New exhibition at Reading Museum celebrates 150 years of Reading Football Club

Reading Museum is thrilled to announce details of its latest exhibition, ‘COLLECTED: 150 Years of Reading FC.’

Through a unique gathering of images, ephemera and mementoes, the exhibition tells the incredible story of Reading Football Club’s historic journey, from a group of young townsmen playing on Kings Meadow to the heights of the national game.
With expert interpretation provided by the Club’s community of historians, the exhibition is designed to appeal to fans both old and new, as Reading marks the 150th anniversary of its football club, making it one of the oldest surviving clubs in the Football League.

Objects from STAR (Supporters Trust at Reading) bring this history to life, including never-before-seen photographs from the Club’s history, loans from iconic players such as a shirt worn by all-time fan’s favourite Robin Friday, and a range of items from the personal collection of legendary former Reading FC chairman Sir John Madejski.

The exhibition reflects the important ways the club contributes to the life of our town, with an account of the vital work its Community Trust does in Reading today. It also includes results of recent picture research into the early history of the women’s game in Reading, as well as pinpointing some of the key historical moments of the emergence of people of colour in the professional game.

In producing the exhibition, Reading Museum has worked closely with STAR and is hugely grateful to them, along with Select Car Leasing and Business Moves Group for their generous sponsorship, which has made this once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the Club’s history possible.

‘COLLECTED: 150 Years of Reading FC’ is free to view and runs from Saturday 19 February to 6 August 2022 in the Sir John Madejski Gallery, Reading Museum.

Families are encouraged to bring the kids along this February half term, kicking off with the Big Football Hunt and Bertie the Badger’s Football Nickname Trail, with crafty activities to take home and colour in.

Holiday fun at Reading Museum