About STAR

STAR is a non-profit making, democratically accountable Supporters’ Trust set up in March 2002 and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. It is the successor to Reading Football Supporters’ Club (est. 1930) as the fans’ organisation, but has a legal Constitution with a wide range of objectives. Registered as an Industrial and Provident Society each paid-up adult member of STAR has an equal £1 share in the IPS and one vote.

Its objectives can be seen below but can be summarised as aiming to represent the interests of Reading supporters to the Football Club, the media, the local community and the football world, as well as encouraging football in the local community and strengthening the links between the local community and the Club.

Whilst financial resources are obviously very important in building and sustaining a successful football club, there also has to be a passionate, human and communal dimension. STAR is here to help build and sustain a well-supported and well-respected football club in Reading where the whole community feels involved.

March 2012 represented the 10th Anniversary of the formation of STAR and we celebrated the occasion with a number of events throughout the season. In March we published an Anniversary edition of Reading Matter which reflects on how STAR was formed and some of its notable events. You can download a copy here (3Mb pdf)

How is STAR run?

STAR is run by a Board, both elected by the membership and a small number co-opted to the Board. The Board has to meet at least four times a year, but, in practice, it meets monthly, often with the STAR Team leaders, and is responsible for overall policy and financial direction of the Trust, its relationship with Reading F.C., the local media and the local and wider community.

The Board can have up to 15 members, but the elected members must always be in the majority. Co-opted members may include representatives of different parts of the community; for example, local business, the local council, disabled supporters, ethnic minorities and Football in the Community.

Elections to the Board take place by rotation every three years. Any STAR member, proposed and seconded by two other current members and with the support of a further 2 STAR members,  may stand for election to the Board at the Annual General Meeting. This is normally held in August with nominations made by the end of May.

You can download the minutes of the last AGM on 6th September 2012 here

Aims & Ojectives

The Ojectives of STAR are written into its constitution:

• to strengthen the bonds between the Club and the community which it serves and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club

• to benefit present and future members of the community served by the Club by promoting encouraging and furthering the game of football as a recreational facility, sporting activity and focus for community involvement

• to facilitate the participation of supporters of the club in activities promoting football in communities throughout the United Kingdom

• to encourage the Club to take proper account of the interests of its supporters and the community it serves in its decisions and to honour the contribution made by the community in the past to the life of the club

• to acquire and hold shares in the Club or any company controlling the Club and to be an active and growing shareholder thus giving supporters collectively the opportunity to have a stake in the Club

• to promote the full, accountable democratic and constructive involvement of supporters in the running and direction of the Club, including the principle of supporter representation on the board of the Club

• to continue the work of Reading Football Supporters’ Club, with particular reference to away travel, ticket priority and Fans’ Forums.

You can download the STAR rules here

STAR have a number of specific policies which can be viewed from our Policies page.

What is a Supporters Trust?

A Supporters' Trust is a secure, not-for-profit, community-minded and democratic organisation run by its shareholding members in accordance with its Constitution and is registered with and regulated by the Registry of Friendly Societies, part of the Financial Services Authority. There are around 180 Supporters’ Trusts across the UK representing 270,000 members.

The ‘umbrella body’ for these Trusts is Supporters Direct, a government-sponsored organisation created to encourage the formation of Supporters’ Trusts and to provide them with support and advice for the benefit of football supporters and the football clubs they support.

You can find out more about the activities of Supporters Direct by visiting their website.