Select Car Leasing donates hundreds of free tickets to grassroots football clubs to watch Reading FC play - and these are some of the youngsters who’ve benefited this season.
Select has been the Principal Partner of Reading F.C since 2021 and company founders Mark Tongue and James O’Malley are lifelong fans.
As part of that alliance, Select’s ‘Tickets for Kids’ initiative gives away 30 free passes for every Royals’ home match - with tickets all going to local grassroots clubs.
For many youngsters who visit the Select Car Leasing stadium with their teams as part of Tickets for Kids, it’s the first time they’ve ever seen a live professional game.
Christian Phillips is part of AFC Reading Under 12s Comets boys team and his son, Zak, plays for the side as a striker in the East Berkshire League.
The group received free tickets to watch Reading triumph 3-1 over Burton Albion at the beginning of October.
And Christian, from Woodley, said the match atmosphere was one to cherish.
The 45-year-old (pictured above, top right, sitting in the stands) explained: “It was a night fixture, under the lights, and the atmosphere was brilliant. Evening games always have a really special vibe.
“It was such a good opportunity for the boys - and the first time they’ve been to watch professional football as a group.
“We also treated the occasion as something of a learning and training exercise, with the lads all taking something away from the game and identifying things they could do better, such as passing and moving rather than trying to dribble around six players!
“I think, even more importantly, initiatives like this breed brand new Reading supporters. I support Reading, Reading is my only club, and I take my sons relatively frequently. I hope Tickets for Kids convinces others to invest in a season ticket next year.”
Mathew White is a coach with an Under 14s Rotherfield United team in the Berkshire County Girls Football League.
He’s been following Reading FC since he was five years old, and laughs, ‘If I had any hair, I’d be pulling it out!’
But his group also got to witness a Reading FC home win - a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers towards the end of October.
Mathew, 45, adds: “Some of us used to go to watch Reading FC Women play on a regular basis, but for some of the other ladies it was their first ever game at the Select Car Leasing stadium.
“It’s a massive thing for the girls - to be in a stadium and to actually see the players on the pitch in front of them.
“And it was definitely a case of saying to them, ‘Right, keep your eyes on the striker. Watch the movement, watch where he drags defenders, and what can you learn from what you’re seeing?’
“I’d also like to acknowledge and applaud Select when it comes to its support of the club. Schemes like Tickets 4 Kids go such a long way when it comes to creating goodwill. And it’s also good to get more bums on seats.”
Select Car Leasing’s ‘Tickets for Kids’ initiative is open to junior football teams with players under the age of 16 years old. The ballot process opens each August, with one application permissible per club.
Winners are drawn at random and matches allocated.
Mark Tongue, Joint CEO and Founder of Select Car Leasing, said: “As a company, we’re passionate about giving back to grassroots sport.
“I grew up playing football in the local area and, as a youngster, I would have loved the chance to go and watch my beloved Reading FC. So to now be able to provide such opportunities to hundreds of youngsters is one of the most rewarding things we can do as a socially-responsible business.”
Select Car Leasing is headquartered in Reading and has offices across the UK.
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