The first game at Elm Park was held on 5 September 1896 between Reading and A Roston Bourke's XI. The visitors were a scratch team from Holloway College and thus not registered with the Football Association. Reading were later fined £5 and suspended for playing against an unregistered team. The away team was named after Arthur Roston Bourke, honorary secretary of the Referees' Association. The match was abandoned due to torrential weather; Reading were leading 7–1 when the match ended. £44 was taken on the gate, with an attendance of approximately 2,500.