why don't more people from Ethnic Minorities support Reading?

[Snowflake Royal]

Asians do not like football. I never played football for or against Asian players in the Sunday leagues. But cricket was a different story with loads of Asian players. Sometimes entire clubs. We have a lot of eastern europeans in west Reading maybe we could target them?

[Hendo]

Asians do not like football. I never played football for or against Asian players in the Sunday leagues. But cricket was a different story with loads of Asian players. Sometimes entire clubs. We have a lot of eastern europeans in west Reading maybe we could target them?

"Asians" is a bit of an outdated term, I feel... also, it's a massive generalisation. Football is massive in Japan and South Korea, for example.

Or were they not the "Asians" you were referring to?

[blythspartan]

Reading is a really cosmopolitan town and it’s a real shame that our fanbase isn’t more diverse.

I went to a school off the Oxford Road in the 70s and a couple mates from the BAME community still go to games. However, their children and grandchildren aren’t interested. They prefer to follow the London clubs and that’s the same with some of my own extended family tbh.

[Hound]

Asians do not like football. I never played football for or against Asian players in the Sunday leagues. But cricket was a different story with loads of Asian players. Sometimes entire clubs. We have a lot of eastern europeans in west Reading maybe we could target them?

This just isn’t true. The youth football team I help run has 6 of the 16 of Asian heritage. And we’ve played many teams with something similar. Decent level as well

As a wider point - are we really under represented in our home games? I genuinely don’t know but I think there’s quite a broad spectrum of backgrounds and a reasonable female percentage as well

Less so in the away followings but it’s not always the most pleasant atmosphere and can be quite intimidating

[RoyalBlue]

And not enough women either. Why isn’t the club’s diversity officer doing something about it?

Disagree. Think Reading has a pretty strong female support. Get all ages both home and away.
.

Very definitely.

I also think Forbury makes a very good point about how supporting a particular club tends to pass down through the family generations, so it is likely to take time for the BAME following to increase, particularly given how players and fans from those communities used to be treated by some supporters (and still are in a minority of cases).

[RoyalBlue]

Asians do not like football. I never played football for or against Asian players in the Sunday leagues. But cricket was a different story with loads of Asian players. Sometimes entire clubs. We have a lot of eastern europeans in west Reading maybe we could target them?

I don't think that's necessarily the case. I used to work in Wembley and Harrow and the Asians that I worked with - male and female - loved their football. Football in the winter and cricket in the summer.

[Gobsheik]

Perhaps they are only interested in the Premier Clubs, as they are promoted more in the Media etc. Glory seeking springs to mind.
The Premier league is a Global concern now. Lets face it, the World doesn't want the 'smaller' club.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Perhaps they are only interested in the Premier Clubs, as they are promoted more in the Media etc. Glory seeking springs to mind.
The Premier league is a Global concern now. Lets face it, the World doesn't want the 'smaller' club.

I get your point, but Wrexham would suggest otherwise.

[Elm Park Kid]

I mean - we had an open racist posting racist messages on this board for years . . . . .

[Brogue]

I mean - we had an open racist posting racist messages on this board for years . . . . .

yes we did, getting rid of him, and DD was the first thing i did when i became mod a few months back.

[Snowflake Royal]

I mean - we had an open racist posting racist messages on this board for years . . . . .

Nah, Maguire says he wasn’t racist, people just didn’t like losing arguments to him.

[Das_Ding]

Three reasons

1. Less likely to have got the itch from their dads
2. Put off by the perception or reality of the racism that still goes on in football stands around the country
3. Reading's football and financial situation do not exactly make a compelling case for a Berkshire-based neutral who could find an excuse to support, say, Chelsea, and we also don't have the retro ramshackle charm of other L1 or L2 teams

[Forbury Lion]

I spoke to some Indian's about this and the main reason they said they don't support Reading and wouldn't come to a game even if the tickets were free is because they live in India.
Seems distance is an issue.

[Snowflake Royal]

I spoke to some Indian's about this and the main reason they said they don't support Reading and wouldn't come to a game even if the tickets were free is because they live in India.
Seems distance is an issue.

Millsy has stolen your log in Forbs.

[Forbury Lion]

Three reasons

1. Less likely to have got the itch from their dads
2. Put off by the perception or reality of the racism that still goes on in football stands around the country
3. Reading's football and financial situation do not exactly make a compelling case for a Berkshire-based neutral who could find an excuse to support, say, Chelsea, and we also don't have the retro ramshackle charm of other L1 or L2 teams

Maybe lack of players of the same ethnicity they can relate to?
Other sports may be a factor, but probably playing those sports on a Saturday rather than attending since Berkshire isn't really a hot spot for sports like Ruby or Cricket, but there are a number of Cricket grounds dotted around the place.

[Crusader Royal]

Three reasons

1. Less likely to have got the itch from their dads
2. Put off by the perception or reality of the racism that still goes on in football stands around the country
3. Reading's football and financial situation do not exactly make a compelling case for a Berkshire-based neutral who could find an excuse to support, say, Chelsea, and we also don't have the retro ramshackle charm of other L1 or L2 teams

Maybe lack of players of the same ethnicity they can relate to?
Other sports may be a factor, but probably playing those sports on a Saturday rather than attending since Berkshire isn't really a hot spot for sports like Ruby or Cricket, but there are a number of Cricket grounds dotted around the place.

We don’t have any podgy, bald, middle aged players but lack those doesn’t stop that demographic turning up in large numbers.

[Brogue]

Three reasons

1. Less likely to have got the itch from their dads
2. Put off by the perception or reality of the racism that still goes on in football stands around the country
3. Reading's football and financial situation do not exactly make a compelling case for a Berkshire-based neutral who could find an excuse to support, say, Chelsea, and we also don't have the retro ramshackle charm of other L1 or L2 teams

Maybe lack of players of the same ethnicity they can relate to?
Other sports may be a factor, but probably playing those sports on a Saturday rather than attending since Berkshire isn't really a hot spot for sports like Ruby or Cricket, but there are a number of Cricket grounds dotted around the place.

We don’t have any podgy, bald, middle aged players but lack those doesn’t stop that demographic turning up in large numbers.

Charlie Adam was probably the last player to fit that description

[WestYorksRoyal]

It's not unique to Reading. My closest team are Bradford City. Their attendances are not diverse, when the city very much is. I think perception is a problem; crown used to tolerate racism as recently as the 90s, and there will still be fans who think that "banter" is acceptable.

Also for the South Asian community representation is an issue; it's a demographic under represented on the pitch.

[Hendo]

Maybe lack of players of the same ethnicity they can relate to?
Other sports may be a factor, but probably playing those sports on a Saturday rather than attending since Berkshire isn't really a hot spot for sports like Ruby or Cricket, but there are a number of Cricket grounds dotted around the place.

We don’t have any podgy, bald, middle aged players but lack those doesn’t stop that demographic turning up in large numbers.

Charlie Adam was probably the last player to fit that description

[Royal_jimmy]

Asians generally prefer cricket. I see a few at home games though.

Many fans just support a club who their parents took them to when they were kids. Not many first generation immigrants like football generally. That's my hunch anyway.