Reading FC defenders extend non-league loan

Beacroft and Stickland to stay with Farnborough FC until end of season

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:04pm

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Reading FC defenders Boyd Beacroft and Michael Stickland have extended their loan deal with non-league side Farnborough FC until the end of the 2025-26 season. The duo were regulars in Reading's Under 21 squad before being loaned out to the Saunders Stadium in January.

Why it matters

The loan move allows the young defenders to continue getting valuable playing time at the senior level, which can aid in their development before potentially returning to Reading FC's first team.

The details

Beacroft and Stickland have been on loan with Farnborough FC since the start of the January transfer window. The non-league club plays in the National League South, which is the sixth tier of English football. The loan extension will keep the Reading FC prospects at Farnborough through the end of the current season.

  • The loan deal began in January 2026.
  • The loan has now been extended until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The players

Boyd Beacroft

A defender on the books of Reading FC who has been on loan at Farnborough FC since January 2026.

Michael Stickland

A defender on the books of Reading FC who has been on loan at Farnborough FC since January 2026.

Farnborough FC

The non-league club where Beacroft and Stickland have been on loan from Reading FC.

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The takeaway

The loan extensions for Beacroft and Stickland demonstrate Reading FC's commitment to developing young talent, even if it means temporarily sending promising defenders to lower-league clubs to gain valuable first-team experience.