SIR John Madejski has been named as the first-ever patron of Reading Football Club’s Community Trust.

Sir John, who spent more than two decades as chairman of Reading FC and spearheaded the club’s move from Elm Park to the stadium which bears his name in 1998, accepted the role of patron and said he was “delighted” to be playing an active role in developing the club’s community roots.

The patronage is in addition to his recently-confirmed role as vice chairman of the football club.

Sir John was chairman from 1990-2012 and has remained actively involved with the club since then.

Now the Community Trust have turned to him to help lead their commitment to providing education and development programmes for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in Reading and the surrounding areas.

“We are very proud that Sir John has accepted this figurehead role and that the trust can benefit from his significant position in the community. The drive, direction and enthusiasm he will bring to the trust and our stakeholders is immeasurable,” said Andrew Reaney, co-chairman of the Community Trust.

Sir John accepted the role at Friday’s trustees board meeting and was formally announced during half-time of Reading’s game against Bristol City on Saturday, before making the draw for the Golden Gamble lottery, which is one of the Community Trust’s fundraising initiatives.

“Community has been at the heart of everything I aimed to achieve during my tenure as chairman of Reading Football Club” Sir John said.

"I am delighted, now as patron of the Community Trust, to embrace another wonderful opportunity to champion the tremendous work so professionally and diligently undertaken by the trust for the community within the town of Reading and beyond”.

About the Reading FC Comminuty Trust:

The Community Trust at Reading FC offers a safe environment to care for, develop and educate disadvantaged or at-risk young people in Reading and the surrounding areas and aims to significantly increase the involvement of all in the community with many diverse activities and projects.

The trust is a registered charity and is the community arm of the football club, engaging, developing and educating young people within various community groups, delivering a range of sessions through five main pillars - health, education, social inclusion, sports participation and recruitment - through schools, colleges, youth clubs/services, grass root teams, sports centres and universities.

For more information follow Reading FC community trust on Twitter or visit the trust website.