EFL club arrive late for pre-season friendly after swapping hosting duties with opponents

Charlton’s pre-season friendly against Reading was delayed by 15 minutes after the visitors arrived late.

Reading were due to host what is the final pre-season game for both sides, but the Royals requested to switch the clash to The Valley owing to concerns over their newly laid pitch.

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The match is being played behind closed doors in south-east London.

The continued hot weather has affected the growth of the grass at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Reading co-chairman Joe Jacobson admitted the situation was not ideal but that the club were left with little choice.

“This is not a decision anyone at the club wanted to make, but it is the right one,” he said.

“We’ve invested significantly in providing the team with the best possible playing surface for the season ahead.

“Unfortunately, the recent spell of hot and dry weather has slowed the development of the new pitch and, after taking expert advice, we’ve concluded that protecting it now gives us the best chance of having it in the condition we all want for the start of the League One campaign.”

Kick-off was scheduled for 2pm but was pushed back to 2:15pm as a result of Reading’s late arrival.

The club revealed on X that the squad had been held up by traffic.

Reading are preparing for their fourth straight season in League One after relegation from the Championship in 2023.

The Royals have yet to reach the play-offs since dropping into the third tier, finishing 12th last term.

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Charlton, meanwhile, are gearing up for a second campaign back in the Championship having finished 19th in the second tier in 2025/26.

Both sides are in Carabao Cup first-round action before they kick off their respective league campaigns.

Reading travel to League One newcomers Bromley, with Charlton heading to League Two Cheltenham.

The 2026/27 EFL league season gets underway over the weekend of August 15-16.

Reading will be hoping their pitch troubles are resolved by then as they are due to entertain Luton.

Meanwhile, Charlton open up at home to Derby as they head into the new Championship campaign, the first to feature expanded six-team play-offs.