After more than 20 years in the top two divisions of English football, many had expected Reading to need an acclimatisation period in the lower leagues.

What followed was nine months of sheer heartbreak, ecstasy, agony and pride as the Royals overturned points deductions, and a 10-point deficit, to survive in League One.

Take a look at part one below, reaching New Year's Day in an unforgettable campaign following the club.

Millwall 0-4 Reading, August 8

After a narrow defeat against promotion candidates, Peterborough United, on the opening day, many supporters had felt okay about Reading’s prospects in League One. These expectations were to take a giant boost at the Den on a warm Tuesday evening when Millwall were put to the sword in the Carabao Cup.

An almost full-strength Lions outfit, complete with the likes of Jake Cooper and Zian Flemming, fell behind to Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan inside a minute, a sign of what was to come.

Ruben Selles’ youthful Royals, with starts for the likes of Tivonge Rushesha; Caylan Vickers and Tyer Bindon, blew Millwall away in East London.

Mamadi Camara, a second from Ehibhatiomhan and Charlie Savage all did the damage as Gary Rowett’s side were booed off the pitch.

It marked a first away win in any competition since November 2022 and had supporters counting down the days to a trip to Vale Park four days later.

Port Vale 1-0 Reading, August 12

The win at Millwall, however, proved a false dawn as Reading lost eight successive away matches at the start of the season. All was going to plan early on, with the Valiants wounded from a 7-0 defeat on the opening day.

Reading looked a cut above in Staffordshire and had the chance to make it count on the scoresheet when a penalty was awarded. Up stepped former England and Premier League star, Andy Carroll, who was making his first appearance after a red card against Luton Town in the previous season.

The veteran saw his spot kick saved, and the hosts were in control from that moment on. Relying on the experienced heads, Carroll seemed more interested in a one-versus-one wrestling match against Nathan Smith for the remainder of the game and never played for the club again.

Ben Garrity did the damage with 18 minutes remaining, and the likes of Tom Holmes, Tom McIntyre and Nesta Guinness-Walker were bombed out of the first-team fold for the foreseeable.

Reading 2-1 Bolton Wanderers

Struggling upon their return to the third tier, Reading found themselves in the relegation zone and had won just two of their opening eight fixtures when unbeaten Bolton bowled into town.

Heat was turned up during the week building up to the game as the Royals were docked yet more points for financial misdemeanours, and supporters had seen enough.

On 16 minutes, representing the number of points docked under Dai Yongge at this point, hundreds of tennis balls were launched onto the pitch, with some added support from the travelling Trotters supporters.

This was to become a common sight for the next few months, with the number of tennis balls only increasing with every passing points deduction. Another common theme was Reading’s reaction to it, seemingly conceding within seconds of each restart.

Dion Charles put the visitors deservedly ahead and could have had a hattrick by the halfway stage had he been more clinical.

Selles’ side hung in the game and equalised with under 15 minutes remaining through a Savage long-distance strike.

Hugely against the run of play, Vickers’ goal with three minutes remaining completed the turnaround, with Eoin Toal sent off for Bolton in stoppage time to add disappointment to the defeat.

Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Reading, November 25

Rock-bottom Reading went to Adam’s Park without a win on the road in 378 days, a run stretching back to over a calendar year. This felt run felt even worse when in the game immediately preceding the trip to Buckinghamshire, Reading had thrown away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Shrewsbury Town, with two goals coming in stoppage time.

Despite this, and being 10 points adrift of safety, almost 2,000 tickets were snapped up in a matter of hours hoping to witness the day the duck is broken.

All was going to plan when Sam Smith flicked Reading ahead on the half-hour mark, but Killian Phillips immediately restored parity and revelled in the moment in front of the travelling support.

Dom Ballard suffered a horrific, and season-ending, injury before Lewis Wing haunted his old Chairboys teammates by restoring the Reading lead before the break.

A nervy second half seemed to last for eternity but at long last, Reading fans were able to celebrate an away win- and didn’t they just. A day that will live long in the memory, it proved a turning point for Selles and the club.

Eastleigh 2-1 Reading, December 3

The excitement of drawing a non-league side in the FA Cup had already gone following Reading’s exit at the hands of sixth-tier Kidderminster Harriers in 2022, but this afternoon in Hampshire was about the bigger picture.

More unrest had followed in deep winter, with wages paid late in the build-up to the second-round tie and senior club officials withholding their salaries until all staff members were paid in full.

Spotting an opportunity to get their message to the wider world, due to the game being televised live on ITV1, a mass protest was organised at the Silverlake Stadium involving fake cash and more tennis balls.

Thanks to the excellent coverage from the likes of Mark Pougatch, Sam Matterface and Ian Wright, the world finally opened their eyes to the trouble in Berkshire- prompting outrage from the footballing family.

On the field, the Spitfires deservedly progressed after Sam McCallum netted a stoppage-time winner following Femi Azeez’s late equaliser.

Reading 3-2 Exeter City, January 1

Reading edged fellow strugglers Exeter at the SCL Stadium on New Year's Day to leapfrog the Grecians out of the relegation zone for the first time in four months.

Harvey Knibbs opened the scoring early on before former Royal Zak Jules levelled things shortly after. Alex Hartridge’s own goal ensured Reading went into the break ahead but were again pegged back with little over 20 minutes remaining through Dion Rankine.

Azeez, on a hot streak over Christmas, earned the hosts all three points with less than 15 minutes remaining and made it six unbeaten to move out of the drop zone.