Reading City Football Club is an ambitious club and have therefore looked to set ourselves apart from the rest, with the introduction of a Club Identity, so that everyone knows who we are and what we represent as a club.
The centrepiece of our identity is the iconic Maiwand Lion, also known to many as the Forbury Lion.
About the Maiwand Lion
The Maiwand Lion is Reading’s most iconic monument and is proudly featured on our club badge.
The Maiwand Lion was built as a war memorial and takes its name from Maiwand, which is a small village in Afghanistan where 328 men from 66th (Berkshire) Regiment died on the 27th of July 1980 in the Battle of Maiwand. This was military operation & part of a wider British campaign to stop Russian influence in Afghanistan, as this threatened British control of India.
At the time of the Maiwand Lion being unveiled in 1886, it was the biggest statue of a standing lion in the world.
In more recent years it has been seen as a symbol of hope by the people of Reading. On the 20th June 2020. Reading experienced one of its darkest days as a terror attack occurred in Forbury Gardens, regarded by many as the town’s back garden. Just like the iconic monument the community has continued to stand proud and remain strong following the atrocity.
Our Identity
As a club we have decided to use this iconic monument as the centre-point of our identity and have the set the following values, which correspond with the characteristics of a Lion and their prides.
We are The Pride of Reading, and we will demonstrate this with 2 core values.
· Family
· Fierce
Family
Lions are the only big cats that live in groups, these are known as prides. Prides are close family groups. We aren’t just a football club, but a family here at Reading City Football Club and like all families we will support and care for one another.
· We will be a force for good within the Community
· We will be Inclusive
· We will give everyone the opportunity to play football here at Reading City Football Club.
· We will work with our partners to progress the club both on and off the pitch, so that the community of Reading has a club it can be proud of for generations to come.
· We will promote the belief that there is no ‘I’ in TEAM, and Together Everyone Achieves More. We will win together, lose together, overcome challenges together and celebrate together.
· We will continue to promote a positive environment, both on and off the pitch where we will embrace failure and not drill a must-win ethos into our players.
· We will encourage our players to play with confidence and creativity.
Fierce
· We will always encourage everyone to be themselves.
· We will ensure that those who are part of the club, feel like part of the club.
· We will never shy away from a challenge, however we will never be reckless so that we safeguard the club and our facilities for future generations.
· We will always give our all out on the pitch.
· We will strive for success both on and off the pitch, whilst maintaining our positive environment where, if necessary, we will embrace failure.
· We will work hard and think smart, and when the time’s right we’ll party hard.
· We will always be considerate.
· We are determined to play first team football at the highest, sustainable level.
· We will encourage everyone be who want they to be.
· We will encourage everyone to be confident and helping our players realise their potential.
· We will work with professional coaches who are both highly experienced and qualified to assist our players with their development along their footballing journey.
· We will develop our coaches and strive to be recognised as the best non-league Academy in Berkshire.
· We will be passionate about representing Reading and its community at all times, ensuring success both on and off the pitch.
