Robbie Savage on a proud day for his family and wanting his son to be on the losing side!

An FA Cup first round tie between Peterborough United and Reading has caught the imagination of TV stations and the national media because it pits father against son at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Dad Robbie is currently working his socks off in his first EFL managerial job with Posh, while son Charlie is trying to break back into Reading’s midfield unit so he can add to his 117 starts for the club. The 23 year-old hasn’t started a League One game for ‘The Royals’ this season, but has been deployed in cup games so there’s every chance he lines up against Posh in front of the live TNT Sports cameras on Saturday evening (8pm kick off).

Savage senior admits he’s going to feel strange come kick-off time, but he’s proud to be part of a big day for his family. The Posh boss has been a regular attendee at Reading games when his work has allowed. He saw Charlie score against Posh in a 3-1 Reading win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in March 2025 and the midfielder assisted on Reading’s goal in a 1-1 draw at London Road last season.

"Reading are a great club who have been really good with Charlie,” Savage said. “He hasn’t played as much as he would have liked this season, but he’s a good kid and he has a great attitude so he will keep his head down and try and work his way back into the side.

"I might be a little biased, but he’s one of the best players they have!

"It’s going to be strange on Saturday. I go and watch Charlie whenever I can and I’m always a bag of nerves, full of anxiety at his games, just like any father really. I’ve become a Reading fan, but it will be different this weekend as I will have full focus on my team. It will be the first time I’ve ever wanted Charlier to lose a game.

"It is a big day for the family, there’s no getting away from that. My other son Freddie will be at the game and we will all be together after it.

"I’m very proud of both my boys and Charlie’s career so far has been full of promise. We messaged after the draw, but we won’t speak this week and even if we do, we are both too professional to try and get some inside information from each other.

"I have no idea whether or not he will play, but obviously I hope he does and that he plays well enough to stay in the team, as long as we win of course.”

Like his dad Charlie Savage was a youth team player at Manchester United. He also failed to make a first-team appearance and dropped down the divisions by joining Reading in July, 2023 after spending time on loan at Forest Green Rovers, a club his father later managed. Robbie Savage joined Crewe after he left United before working his way back to the top flight.

Reading also has special memories for the Posh boss. He made the final Football League appearance of his career for Derby County at Reading in a 2-1 Championship defeat in 2011. He also played for 50 minutes in goal for Derby at Reading the previous season after County lost one goalkeeper to injury and another to a red card. He only conceded two goals.

Posh are expected to field a strong side on Saturday with centre-back Sam Hughes and midfielder Matt Garbett both set to start. The boss will watch Reading at Oxford United in a League One match on Wednesday.