Football fans prepare for Royals' big day out
Two coach loads of Reading football fans from West Berkshire will join thousands at Wembley on Monday (May 30)
TWO coach loads of Reading football fans from West Berkshire will make their way up the M4 on Monday (May 30) for one of the biggest days out in the club's history.
The Royals and their blue and white army, which will be more than 40,000 strong, will head to Wembley to take on Swansea City in the nPower Championship play-off Final, with a coveted place in the cash-rich Barclays Premier League on offer for the winner.
Two private coaches have been arranged to travel from West Berkshire, in addition to the 45 coaches organised by the club, with hundreds of fans from West Berkshire set to make the trip.
The first coach, organised by Thatcham man Dave Baker, was booked up within 10 minutes of the Royals' 3-0 play-off semi-final win over Cardiff City, with people of all ages preparing to make the trip from Thatcham Broadway at 9.30am on Monday.
Mr Baker said although no fan would have envisaged such an occasion at the turn of the year, he reserved the 53-seater coach prior to the semi-final in the hope Reading would make it to the final.
He said: “I was inundated with calls [after the final whistle] and before the players had even left the pitch, the coach was fully booked.”
Mr Baker added that it should be a party atmosphere on the trip up at least.
He said: “I have been to the last two play-off finals [defeats against Bolton in 1994/95 and against Walsall in 2000/01] and the law of averages suggests it should be our turn this time.”
A second coach will leave the Newbury Weekly News offices at 10am filled with friends and employees of the NWN. Tina Chaplin, who organised the transport, said she could have filled the coach three times over, such was the demand.
Pubs in Newbury and Thatcham are also preparing for a busy day and Thames Valley accountants, James Cowper, said a win for Reading would not just benefit the club and its fans.
A partner at the firm, Nick Rogers, said: “Promotion to the Premiership brings enormous financial rewards, and pressures, for a club, with Reading FC estimated to receive some £90m.
“But it is not just the club and its fans that will benefit. A Premier League profile will give Reading national and international exposure and has the potential to increase visitor numbers, attract investors and create job opportunities.It is impossible to put a value on this kind of exposure.”
So, no pressure there then.
If you're attending the final or watching it with friends here in West Berkshire, send your photos in to robert.warlow@newburynews.co.uk to feature here on Newburytoday.co.uk and in next week's Newbury Weekly News.
