Reading City, the town's second-largest football club, have teamed up with Caversham-based RG4 FC to set-up a community partnership scheme.

The Cityzens, playing in Combined Counties Premier Division North, play out of Rivermoor on Scours Lane and have over 20 youth teams from the age of seven to Under 18 when players can then join our senior pathway.

RG4 FC is a community football team set up to make football accessible to all children in the area.

Run by the local community centre, known as the ‘Weller Centre’, it offers free clothes and services such as therapy and advice. During the coronavirus pandemic gave out food parcels.

This new initiative will give RG4 FC youngsters the opportunity to walk out with the first-team squad, the Youth Section will also play their counterparts at RG4 FC in a pre-season friendly.

The two clubs will more generally support one another, with initial discussions between representatives of both clubs being 'very positive.'

Reading City Football Club Chairman and Director of Grassroots Football at Berks & Bucks FA, Martin Law, said: “This is a brilliant project which has been implemented by our Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement Executive, Ryan Sheehan.

"I have personally been involved in the local grassroots football scene for 33 years and having become the Director of Grassroots Football at Berks & Bucks FA during the 2023/24 Season, I am very keen to ensure that grassroots football continues to thrive as it’s the lifeblood of the game.

"I’m looking forward to working with RG4 FC and seeing how this project progresses as it has the potential to make a real difference to grassroots football locally.”

In a joint statement RG4 FC Club Secretary, Hazel Bingham & RG4 FC Club Welfare Officer, Martin Bingham added: “RG4 FC are extremely excited to be the pilot team for this great scheme.  We feel that working with Reading City FC our players and coaches will gain a lot of valuable experiences and knowledge. The children will also hopefully gain amazing memories that they will remember for a lifetime.”