Back in 1994, when most football fans still relied on Ceefax pages and Saturday afternoon radio updates, a university student named Graham Loader quietly launched a project that would outlast most of the websites people use today. Hob Nob Anyone? started as a way for Loader to stay connected to Reading FC from his computer science course at the University of East Anglia.
“Hob Nob Anyone? is an unofficial fanzine site for fans of Reading FC.”
Founded: 1994 · Type: Unofficial fanzine site · Affiliation: Reading FC · Online since: 1994
Quick snapshot
- Hob Nob Anyone? launched in November 1994, making it one of the first football club sites on the web (Royals.org – About The Site)
- The site describes itself as “probably the oldest football website still running without any interruption” (Royals.org – About The Site)
- Wikipedia identifies it as the oldest unofficial football club website on the internet (Wikipedia – Hob Nob Anyone?)
- No single owner or public editorial team is listed; it operates as a community-run platform
- Current active user numbers beyond 2014 figures are not publicly documented
- Precise rules and historical winners of the Prediction League are not detailed online
- November 1994: Hob Nob Anyone? launches at University of East Anglia (Royals.org homepage)
- Early 1999: Domain royals.org acquired (Royals.org homepage)
- Summer 2002: Hosting moves to local Reading company Oscura Ltd (Royals.org homepage)
- 2026: Prediction League returns after a 21-season break (Royals.org homepage)
- The Prediction League revival suggests renewed community engagement
- The site continues as a primary forum hub for Reading FC supporters
- Archive of match reports dating back to 1994–95 season remains accessible
The key facts table below summarizes Hob Nob Anyone?’s defining attributes.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Type | Unofficial fanzine |
| Platform | royals.org |
| Social Media | X (@hobnobanyone), Facebook |
| Primary Focus | Reading FC |
| Prediction League | Yes |
What Is Hob Nob Anyone?
“The oldest unofficial football website on the planet!”
Hob Nob Anyone? is an unofficial Reading FC fanzine website operating under the domain royals.org, branded as “The Reading FC fans’ home since 1994” (Royals.org homepage). The site describes itself as a free-of-charge service for Reading FC supporters and anyone who visits the pages, explicitly noting that it is not the official Reading FC website and that the views expressed are those of supporters and contributors (Royals.org – About The Site). Wikipedia identifies it as an unofficial fanzine site for fans of Reading FC that was first launched in November 1994 (Wikipedia – Hob Nob Anyone?).
History of the fan site
The site was started in 1994 by Reading fan Graham Loader while he was studying computer science at the University of East Anglia, according to Get Reading (Get Reading – Reading FC fans’ website Hob Nob Anyone? takes the biscuit). Loader’s motivation was simple: he wanted to stay in touch with Reading FC while at university far from home, using early email-based sharing of news and reports. The site was hosted at the University of East Anglia from 1994 until summer 1996 before moving to commercial hosting (Royals.org – About The Site).
Early in 1999, Hob Nob Anyone? obtained its own domain name royals.org and moved to its own server (Royals.org – About The Site). The site moved hosting to VIA NET.WORKS in 1996 and later to Oscura Ltd, a local Reading web company, in summer 2002. Notably, Hob Nob Anyone? was involved in building Reading FC’s first official website until a corporate deal between the Football League and NTL led to changes in that arrangement (Royals.org – About The Site).
Key features: forum, prediction league, news
The Royals.org homepage highlights features including match reports, news, and discussion boards (Royals.org homepage). The Wikipedia entry notes that the site hosts a forum with around 12,000 members, fan analysis, and regular news and articles (Wikipedia – Hob Nob Anyone?). The About page reports that, as of February 2014, the site was generating approximately 1.5 million page views and 200,000 user sessions (around 45,000 unique users) per month (Royals.org – About The Site).
The interact page on Royals.org lists a Prediction League alongside other interactive features such as discussion boards, chat room, email list, and anthem (Royals.org – Interact). The Prediction League’s listing alongside odds from bookmakers suggests the league integrates fan predictions with reference to professional betting markets (Royals.org – Interact). The Royals.org homepage in July 2026 announces that the Reading FC Prediction League has returned after a break of 21 seasons (Royals.org homepage).
For a club that has cycled through various ownership crises and two decades of fluctuating fortunes, Hob Nob Anyone? represents a continuous thread running through Reading FC’s modern history—one maintained by supporters, for supporters.
Who Owns and Runs Hob Nob Anyone?
“It is a free-of-charge service for Reading FC supporters and anyone who visits the pages.”
— Royals.org – About The Site
The site does not list a single owner or public editorial team. According to its About page, Hob Nob Anyone? operates as a community-run platform where the views expressed are those of supporters and contributors rather than any formal editorial body (Royals.org – About The Site). This structure is typical of early internet fan communities, which relied on volunteer effort rather than corporate backing.
Current ownership
No individual owner is publicly listed. The hosting has been managed by Oscura Ltd, a local Reading web company, since summer 2002 (Royals.org – About The Site). The domain royals.org remains registered and the site continues to operate under community stewardship, though the specifics of any formal governance structure are not documented publicly.
Editorial team
The interact page provides contact email addresses for general comments (comments@royals.org) and for match reports or opinion submissions (opinion@royals.org) (Royals.org – Interact). The Football Forums Directory describes Hob Nob Anyone? as “one of the oldest and most active Reading FC forums” and labels it a leading independent fan forum (Football Forums Directory – Reading FC forums).
The lack of formal ownership is less a gap than a feature: Hob Nob Anyone? operates as a supporter cooperative in practice, sustained by volunteers who share a connection to the club rather than any profit motive.
How to Use Hob Nob Anyone: Forum, Prediction League, and Social Media
Accessing Hob Nob Anyone? is straightforward: the primary hub is at royals.org, with the forum accessible at hobnob.royals.org. The forum is organized into sections covering topics from team discussion to classified ads, serving as a complete digital clubhouse for Reading supporters.
Accessing the forum
The forum URL is royals.org/forum, according to the Football Forums Directory (Football Forums Directory – Reading FC forums). The “The Team” forum section on hobnob.royals.org is specifically described as for discussion on the team, management, and matches (Hob Nob Anyone? forum – The Team). The “Classifieds – Reading” forum on Hob Nob Anyone? is intended for advertising and selling Reading FC-related or general items for locals (Hob Nob Anyone? forum – Classifieds).
Get Reading reports that by Hob Nob Anyone?’s 20th anniversary in 2014, the forum had about 8,000 members, 37,000 unique users a month, and 1.4 million posts since a forum revamp in 2006 (Get Reading – Hob Nob Anyone? takes the biscuit). The forum revamp in 2006 appears to have been a significant milestone in the platform’s growth, with the current architecture and post accumulation stemming from that update.
Participating in the prediction league
The Prediction League is listed as an interactive feature on the Royals.org interact page, alongside discussion boards, chat room, and email list (Royals.org – Interact). According to the Royals.org homepage, the Reading FC Prediction League returned in July 2026 after a break of 21 seasons (Royals.org homepage). The interact page’s listing of a Prediction League alongside odds from bookmakers indicates the league integrates fan predictions with reference to professional betting markets (Royals.org – Interact).
Following on Twitter and Facebook
Hob Nob Anyone? maintains active social media presence. The Twitter account @hobnobanyone and a Facebook page are part of the site’s social ecosystem. The site’s own bio claims it is “the oldest unofficial football website on the planet!”—a statement that, while unverified independently, reflects the community’s sense of the site’s legacy.
Participation requires registration for full forum access, and like any volunteer-run community, activity levels fluctuate with the club’s fortunes. During quieter periods, some sub-forums see less traffic than others.
What Are the Latest Reading FC Rumors and News on Hob Nob Anyone?
The site functions as both a news aggregator and a community discussion platform. The About page states that Hob Nob Anyone? includes match reports dating back to the 1994–95 season, making it a significant archival resource for Reading FC history from a fan perspective (Wikipedia – Hob Nob Anyone?).
Rumors section
Hob Nob Anyone? includes a dedicated Rumors and Discussion forum where supporters share transfer speculation, managerial decisions, and club developments. As an unofficial channel, these rumors carry the standard caveat that the site is not the official Reading FC website and views are those of contributors (Royals.org – About The Site).
News updates
The site aggregates news and match reports about Reading FC, serving as a central gathering point for information during the football season. The Royals.org homepage highlights features such as match reports, news, and discussion boards as core offerings (Royals.org homepage).
Match reports
The archive of match reports dating back to the 1994–95 season represents a unique resource, documenting Reading FC’s history from a supporter’s viewpoint over three decades. This archival depth is one of Hob Nob Anyone?’s distinguishing features compared to more transient social media fan accounts.
How to Get Reading FC Tickets Through Hob Nob Anyone?
Hob Nob Anyone? is not an official ticket outlet. The site does not sell tickets directly. However, it provides ticket information and links to official vendors as a service to the community.
Ticket information on the site
The interact page links to external organisations such as STAR (Supporters’ Trust At Reading) and official Reading FC, reflecting connections between the fanzine community and formal fan structures (Royals.org – Interact). These links direct users to official channels for ticket purchases rather than facilitating transactions on the site itself.
External links to ticket vendors
The site serves as a navigational hub, pointing supporters toward official Reading FC channels and the club’s ticketing infrastructure. For matchday tickets, supporters are directed to the club’s own systems. The Classifieds forum may occasionally feature supporter-to-supporter ticket exchanges, though users should verify any such arrangements independently.
How to Join and Participate in the Hob Nob Anyone? Community
Getting involved with Hob Nob Anyone? is free and straightforward. The site operates as an open resource, though full participation in forum discussions requires registration.
- Visit royals.org — The homepage serves as the entry point for all site features, including the forum, prediction league, and contact information.
- Navigate to the forum — Access the forum through the main menu or directly at hobnob.royals.org/forum. Browse sections like “The Team” for match discussion or “Classifieds – Reading” for local listings.
- Register an account — Create a username and password to participate in discussions, post predictions, and access community features. Registration is free.
- Join the Prediction League — During active seasons, submit predictions for Reading FC match outcomes. The league incorporates odds from bookmakers as reference points.
- Follow on social media — Follow @hobnobanyone on X and the Facebook page for real-time updates and matchday discussion.
- Submit content — Send match reports or opinion pieces to opinion@royals.org. General feedback goes to comments@royals.org.
Timeline: Key Milestones in Hob Nob Anyone? History
A timeline of key events illustrates how Hob Nob Anyone? evolved from a university project to a sustained community platform.
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1994 | Hob Nob Anyone? launches as a Reading FC internet fanzine, hosted at the University of East Anglia |
| 1994–95 season | Match reports begin; Prediction League starts as a recurring feature |
| Summer 1996 | Site moves from university hosting to commercial provider VIA NET.WORKS |
| Early 1999 | Domain royals.org acquired; site moves to its own server |
| 2000s | Site evolves with forum integration and early social media connectivity |
| 2006 | Major forum revamp; post accumulation begins accumulating toward 1.4 million by 2014 |
| Summer 2002 | Hosting moves to Oscura Ltd, a local Reading web company |
| February 2014 | Site metrics: approximately 1.5 million page views, 200,000 user sessions per month |
| July 2026 | Reading FC Prediction League returns after a 21-season hiatus |
The implication: Hob Nob Anyone? has outlasted multiple hosting providers, platform shifts, and club ownership changes—a resilience rooted in its community rather than corporate structure.
What Is the Tilehurst End?
Tilehurst End is both a geographical area near Reading and a term used within the club’s supporter culture to describe the area behind the goal at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The name appears in various Reading FC fan contexts, and Hob Nob Anyone? community discussions often reference Tilehurst as a focal point for local supporters. While not directly part of the Hob Nob Anyone? platform, the Tilehurst End concept represents the neighborhood identity that underlies much of the site’s community engagement.
Reading FC and Hob Nob Anyone?: The Broader Picture
Hob Nob Anyone? occupies a particular place in English football fan culture: a site that predates the club’s own digital presence, that at one point served as the de facto channel for Reading FC news, and that has maintained continuity through ownership changes, relegations, and promotions. Get Reading notes that Hob Nob Anyone? predates the club’s official website and that for a period Reading FC published its news through Loader’s site (Get Reading – Hob Nob Anyone? takes the biscuit).
The site has also maintained connections to formal fan structures. The interact page links to STAR (Supporters’ Trust At Reading), reflecting the kind of crossover between independent fan media and organized supporter bodies that characterizes grassroots football culture (Royals.org – Interact).
Frequently asked questions
Is Hob Nob Anyone? free to use?
Yes. The About page describes Hob Nob Anyone? as a free-of-charge service for Reading FC supporters and anyone who visits the pages (Royals.org – About The Site). There are no membership fees required to access content or participate in discussions.
Does Hob Nob Anyone? have a mobile app?
No mobile app is listed for Hob Nob Anyone?. The site is accessible via mobile browsers through its responsive design, though advanced functionality may be limited compared to desktop access.
Can I post anonymously on the forum?
Forum registration requires a username, but posters can choose handles that maintain some privacy. As a community-run platform, moderation policies are set by site volunteers, and anonymous posting in the traditional sense (without any username) is not supported.
How do I reset my password on the forum?
Password reset functionality is available through the forum login page at hobnob.royals.org. Users who encounter issues can contact comments@royals.org for general support.
What is the Tilehurst End?
Tilehurst End refers to both the residential area of Tilehurst near Reading and the standing terrace behind the goal at Reading FC’s stadium. Within the Hob Nob Anyone? community, it often appears in discussions as a reference point for local supporter identity.
Are there any membership fees?
No. Hob Nob Anyone? operates as a free service. There are no charges for forum registration, participation in the Prediction League, or access to match reports and news content.
How can I become a moderator?
The site does not publicly document a formal application process for moderators. Those interested in contributing to site management typically engage with the community over time and may be invited to assist based on their participation. Contacting comments@royals.org with relevant experience is the most direct approach.
Oliver Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief — Oliver Whitfield leads FootyPediax27s editorial direction and standards. He has a background in sports media, football history research, and digital publishing, with a focus on making football information accurate, accessible, and easy to navigate.