FORMER Reading FC and Wales defender Ady Williams swapped the familiar royal blue of the club he captained for the sky blue strip of the town’s Gaelic football team last week, writes Fiona Tomas.

The BBC Berkshire radio football pundit was presented with a St Anthony’s Gaelic football shirt at The Gateway Pub in Reading to mark the club’s sponsors for the 2018-19 season.

The jersey presentation also saw the club’s old shirts auctioned off to past and present players, as well as others in attendance.

The Gateway – lauded as Reading’s most traditional Irish bar – will this year sponsor the ladies team for the 2018-19 season, while Carney Construction Company Ltd are the official sponsor for the men’s outfit.

The event on Friday past saw both the men’s team player Phil MacCabe and ladies’ team captain Grainne Riordan, receive jerseys for the upcoming campaign, which begins this month.

Gaelic football is an Irish team sport played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch.

Players score points by kicking or punching the ball into the other team’s goals (three points) or between two upright posts (one point).

St Anthony’s GAA was formed in 1963, providing a social hub for the huge emigration influx of Irish workers to the town during the 1960s.

The club’s light blue strip was reportedly chosen due to it being the cheapest kit available at the time.

The Gateway has become a hot favourite in recent years with many Irish internationals at Madejski Stadium.

Those known to have frequented the pub include current Royals skipper Paul McShane, while former players Noel Hunt and Kevin Doyle are also known to have drunk at the Greyfriars Road venue during their time as Royals.

Speaking at the launch, Williams praised landlord Martin O’Sullivan for making The Gateway ‘incredible’ venue and thanked St Anthony’s for his shirt.

Mr Williams said: “I’m a lad who was born and bred in Reading and every time I walk in this pub, the atmosphere is just different to any other place in this town.

“It was something special to be presented with a St Anthony’s shirt, it was a complete surprise.

“I’m so honoured and blessed. Coming here tonight means the world to me.”

St Anthony’s ladies train on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7.30pm at Palmer Park, while the men’s team train on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Kings Meadow.