Here at Reading City Football Club it’s been a very proud week for our Youth Academy with the announcement that two of our youngsters have signed for Chelsea Women’s Academy and Oxford United’s Academy along with two of our own home-grown talent completing our pathway to excellence by featuring in yesterday’s first team squad having first joined the club at the age of Under 7s.

To celebrate what’s been a momentous week for our Youth Academy, the next generation of players beginning their pathway to excellence through our weekly Development Centre which runs on Sundays between 11am til 12pm here at the Rivermoor, for children aged 4-8 and welcomes players of all abilities had a very special visit this morning from our loveable mascot, Lawsey the Lion who was all too happy to join in with the festive fun.  As a club we are proud to provide a fun, safe and inclusive environment for our youngsters to thrive.

In our last session of 2024, it was certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas as many of our youngsters turned up looking very Christmasy for today’s session.

First Team Manager, Simon Johnson who also leads our weekly Development Centre presented each youngster with a christmas treat to congratulate them on their achievements so far this season but to also wish them a very Merry Christmas.

On behalf of everyone at Reading City Football Club we’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Our Development Centre will return on Sunday 5th January so if your children don’t already attend but you would like to get involved you can find out more here.