READING FC’s Ethan Coleman is looking to follow in the footsteps of a relative.

The 17-year-old midfielder is the grandson of the late Ron Foster, who was a member of Reading’s squad of the late 1960s.

Ethan has scored twice with headers recently for Royals’ under-18s against Leicester and Fulham, although they lost both games.

Ron, who lived in Earley, died in July at the age of 78.

  • IT was a right Royal occasion for local racing enthusiast Mark Wellsteed when he attended an Irish meeting.

For his visit to Down Royal means he has now been to all 87 racecourses in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

No doubt, others have achieved it before, but at 22-year-old he must be the youngest.

Mark, who works at Nirvana Spa in Sindlesham, plans to return to Ireland next month to visit Gordon Elliott’s stables whilst also taking in a meeting at Punchestown.

  • BERKSHIRE cricket official John Reed was among the umpires at the MCC Regional T20 finals day at Lord’s yesterday.

“It wasn’t a bad way to finish my season, but it was an early start as I had to be there by 8am as the toss for the first game was at 9.15,” he said.

With 231 games under his belt, the former professional musician has now achieved the highest number of matches umpired in the Home Counties Premier League.

  • THIS column last week reported Reading Hockey Club had entered 15 different national competitions this season, which at the time was the highest in the country. But they have now been overtaken by two northern clubs, with Alderley Edge entering 17 tournaments and Bowdon 16.

l IN a bid to attract more support, Reading Hockey Club are to stage most of their men’s Premier Division home fixtures at 6pm on a Saturday. Previously, they have been held on a Sunday afternoon.

But Blues’ first home game of the new season against Canterbury will be on Sunday, October 1, as it’s also the day when the club host their annual lunch for vice-presidents.