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Given that Steve Coppell will rarely, if ever, field players numbering from one to eleven, the dishing out of the numbers can be seen as little more than a minor ceremony that keeps fans entertained in the long lifeless months leading up to the new campaign.
New signing Ibrahima Sonko has been given the number six shirt which formerly belonged to John Mackie, whilst Glen Little has been given the somewhat unlucky number seven. The shirt has been worn by Anthony Rougier and Scott Murray in the past two years so Little will be hoping that his Royals career does not follow the same path. Paul Brooker has been handed number eighteen.
Steve Sidwell will wear the number four shirt, vacated by Kevin Watson, whilst Sidwell's number fourteen shirt will be taken up by Lloyd Owusu who wore number twenty-five last season.
Finally Louie Soares has been handed number twenty-four and Simieon Howell twenty-nine in their first year as professional footballers.
The final list of squad numbers does not have to be submitted to the Football league until July. The numbers 17 and 19 have been left open for potential future signings.
The Provisional Squad Numbers In Full:
1) Marcus Hahnemann
2) Graeme Murty
3) Nicky Shorey
4) Steve Sidwell
5) Steve Brown
6) Ibrahima Sonko
7) Glen Little
8) Adie Williams
9) Shaun Goater
10) Nicky Forster
11) Andy Hughes
12) Dave Kitson
13) Reading FC Fans
14) Lloyd Owusu
15) James Harper
16) Ivar Ingimarsson
18) Paul Brooker
20) Bas Savage
23) Dean Morgan
24) Louie Soares
25) Ricky Newman
26) Jamie Young
27) Darren Campbell
28) Ahmet Rifat
29) Simieon Howell
30) Jonathan Hayes