A LIFELONG Reading FC supporter says he is worried his 75-year record will be broken when the Royal Elm Park development goes ahead.

Archie Hind, 86, has been a fan of the Royals for all of his adult life, but he depends on the help of his son Phillip to get him to the Madejski Stadium.

With the use of a disabled parking space, Archie is able to use a wheelchair to get him to his seat in the East Stand, but the loss of parking spaces for the £500m development has left a number of fans wondering where they will park on matchdays.

The Chronicle revealed last week how more than 800 parking spaces are expected to be lost to make way for a hotel, conference centre and ice skating rink.

"I can't get on the buses because I am disabled," he said. "I can go by car, but I am worried what is going to happen to parking at the ground when the project is completed."

Archie, who has to make a seven-mile journey to and from his home on Wokingham Road, pays £90 every season for his disabled space at home matches.

"I have been supporting the club virtually all my life. I would say I have been going for 75 years.

"It means I will no longer be able to go to the games. I usually go by car with my son, who is my carer, with a wheelchair in the boot.

"I have got a designated parking space just outside the ground and my son wheels me to my seat.

"If the development goes ahead, I am worried there will not be enough disabled spaces for me and all of the other disabled fans."

Although a multi-storey car park is planned for the new-look patch around the Madejski, a significant loss in parking will see thousands of fans choose between public transport and parking in nearby streets.

A spokesperson for Reading FC added: "On matchdays disabled parking will be available at Royal Elm Park for disabled users who have season ticket parking, as well as for away supporters with blue parking badges.

"Non-season ticket parking holders will be able to pre-book parking spaces, with ‘on the day’ parking for disabled supporters continuing to operate on a first come, first served basis.

"The use of spaces will be regularly monitored to make sure that enough blue badge spaces are provided in the new car parking facilities to meet demand."