 23 | 0 | 18+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Jessie Stapleton | 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Halle Houssein | 19 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Deanna Cooper | 19 | 3 | 10+6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Caitlin Smith | 13 | 0 | 2+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Charlie Wellings | 12 | 5 | 5+3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Tia Primmer | 21 | 2 | 13+2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Madison Perry | 16 | 5 | 9+4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | NIR | Lauren Wade | 28 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Keira Flannery | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | USA | Brooke Hendrix | 25 | 1 | 18+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | CMR | Easther Mayi Kith | 25 | 0 | 17+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | WAL | Charlie Estcourt | 27 | 1 | 20+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Georgia Wilson | 5 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Mae Hunt | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Amelia Elwood | 17 | 1 | 0+13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Lulu Jarvis | 13 | 0 | 0+8 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | WAL | Josie Longhurst | 21 | 0 | 5+11 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | NIR | Jacqueline Burns | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Jesse Woolley | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | WAL | Bethan Roberts | 14 | 1 | 12+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 41 | GK | ENG | Eve Annets | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Players away from the club on loan: ||||||||||||
| 18 | MF | ENG | Freya Meadows-Tuson | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Reading but left during the season: ||||||||||||
| 19 | MF | ENG | Freya Gregory | 11 | 2 | 6+2 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 27 | GK | ENG | Rose Kite | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | WAL | Lily Woodham | 16 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 51 | MF | DEN | Sanne Troelsgaard | 12 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | | 9 | Madison Perry | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 1 | FW | | 7 | Charlie Wellings | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | DF | | 5 | Deanna Cooper | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | FW | | 11 | Lauren Wade | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | MF | | 19 | Freya Gregory | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | MF | | 8 | Tia Primmer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | MF | | 17 | Charlie Estcourt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | | 22 | Amelia Elwood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | DF | | 31 | Bethan Roberts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | DF | | 15 | Brooke Hendrix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | | 14 | Keira Flannery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | DF | | 3 | Jessie Stapleton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 20 | 5 | 1 | 26 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | GK | | 1 | Emily Orman | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | GK | | 25 | Jacqueline Burns | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Nation | Position | Name | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| 2 | | DF | Rachel Dugdale | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | | DF | Jessie Stapleton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | | DF | Deanna Cooper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | | DF | Caitlin Smith | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | | MF | Tia Primmer | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 11 | | FW | Lauren Wade | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | | MF | Keira Flannery | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | | DF | Brooke Hendrix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | | DF | Easther Mayi Kith | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | | MF | Charlie Estcourt | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | | MF | Amelia Elwood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | | FW | Jesse Woolley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| Players who left Reading during the season: ||||||||||||
| 19 | | MF | Freya Gregory | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | | DF | Lily Woodham | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 51 | | MF | Sanne Troelsgaard | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 29 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 2 |