Elm Park Royals release retro-style footie shirts
A READING FC fan group has released retro shirts commemorating the club’s glory years.
Elm Park Royals’ unique take on the jerseys are available for fans to purchase.
Podcast host Alex Everson said the idea was inspired by nostalgia amongst the Royals’ fanbase.
He said: “The concept started a month or so ago. We saw lots of articles from Reading fans completing collections of retro kits. You can see the market for it has gone through the roof in recent years.
“We had a discussion with a fan site from Hull City who had done something similar and thought why not give it a go.
The group asked supporters about their favourite Reading kits, with most referencing shirts from the late 90s and early 2000s.
The club enjoyed successful campaigns during that time, with both blue and yellow featuring in the home and away shirts respectively.
It was important to the group that the shirts evoked positive memories amongst fans.
The designs include one of the group’s sponsors, Blue Collar, a Reading-based street food company.
“We took the Auto Trader logo and adapted it to Blue Collar,” Mr Everson said.
“They have sponsored us for three seasons, helping us get better equipment, utilise recording areas, and were our link to the club when they were working together.
“In this project, we were keen to utilise their logo because they are a key component in Reading, especially with their new location. They really represent the local community.
Shirts can be personalised with names and numbers on the back.
Elm Park Royals runs a weekly podcast and provides a community for Reading fans to interact through social media.
Funds raised through the shirts’ sales will go towards the group’s continued work.
The group has also released limited edition beer cans in partnership with Phantom Brew Co. ■