Complications have arisen because Football League club Ipswich Town may be playing in the UEFA Cup because they came top of UEFA's Fair Play League. Teams entered into European competition are eligible for a bye to the Third Round.
There are seventy-two league clubs, without Ipswich's involvement in the First Round that means there will be a odd number of clubs, seventy-one, in the first round.
To get around the problem the League has decided that the two lowest placed sides in the league, Boston United and Bristol Rovers, must play a preliminary round in order to qualify for the First Round.
Reading will play their First Round tie, whoever it is against, during the week commencing the 9th September.
Last season the Royals went on a good run in the League Cup. After comfortably defeating Luton, 4-0, in the First Round West Ham were defeated 6-5 on penalties. The Madejski Stadium side then lost 1-0 against Aston Villa in the third round.