This season, Reading Football Club has teamed up with Duchess of Kent House Charity as part of The Football League’s official charity partnership with Help the Hospices.

Last week hospice volunteers and charity staff met Reading’s owner Sir John Madejski and team manager Brian McDermott to officially launch the year long association.

George Solly Director of Fundraising said: “Like in football, you never know what’s around the corner in life – and you never know when you or someone you know might need hospice care. With Reading Football Club’s support, your local hospice will carry on helping seriously ill people in central and west Berkshire to live well until they die, from providing physiotherapy and pain relief to a listening ear and a home-cooked meal.”

Hospice care is free for everyone who needs it, but it is not free to provide. Reading Football Club will raise vital funds for the hospice by organising collections at matches and taking part in challenge events.

David Praill, chief executive of Help the Hospices, said: “We are delighted to have the chance to work alongside The Football League this season, so that hospices across the UK can continue to care for 360,000 people every year – enough to fill Wembley Stadium four times over. This is an exciting opportunity for local hospices to tell millions of football fans about their important work.”

Greg Clarke, Chairman of The Football League, said: “Like Football League clubs, hospices operate at the heart of their local communities. This season, with the support of all 72 league clubs, hospices will continue to provide vital care for adults and children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses across England and Wales.”