Reading City partner with Her Game Too

Reading City Football Club is delighted to announce a new collaborative partnership with Her Game Too.

A non-profit organisation, Her Game Too was founded by 12 female football fans committed to raising awareness of, and helping to fight, sexism in football.

As Reading’s second biggest football club, we are proud to be at the heart of Reading’s community and are a club that strives to offer a safe and welcoming environment to everyone irrespective of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability or disability, faith, or age. A theme that ties in with the Her Game Too philosophy.

Whilst we are predominantly a Boys & Men’s Football Club, the Football Association rules do state that “a child in the age groups Under 7 to Under 18 inclusive may play in a match involving boys and girls”, we are however mindful that boys have far greater opportunities to play than Girls and for that reason we get many parents/players looking for a girls-only football club, to give their children/themselves a preferred pathway into football and that’s why we’re proud to call Tilehurst Panthers, one of the largest girls' only club in and around Reading, our sister club.

However, it’s not just about the players. As here at Reading City Football Club we are proud to have several women in roles ranging from Facilities Manager and Treasurer, Matchday Helpers and Club Photographers.

This new collaborative partnership is also for all our football mums, as Reading’s second biggest football club we have over twenty youth teams and we couldn’t do what we do without the help and support our parents who travel the length and breadth of the country for football.

Ryan Sheehan, Head of Marketing, Communications & Engagement at Reading City Football Club said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Her Game Too have accepted our application to become a partner club and would like to thank Em and the team at Her Game Too for their help with this. We may predominantly be a boys and men’s football club, but we have a proud partnership with our Sister Club, Tilehurst Panthers and together we will promote Girls & Women’s Football within our community as we believe football is a game for everyone. I’ve been looking at getting the club partnered with Her Game Too for a while now, as I wanted to formally recognise the support and commitment women give the club, from parents to club officials. I’d like to especially mention the level of commitment and support we receive from Victoria Pyke, our Facilities Manager and Treasurer, who is often dubbed as Mrs. Reading City as she’s influential to our club and we don’t know what we’d do without her”.

We’re also pleased to announce that Victoria will become Our Her Game Too ambassador, as part of our partnership. Here’s what she had to say:

“I’m really excited about working with #HerGameToo, it’s great to have the club officially backing the Her Game Too campaign. We often hear the message that football is a game for all, and that rings true here at Reading City Football Club as we welcome everyone irrespective of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability or disability, faith, or age and this new partnership helps to reinforce that message. As part of our partnership, I’m looking forward to working with the club to promote the importance of football being for all and educating others on what it means, along with strengthening our relationship with our sister club Tilehurst Panthers and ultimately attracting more women to the game whether it’s through volunteering, playing or just coming along to watch.  We want everyone to feel safe, welcome and accepted in football”.

Eve Ralph, Co-Founder and director of Her Game Too said:

“We are delighted to be working closely with Reading City who are a shining example of a welcoming and inclusive club for all members of the community. At Her Game Too we like to ensure we can support all that encompass the footballing family, from players to fans, staff members to family – something that we are confident Reading City will continue to demonstrate and develop. We’d like to thank them for their support and look forward to continuing to work together.”

Note to editors

For more information, high resolution images or spokespeople, please contact:

Ryan Sheehan, Head of Marketing, Communications & Engagement media@readingcityfc.co.uk

Mobile: 07546349992

Eve Ralph: Co-Founder and director of Her Game Too

eve@hergametoo.co.uk

 About Her Game Too:

Her Game Too CIC was launched in May 2021 to raise awareness to the sexism that female football fans face. Since launching on FA Cup Final day, we gained a multitude of traction and support from all areas of football and have since partnered with over 70 professional football teams, and 150 semi-professional and grassroots. Her Game Too have been able to develop their aims and objectives to now recognise and support fans in all aspects of a matchday, educating people of the challenges faced and creating opportunities to encourage more females to get involved in the sport.

 About Reading City Football Club:

Reading City Football Club, commonly known as The Cityzens are a non-profitable, grassroots community-based football club based at the Rivermoor Stadium, located in Scours Lane, Tilehurst, Reading and are proudly affiliated to the Berkshire & Buckinghamshire Football Association and an England Football Accredited Club.

Our formation came as part of Highmoor AFC's 50 year celebration in 2018.

Club secretary, Chris Gallimore took over the role in 1990 and recruited, the now chairman, Martin Law, to become first team manager in 1992 and between them assembled a strong squad of players and success was to follow. The club thrived, with regular promotions, league and cup doubles, being the first club to win the current Thames Valley Premier League unbeaten. The reserves are still the only reserve side to win the same Reading Step 7 League. After winning the league promotion to the Uhlsport Hellenic League in 2012 meant moving and playing at Palmer Park, the current location here at The Rivermoor was secured in 2018 and after 50 years it was decided to change the name to Reading City. This decision was not taken lightly however the community of Reading has yearned for a semi-professional club behind Reading Football Club to represent Reading and give local players the opportunity to play for a Reading based team as Reading.

The pathway for the club begins with the Sunday morning development centre for 4–6-year olds through to our First Team. This pathway will become the life blood of the club, over the coming years.

For more information about Reading City Football Club, visit www.readingcityfc.co.uk