Earlier reports that had suggested that the Royals were to travel to Derby in a repeat of last season's opening day proved to be wide of the mark.
The first home game of the season will be five days later on Saturday August 16th against Nottingham Forest, another side who are expected to challenge for promotion this coming season. Last time the two sides met was on Good Friday. The Royals won by one goal to nil thanks to a bullet header from Andy Hughes in front of a drunk and rocking Madejski crowd.
For the first time in years the Royals will be at home on Boxing Day, with Wimbledon, now playing their football at Milton Keynes, the visitors.
The Royals will hopefully celebrate their promotion to the Premiership on Saturday 9th May when they travel to Vicarage Road to play Watford.
You can view the full fixture list on our sister site Sports2.com at:
http://www1.sports2.com/football/fixtures/fixtures.html
With the fixture list unveiled the countdown to the big kick-off begins.