PAUL Hunsdon, a long-serving member of Reading FC's first-aid support team, has given up his roles with the club to become just a spectator.

He joined the stretcher carriers at Elm Park for the last season there in 1997-98 and then led the team at Madejski Stadium for every season until the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

He drove the first electric buggy to remove injured players from the pitch, and so was in the national spotlight on October 14, 2006, when Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech sustained a serious head injury when he collided with Reading's Stephen Hunt in the opening minute of their Premier League clash.

"I still remember that day," said Paul. "It was a very serious incident and the coverage it received saw us all over the media."

Paul left the Royals' stretcher team to take on the role of fan services support manager last season, but has now stood down from that job.

"It's for family reasons," he explained. "My nine-year-old son Freddie is keen to see Reading play and so it's important I sit with him. It means for the first time for many years I will have to pay to watch a game."

RACEHORSE owner and cricket fan Max McNeill plans to mark England's sensational World Cup triumph last Sunday in a unique way.

The Sonning businessman and his racing manager, Iain Turner, have registered an unraced horse with the name of Champagnesuperover.

Having come over from Ireland with a good reputation, the four-year-old will be trained by Olly Murphy at Stratford-upon-Avon and could make his first appearance in the McNeill Family colours in a bumper race this autumn.

The owners have also named another horse at Paul Nicholls' yard, Threeunderthrufive, at an appropriate time with the Open Championship starting today (Thursday) at Royal Portrush.

Max's father, Ted, took part in the tournament when it was played at the Northern Ireland course, his home club, in 1951 and even led the field at three under par after five holes – hence the horse's new name.

Another Max, Faulkner, went on to lift the trophy.