Reading fans turned out in their hundreds to get selfies and autographs with players and staff in the Oracle.
With it being half-term for school kids around the country, Paul Ince and his team spent an hour posing for selfies and signing autographs, with many more disappointed to miss out the queue was that long.
The players have arrived. A longgggg queue all the way around the top of the Oracle #readingfc pic.twitter.com/73oKGPOuqg
— James Earnshaw (@james_e1871) October 25, 2022
Circling the entirety of the upper level of the shopping centre, many unfortunately would have left disappointed.
However, for those that managed to make it into the roped off area outside H&M, it was Royal heaven.
One fan told the Reading Chronicle, "It's a really good thing to do, take time out of their schedule to meet some supporters."
A running joke throughout the fanbase was that fan favourite Shane Long was 'spotted in the Oracle.'
The club played on this when the 35-year-old re-joined the club in the summer, with the announcement video taking place in the shopping centre.
The former Southampton and West Brom star was once again in the popular shopping outlet, pleasing fans of every age group.
"I'm here to see Shane Long," another fan commented. "He was my childhood hero in my first spell and it's great that he's back.
Vice captain Tom Holmes was a busy man, but took a few minutes out to talk about the importance of doing events such as these.
"It’s been a really good day with lots of kids here with it being half-term. It’s nice that we can see some happy faces and that we’ve started well so it’s a good day. It’s really important to get the next generation of Reading fans to reach out, connect with them and get them through the gates, into the stadium. It’s good for the whole community."
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