During the 1994–95 English football season, Reading F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, following promotion from the Second Division the previous season.

Manager Mark McGhee left Reading in December to take over at Premiership strugglers Leicester City. Players Jimmy Quinn, Mick Gooding, Adrian Williams and Jeff Hopkins acted as caretakers until January, when Quinn and Gooding were named as full-time player-managers. The inexperienced duo surprised many to lead Reading to second in the First Division. In any other season this would have been enough for promotion to the Premier League, but, due to restructuring of the league, only two teams would be awarded promotion, and therefore Reading entered the play-offs. After beating Tranmere Rovers 3-1 on aggregate (3-1 and 0-0 over two legs) they travelled to Wembley to face Bolton Wanderers. Reading were 2-0 up within 12 minutes and appeared certain to be playing top-flight football for the first time in their history next season, but Bolton fought back to score twice in the last 15 minutes to take the game to extra time. To the horror of Reading fans, Bolton scored twice more in extra time to lead 4-2. Although player-manager Jimmy Quinn, on as a second-half substitute, pulled one back in the 119th minute, Bolton held on to win and sealed promotion to the Premier League at Reading's expense. Following the final defeat, it would be 11 years before Reading finally experienced top-flight football.

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