Reading game is not off

Last updated : 04 October 2003 By Tony Scholes

Steve Sidwell - he holds the key as to whether the Reading game goes ahead
Reading Football Club have found the need to issue a statement this evening at 8:00 p.m. to confirm that the match is not off and that at this time they have made no request for the game to be called off.

Burnley were apparently not selling tickets for this game before the Walsall fixture and telling supporters that it had been postponed. They followed that up with PA announcements and confirmation of the postponement on their web site. And last night one employee of Burnley FC contacted our message board with the same information.

Next Saturday’s fixture against Reading is almost certain to be called off but that requires Reading to have three players called up for international duty. Two already have, Adie Williams for Wales and Jamaica’s Omar Daley.

But whether there is a postponement is all dependent on whether Steve Sidwell is called up for England Under 21s. That squad is not announced until tomorrow evening and Reading have confirmed that they have had no indication as to whether he will be.

The statement that Reading issued at 8:00 p.m. this evening, Saturday 4th October reads:

"As of 8pm on Saturday night, reports that the game at Burnley next week has definitely been called off is inaccurate.

"The game will be off if Steve Sidwell is called into the England Under 21 squad on Sunday night, but no official word has yet been received by Reading Football Club."