Thirteen out of Thirteen
Reading hold the record for the best ever start to a season, winning their first thirteen games in 1985-86, beating the eleven achieved by Tottenham (1960-61), Newcastle (1992-93) and Fulham (2000-01). The table on 19th October 1985 after the thirteenth game was as follows:
Division 3 1985-86 (1st)
PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
1 | READING | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 39 |
2 | Walsall | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 23 |
3 | Notts County | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 16 | +6 | 23 |
4 | Derby County | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 22 |
5 | Gillingham | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 22 |
6 | Wigan Athletic | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 14 | +7 | 21 |
7 | Brentford | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 21 |
8 | York City | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 18 | +11 | 20 |
9 | Blackpool | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 15 | +11 | 20 |
10 | Chesterfield | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 19 |
11 | Doncaster Rovers | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 19 |
12 | Plymouth Argyle | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 18 |
13 | Lincoln City | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 17 |
14 | Bury | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 20 | +3 | 16 |
15 | Bristol Rovers | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 21 | −1 | 16 |
16 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 21 | −3 | 16 |
17 | Bristol City | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 21 | −8 | 16 |
18 | Rotherham United | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 19 | −3 | 15 |
19 | Newport County | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 15 | −3 | 14 |
20 | Bolton Wanderers | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 13 |
21 | Swansea City | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 21 | −8 | 11 |
22 | Cardiff City | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 23 | −11 | 11 |
23 | Wolverhampton W | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 18 | 33 | −15 | 8 |
24 | Darlington | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 33 | −19 | 5 |
Division 3 1985-86
17 Aug | Blackpool | H | 1-0 |
24 Aug | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1-0 |
26 Aug | Bristol Rovers | H | 3-2 |
31 Aug | Cardiff City | A | 3-1 |
7 Sep | Walsall | H | 2-1 |
14 Sep | Rotherham United | A | 2-1 |
17 Sep | Brentford | A | 2-1 |
21 Sep | Swansea City | H | 2-0 |
28 Sep | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1-0 |
2 Oct | Chesterfield | H | 4-2 |
5 Oct | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1-0 |
12 Oct | Newport County | A | 2-0 |
19 Oct | Lincoln City | A | 1-0 |