U18s Preview: Palace v Reading FC

Academy

18 Sept 2025

Crystal Palace Under-18s return to action this Saturday as they welcome Reading U18s to the Crystal Palace Training Ground in the U18 Premier League South.

This game will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday morning (11:00 BST) - click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!

Eagle-Eyed Review

The young Eagles head into the fixture full of confidence, sitting second in the table with nine points from five games — just one behind leaders Arsenal.

Their latest outing was nothing short of sensational. Benji Casey netted his second consecutive hat-trick as Palace produced a dominant 8-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday, 13th September at Copers Cope.

The win marked their first home victory of the season and first clean sheet since the opening day.

Donte Martin and Makai Bernard-Ferguson each bagged a brace — Martin curling in a stunning strike from outside the box, while Bernard-Ferguson connected sweetly with a well-timed half-volley.

That result not only showcased the attacking firepower at Javier Alonso’s disposal but also ensures Palace remain within touching distance of the summit — and brought their goal tally to a remarkable 24 goals in five games under the Spanish coach.

With momentum firmly on their side, Palace will look to keep the pressure on Arsenal and extend their unbeaten run when they host Reading this weekend.

The Opposition

The young Royals currently sit 12th in the table with two points from four games, following two draws and two defeats. It's been a tough start to the 2025/26 campaign, but they’ve shown flashes of resilience — particularly in dramatic late moments.

On the opening day, Reading looked set for all three points against Tottenham before a 95th-minute equaliser from Spurs substitute Armend Muslika snatched a 2-2 draw.

That came despite Reading capitalising on an early red card to go 2-0 up, thanks to goals from Lucas Daka and Larry Omoregie.

Their most recent outing ended in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton — a scoreline made more painful by a pair of stunning long-range goals, including a lob from 25 yards in the final minute.

Between those games, Reading were beaten 3-1 at home by Leicester and earned another point away at Ipswich, again in injury time and again with 10 men on the pitch — showing that this is a group that doesn’t go down without a fight.

Last season, the young Royals finished eighth out of 13 teams with 32 points, recording nine wins, five draws, and 10 defeats.

It was a solid step forward, but notably, they haven’t finished higher than 10th in the U18 Premier League South since 2017. Harrison Gilkes's side also fell just short in last year's Premier League Cup final.

This season’s slow start reflects some of those ongoing challenges, though there are signs of progress in their attacking play and resilience in key moments.

Team News

Verrell George could return to the starting XI in place of Anthony Dove in central defence, while midfielder Kallum Fullert-Thompson may feature.

The 17-year-old scored a hat-trick on his debut, and ended last season on a high, netting in Reading’s 3-1 win over West Ham with a smart finish after a sweeping move.

Likely line-up

Borgnis; Zie, Dove, Cary, St. Louis; Daka, Irish, Nour; Covus, Omoregie, Hunte (4-3-3)

Pre-Match Analysis

Despite their position in the table, Reading haven’t been pushovers. They've scored four goals — more than Aston Villa, Ipswich, and West Ham — and have shown a knack for late drama, twice rescuing points in stoppage time.

Their away form is slightly more solid than at home, with two draws and just three goals conceded in two games on the road. They’ll be hoping to carry that steadiness into Saturday’s fixture.

Key Player

If there’s one name Palace will need to keep a close eye on, it’s Larry Omoregie. The dynamic winger has been Reading’s standout attacking threat so far, with one goal and two assists in four games.

Primarily operating off the right, Omoregie is quick, tricky, and capable of drifting across the front line. He was a constant menace against Tottenham, grabbing a goal, forcing a fine save from range, and nearly adding another with a clear-cut chance.

His early season form has also earned him involvement with the U21s — further proof of his growing influence at the club.

The Gaffer

Leading the way at Reading’s prestigious youth academy is club legend Michael Gilkes, who has taken the reins following in the footsteps of respected figures like Lee Herron and the iconic Eamonn Dolan.

But there’s another Gilkes making his mark.

Harrison Gilkes, Michael’s son, is carving out his own path in the coaching world. After a solid non-league playing career, Harrison transitioned into coaching at just 25 and has steadily built a strong reputation within the club.

He joined Reading’s academy setup in 2019, working his way up to become assistant manager of the Under-18s, alongside former Royals favourite Mikele Leigertwood. In January 2025, Harrison stepped up to lead the U18s as head coach, continuing the family legacy with a focus on development, identity, and resilience.

Match Details

Crystal Palace Under-18s v Reading Under-18s

Saturday, 20th September
11:00 BST
U18 Premier League South
Crystal Palace Training Ground (Behind closed doors)
LIVE on Palace TV+

How to Follow

This game will also be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday morning - click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!

Can’t watch live? Stay up to date with live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page and look out for the full match report on our Academy news section shortly after the final whistle.

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