THE 10-year-old son of late Reading FC Academy director Eamonn Dolan will lead out Jaap Stam's first team onto the Wembley pitch before Monday's Championship play-off final.

Seamus Dolan has been made the club's official matchday mascot in a fitting tribute to his father, who died of cancer almost a year ago.

Dolan, who brought current players Jordan Obita and Liam Kelly through Royals' youth system, passed away in June 2016, aged 48.

A statement from Reading FC said: “As soon we became aware we were able to choose our official matchday mascot for Monday’s massive game, there was only ever going to be one choice.

“We immediately invited Seamus to be our mascot and we are absolutely delighted to confirm he has agreed to play a part in the day and will be joined by his sister, Grace, and mum, Erica.”

In his honour, Reading re-named one end of the Madejski Stadium the 'Eamonn Dolan Stand' on the opening day of the Championship season.

A huge image of Dolan made up of smaller pictures of the 32 Academy youngsters he developed into first-team players appears on the stand.

Seamus was also the mascot on that day as Stam's men beat Preston North End 1-0 for the first of their 26 victories during the campaign.

He will now join around 38,000 Royals fans at Wembley on Monday for the mouthwatering final against Huddersfield Town with a place in the Premier League up for grabs.

Reading Chronicle:

The Eamonn Dolan Stand at Madejski Stadium.

The statement continued:“It is poignant that this season will end just as it began - with Eamonn’s son, Seamus, representing the Royals.

“As the eyes of the world watch Reading compete for a place in the Premier League, Seamus will stand in front of 90,000, honouring his dad and all he did for us at Reading Football Club.

“We couldn’t be more proud.”

Galway-born Dolan left Exeter City in 2004 to become Reading's Academy manager and he made a huge impact at Madejski Stadium.

Thousands of youth players passed through his hands during his 12 years at the club, scores of whom such as Jem Karacan, Alex Pearce, Hal Robson-Kanu and Alex McCarthy graduated to the first-team ranks before forging professional careers elsewhere.

A host of former Royals were joined by some of the biggest names in football for his funeral in Wokingham last July.

There is also a permanent plaque fixed to the Eamonn Doland Stand which reads: 'Coach, Manager, Believer. A true Royal. One of our own, his legacy lives on forever’.

Reading Chronicle: