Being a Junior Royals Ambassador isn’t just about supporting your favourite team on matchday; it’s about representing the young fans of Reading FC, being their voice, and making sure their experience at the club is the best it can be. It’s a massive responsibility but also a ton of fun, especially when you get to be part of something as exciting as this past Saturday’s match against Crawley Town.
Let me take you through my day as an Ambassador. From the early morning excitement to the final whistle, it was an unforgettable experience!
A Grass Roots and Schools Day Special
The day started early. My dad and I arrived at the Select Car Leasing Stadium at around 10:15 am, way before most fans had even thought about heading to the ground. But this wasn’t just any regular match day; it was a Grass Roots and Schools Day, which meant there were discounted tickets for children and their parents or adult chaperones. This is a brilliant initiative by the club to get more young fans involved, and the atmosphere was already building even before the gates opened.
As we were early, we had a bit of time to catch up with Jackie Evans, who is the Operations and HR Director at Reading FC. My dad has known Jackie for a long time, so we had a quick chat before we were whisked away by Mandy, one of the amazing volunteers who helps look after us Ambassadors and Junior Royals. Mandy always makes sure we’re well taken care of, and today she had a fantastic surprise for us!
Ambassador Coats and Media Fun
Mandy handed us these amazing Reading FC coats with the Junior Ambassadors logo on the back. They were super warm and looked awesome, but more importantly, they help fans and staff identify us at games. If anyone has questions, feedback, or suggestions about the fan experience, they know they can come to us. It felt really cool to wear something official like that. I felt like I was part of the club in a special way.
Once we had our new coats on, it was time for a photoshoot! We got to go down onto the pitch, and the club photographer and media team took pictures of us in our new gear. We even did a video with the club’s videographer. Imagine being on the pitch, looking around at the empty stadium knowing it would soon be packed with fans—it was an incredible feeling!
After that, we split into different groups, each with different responsibilities for the day. The Junior Ambassadors were assigned to all sorts of cool jobs around the stadium.
Tannoy Announcements and Media Coverage
Some of the Ambassadors had the job of announcing the goals and substitutes over the tannoy system. How cool is that? Imagine getting to shout out the goals as they happen, hearing your voice boom across the stadium. Others were trailing the media team around, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how matchday content is created. One of my fellow Ambassadors even got to interview Hal Robson-Kanu in the Royals Suite before the game!
There was another Ambassador who read out the safety announcement before kick-off. She did an amazing job, and I hope they keep using her recording for future matches because she absolutely nailed it. A couple of others got to sit with Tim Dellor and Mick Gooding from BBC Radio Berkshire, helping them with the commentary throughout the game.
My Role: Reading Out the Team Sheet
As for me, I had the exciting task of reading out the team sheet with the matchday MC before the game.
This was a huge moment for me. Standing in front of all the fans and announcing the starting line-up was both nerve-wracking and thrilling. The adrenaline rush was unreal! After that, I had to quickly pose for a photo in the centre circle before sprinting off the pitch, just as the referee was about to blow the whistle to start the match. It was all happening so fast, but I loved every second of it.
The Match Itself: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Once the game kicked off, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric. As Ambassadors, we’re still fans at heart, so I joined the thousands of Reading supporters cheering on the team. The match against Crawley Town was intense, with plenty of ups and downs, but the crowd’s energy kept the players going.
There’s something magical about being part of a packed stadium, the chants, the singing, and the collective hope of seeing your team score. The Reading fans were in full voice, and you could tell the players felt it too. I love that feeling of being connected to the game and to the people around you, all sharing the same emotions, the same excitement. The score line of winning 4-1 really helped top off what was an excellent day.
Post-Match: Behind the Scenes and Player Interactions
After the final whistle, the excitement didn’t stop. As an Ambassador, I had the chance to catch up with some of the players and staff after the match. It’s moments like these that make being part of the Junior Royals so special. Seeing the players up close, talking to them, and feeling like you’re part of the Reading FC family is an experience that most fans dream of.
Joel Pereira, one of my favourite players, was especially friendly. He gave me a big fist pump and a hug, and we chatted for a bit about the game. You could see how much he loves playing for the club, and he was so grateful for the support from the fans. It’s easy to forget sometimes that footballers are just people too, and seeing them so up close and personal makes you appreciate the hard work they put in every week.
The staff and media team were equally amazing. Huge thanks have to go out to Jackie Evans, Tim Dellor, Mandy, Laura*, and the MC team. Everyone involved in making the day special deserves a big shout-out, especially since they made sure everything ran so smoothly.
The Ambassador Experience: What It Means to Be a Junior Royals Ambassador
Being a Junior Royals Ambassador is about so much more than just attending games. It’s about representing the young fans of Reading FC, finding out what they love about the matchday experience, and figuring out how the club can make things even better for them. It’s a huge responsibility, but one that I take seriously.
We’re there to listen to the fans, to be the link between the younger supporters and the club. Whether it’s about the atmosphere, the food stalls, or even the events that happen before the game, we’re always keen to hear what people have to say. Of course, we can’t change the playing staff (as much as we’d love to be able to sign Messi!), but everything else is up for discussion. It’s all about making Reading FC the best club for young fans.
The club has been doing an incredible job of engaging with the younger audience, and the activities they lay on for us Ambassadors and Junior Royals are amazing. From helping with the tannoy announcements to trailing the media team or even getting involved with the commentary, the opportunities are endless. Every matchday is a new adventure.
A Day to Remember
By the time the day was over, I was absolutely buzzing. The whole experience—from reading out the team sheet to being on the pitch, from watching a great game to catching up with the players—was unforgettable. It’s definitely going in my top five best days ever experienced within my young life!
I couldn’t stop thinking about the match and my Ambassador duties even when I got home. After such an action-packed day, sleep was the last thing on my mind. I just kept replaying everything that had happened over and over again. It was the perfect day for a Junior Royals Ambassador, and I can’t wait for the next one.
With Reading sitting 13th in the league and an exciting away match against Exeter City coming up, there’s a lot to look forward to. Being part of the Junior Royals isn’t just about supporting the team—it’s about being part of the team, making a difference, and helping create the best possible experience for young fans like me.
Final Thoughts
Saturday was a day filled with excitement, emotions, and a lot of pride. I left the stadium not just as a fan but as an Ambassador, knowing that I’d played a small part in making the day special for others too. If you ever get the chance to be a Junior Royals, grab it! It’s an experience like no other.
I’ll never forget this matchday experience, and I’m already counting down the days until the next one. Come on, you Royals!
