Welcome to STAR

Welcome to the Supporters Trust At Reading (STAR), a non-profit making, democratically accountable Supporters’ Trust regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Staffed and organised by volunteer Reading FC supporters our formal title is Reading Football Supporters’ Society Limited and we are the successor to the Reading Football Supporters’ Club (est. 1930). You can find out more information about our organisation in the About STAR page.

March 2012 represents the 10th Anniversary of the formation of STAR. We will be celebrating the occasion with a number of events throughout the season and will post details on this website as well as notify members through our EStar email updates.  Non members can also sign up for our occasional news emails below.  

You can join STAR or renew your Membership Online

This season you can now join  the Supporters Trust At Reading (or renew existing membership) online making payments securely and quickly via PayPal. You can apply for up to four members and do not need to have a PayPal account but can pay by Debit or Credit card.

You can find out more about membership of STAR on our Membership page.

Barnsley Away Match & Meal Deal  - 17th March

Friday 27th January

As part of our 'STAR Is 10' celebrations we are organising for members to combine the Barnsley away coach travel with an optional stop off for a meal at the Buckingham Hotel at Buxton on the way back.

Combined travel and meal Tickets are only £40 and are on sale now from the STAR base. Our Match & Meal trips are very popular so please book your tickets early to enable us to organise additional coaches if required. 

Thames Sports Investment Ltd - Significant Holding in RFC

Sunday 22nd January 

In connection with the recent news on the agreement for TSI Ltd to acquire a significant holding in RFC the board of STAR have released the following statement: 

"STAR understands the reason for Sir John to relinquish total control and will support a move that will take the club forward in a sustainable way.  As we know no more than the official announcements we cannot comment further but hope to speak to officials at the club to gain further insight".

Fans' Forum - January 26th - POSTPONED

Friday 20th January

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances our next Fans' Forum that was due to be held on Thursday 26th January at the Madejski Stadium has had to be postponed. Details of the rearranged date will be publicised when known. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Where's The Profit Gone?
New 2012 article taking a closer look at RFC Finances

Friday 13th January

Following on from his original article that appeared in the fanzine The Whiff in 2011 (Wheres All The Money Gone? which can be downloaded here.) STAR member Dave Hunt has cast his eye over the latest set of finances published by Reading Football Club.

In his article 'Where's The Profit Gone?' Dave builds on his knowledge from that original review, supported by a Question and Answer session with RFC, to give the 'ordinary fan' a fascinating insight into the financial gains, costs and loses over the year. 

Its an often hotly debated topic for supporters about what happens to money received from transfer fees, or why the club hasn't brought new players, the size of the wages bill - hopefully this article will give you some answers. RFC has often been held up as a club with good financial governance at a time when many others slide towards administration. Download and read Where's The Profit Gone? and you can make your own mind up. Thanks Dave!

January RFC Management meeting with STAR

Friday 13th January

The regular RFC management meeting involving representatives from STAR took place at the Mad Stad on 12th January. A summary of the discussions can be downloaded here.

If members have any issues they wish to be considered for the next meeting please email us at info@star-reading.org

Play at the Madejski Stadium! Bidding now open for the remaining positions!

Friday 13th January

Reading FC Community Trust are once again joining forces with Football Aid to allow football fans the opportunity to play on their Field of Dreams at the Madejski in 2012, while at the same time raising funds for charity.

This unique event allows Reading supporters to Live the Dream in an authentic match day experience. Players will gain exclusive access to the pitch and tunnel areas, pull on their own personalised shirt in the official changing rooms, walk down the tunnel to the sound of a cheering crowd and ultimately to step out on the hallowed turf and represent their club in a never to be forgotten 90 minutes of football.

Getting involved couldn’t be easier, just visit the Football Aid website select Events link and you can see the positions left, then place your bid – it really is that simple. And with most starting bids for positions at just £170, booking a position could turn out to be the best bargain you’ll ever bag! Bidding is open from now until the middle of March, depending on what position you want to play. 

Below are some of the players that took part in the 2011 event. You can also read more about that match on the Football Aid website.

STAR Predictor League 2011/12 - Positions for 8th January 

Sunday 8th January

Did you enter this seasons STAR Predictor League? Entrants score the number of points their teams hold, chosen from 17 groups, and the top three highest scorers at the end of the season win cash prizes. This years first place receives £232.75p. The competition also raised just over £330 to be donated towards RFC Academy activites.  

As of 8th January John Beardsley has taken top slot from Suzanne Robson who has slipped to third place behind Kieron Hogan. With 133 entries John has so far gained 681 points.  Entrants can check their ranking as of 8th January by downloading the scores table here. 

Wendy Cheer Unveils Plaque to Commemorate Opening
of the Garden of Remembrance

Monday 12th December

Tony Cheer had been a Reading FC supporter for about 60 years.  Tony was a fan of Reading since he was a little boy, in fact his first match was with his father at the age of 3.  On the 1^st January 2003 Tony was walking up to the stadium to watch the football match Reading v Leicester City, when he suddenly collapsed and died.  It was a terrible shock to his family and all that knew him.  Since that day his wife Wendy had wanted to have something at the ground to remember Tony.  It wasn’t until April 2011 when Wendy attended the official opening of the Garden of Remembrance by Sir John Madejski that she asked me if there was anything she could donate for the garden.  It was several days later when I realised that we had not marked the opening with a plaque.  When I suggested this to Wendy she was really pleased with the idea.  Finding a supplier to produce the plaque we wanted proved very difficult so after many weeks we decided to find craftsmen that could make different parts of the plaque.  The end result was worth waiting for. 

The plaque was finally unveiled on Friday 2^nd December 2011 by Wendy.  With Wendy were her family, Dr Alan Budd who was the Reading FC doctor who attended Tony when he collapsed, Reading FC Chaplain Steve Prince and members of the pastoral team.  Wendy said “I have waited 8 years for this moment and the Garden is such a fitting place to have the commemorative plaque”.

Above right, from left to right, Wendy’s son and daughter, Gary and Michele, Wendy, Barbara (Tony’s sister) and Dr Alan Budd.