2016 17 visiting supporters guide

2016/17 Visiting Supporters Guide

Thank you for choosing to visit the Madejski Stadium and we look forward to welcoming you to Reading.

We want to ensure that you have a truly enjoyable trip to our stadium to watch your team play, so we have put together the following tips.

Jackie Evans & Rob Coleman Supporter Liaison Officers (SLO’s), Reading FC

SECURE YOUR SEATS FOR THE MATCH You should purchase tickets through your Home Club. On a match day, ticket collections or any queries regarding your tickets should be made at the Collections Office in the South Stand.

Don’t Forget We operate a Family Area in the visiting end with Haleema, our designated family steward.

Remember to ask your club for tickets in this specific area if you so wish.

Note: no adult without a child and no child without an adult.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL Always check the date and kick-off time of the match in advance. If you are travelling by car or public transport check latest travel news at: www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/travel and leave yourself plenty of time!

Parking The recommended car park for visiting fans is Foster Wheeler, Shinfield Park, RG2 9FW. Parking is free and is situated only a short bus ride away from the stadium. Fares on return bus shuttle are £4 adult return and £2.50 child return. Directions: from J11, M4, take exit B3270 (signposted Earley) and follow yellow signs to ‘Match Reading FC Park & Ride’.

We have a limited number of spaces available at the stadium in our Family parking area if you have a child aged under 8 with you at a cost of £8. If you are a Blue Badge holder, you can park in our Disabled car park for £5, subject to availability. Please use the Northern Way entrance (B&Q will be on your left). Continue straight ahead where our car park attendants will take your payment and direct you to an available parking area.

Public Transport The nearest railway station to Madejski Stadium is Reading, situated 3 miles away. From the station take a F1 Shuttle service which brings you directly to the stadium. Pick up is from Reading Station South West Interchange - Pedestrian access is direct from the station forecourt on the south side towards Tudor Road and Greyfriars Road. These shuttle services are regular both pre-match and post-match. Return fares are £4 adult return and £2.50 child return. Please note that buses do require the exact change.

More information on planning your journey can be found by visiting readingfc.co.uk. Travel and Parking tips are located under the ‘Club’ tab.

NOW TIME FOR THE PRE-MATCH BUILD UP A few things to do before you get to sit back and watch the beautiful game in action Recommended Pubs The Three Guineas pub (Closed for refurbishment—due to reopen early 2017) at Reading railway station or, closer to the stadium, the Holiday Inn, Basingstoke Road, RG2 0SL or the World Turned Upside Down, Basingstoke Road, RG2 0JE. Prior to the match, you are also welcome to make use of our Fan Zone which opens 1½ hours prior to kick-off outside the East Stand which sells Heineken and the multi award winning local ale ‘Good Old Boy’.

Programme Pick up a match programme for £3 from our programme sellers stationed all around the outside of the stadium and just inside the turnstiles.

Gate, Turnstiles and Stewards Make your way to your gate number indicated on your ticket (usually gate 9).

Turnstiles open 1½ hours before kick-off. Place your ticket into the reader at the entrance to the turnstile, when the light turns green, push the turnstile and make your way through. If you experience a problem, then do not panic as our friendly customer support staff in blue jackets will be happy to assist. Once inside the stadium follow the signs to find your block where you will be seated. If you have trouble locating your seat, please ask the nearest steward for assistance.

Food and Entertainment Visit one of our outside catering units prior to entering the turnstiles to purchase items such as: burgers, sausages, hog roast, fish and chips. Otherwise, our kiosks located along the stadium concourses offer a wide range of hot and cold food and drink items. If you are viewing this guide online, please click here for our concourse catering menu. We hope that you will enjoy watching highlights of your club’s previous season shown on televisions throughout the visiting stand concourses during the pre-match build up and at half time.

Smoking The Madejski Stadium is a no smoking facility. If you wish to smoke at half time, please make your way outside to our secure compound where there will also be refreshments available. This includes the use of e-cigarettes Further Information An ATM is located to the right of the Megastore. Contactless Payment is accepted at the concourse retail outlets

DURING THE GAME See Something Say Something Report suspicious or unacceptable behaviour.

TEXT 80800 beginning your message with the word “SAFE�

Reading FC would like to remind all supporters that entering the pitch or the perimeter track is a criminal offence and anyone so doing will face arrest and a ban from watching football. Entry to the Ground is subject to acceptance by the visitor of The Ground Regulations, which can be found at www.readingfc.co.uk or at the turnstiles

Flag Policy

Drums

Reading Football Club recognises the key part that visiting supports have in creating an atmosphere at the Madejski Stadium and are welcome to display flags or banners provided that they are not of an offensive or political nature.

Visiting supporters wishing to bring drums to the match should seek prior approval by contacting the customer service department in advance on 01189 681211 or customerservice@readingfc.co.uk

Supporters are free to display any reasonable sized flags anywhere in the stadium provided they do not cover any advertising or obscure another supporters view. Supporters with large flags are encouraged to contact the customer service department in advance on 01189 681211 or customerservice@readingfc.co.uk

Moving Seats If for any reason you find that the tickets you have purchased are not suitable for you and wish to move, please speak to your nearest steward who, where availability allows, will do their utmost to relocate you to a more suitable area.

TIME TO GO HOME Please note that in order to allow pedestrians, buses and coaches to exit the stadium safely, cars will be held back in the stadium car parks for around 20 minutes. There can also be delays of around 45 minutes to exit the stadium complex due to the heavy flow of traffic.

In our aim to reduce traffic congestion, we promote fans to use public transport. Visiting supporter coach parking is free of charge and situated within 50 yards of the stadium.

However, on occasions when the number of coaches exceeds ten, parking will be no more than a 5 minute walk to the stadium.

Shuttle buses to Reading station leave from Northern Way. If you have a child aged under 8 with you, make your way to the front of the queue for your convenience.

We hope you enjoy your visit to the Madejski Stadium and look forward to welcoming you again.

STILL NEED MORE INFORMATION? If you require any further help in planning your visit and you cannot find the information you require at readingfc.co.uk, Please contact us in any of the following ways:Email: customerservice@readingfc.co.uk Phone: 0118 968 1211.

Post: Reading Football Club, Madejski Stadium, Junction 11, M4, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 OFL

www.readingfc.co.uk Main Switchboard: +44 (0) 118 968 1100 Post: Madejski Stadium, Junction 11 M4, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0FL

Reading FC back Twenty’s Plenty No away fan visiting the Madejski Stadium will have to pay more than £20 for their ticket.

“By capping the price of advance away tickets bought by all travelling members and Season Ticket Holders who visit our South Stand this season, it will be more affordable for away supporters to come to the Madejski Stadium” Adam Benson Commercial Director—Reading Football Club "We warmly welcome Reading's initiative which will not only benefit their own fans, but also fans of the 23 other clubs in the Championship. It is particularly heartening to see Reading encouraging other clubs in the division to follow suit. They have established a leading position for themselves in making football affordable.”

Kevin Miles Chief Executive—Football Supporters Federation