Sebbage family guests of honour
Parents of Tadley teenager, Robert Sebbage invited by Reading FC chairman to opening match
THE PARENTS of the late Tadley teenager, Robert Sebbage, are to be guests of honour at Reading FC's opening match of the season today (Saturday (Aug 6).
According to the official website of Reading FC, Rhian and Andy Sebbage, of Weyhill Close, Tadley, have received an invitation from club chairman, Sir John Madejski, to be his guests at the match, in which the club takes on Millwall.
Their son, Robert - a lifelong ‘Royals' fan - died aged 19, after he was stabbed in Laganas, Zakynthos, Greece, following a dispute with a taxi driver while holidaying with four friends from his schooldays at the Hurst Community College, Baughurst.
Reading FC issued the following statement on their website on Thursday (Aug 4), the day of Robert's funeral in Basingstoke, attended by hundreds of mourners:
“The funeral of season ticket holder Robert Sebbage is today (Thurs Aug 4) and the club would like to take this opportunity to again pass our condolences on to all of his family and friends; the manner in which they have come together has been nothing short of impeccable.
Chairman Sir John Madejski wrote to Robert's family on behalf of the club last month to express our sincere condolences, and we offered to help in any way possible. After conversations with Robert's family, they will be guests of the chairman for our first game of the season against Millwall on Saturday (Aug 6).”
Mr Sebbage's love of the club was reflected in the colour of his coffin - royal blue, and which bore the club's badge, with one of the wreaths shaped like a football.
Despite being diagnosed with Neuropathic Bowel Disorder as a youngster, which eventually thwarted his football ambitions, Mr Sebbage - who met his hero, former Reading FC captain, Graeme Murty, when he was presented with a player of the year award - then went on to become an England mascot, sharing the pitch with one of his England heroes, David Beckham in 2007.
