Footie price freeze at Reading

READING yesterday became the latest Premiership club to freeze their prices thanks to The Sun’s Cut The Cost of Footie campaign.

Chairman John Madejski announced all season ticket and match-day seats for next season will cost the same as this term.

And he promised increased capacity planned for the Royals’ stadium would mean even more “flexible” prices for the 2008/2009 season.

Eleven Premiership clubs have now slashed or frozen their prices since The Sun launched our campaign.

We have the support of PM Tony Blair, Sports Minister Richard Caborn, a host of soccer pundits and supporters’ groups. Only Tottenham Hotspur have put their prices up.

Mr Madejski said: “I am very pleased that we are able to offer our supporters a price freeze for next season.

“We believe that we set our ticket prices at a fair and realistic level 12 months ago and there is no need to implement another increase this year.”

The announcement keeps the cost of a standard adult season ticket at £545. He said the club had taken the decision despite having the luxury of playing to capacity crowds all season. It adds pressure on the big clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United who also play to sell-out crowds but have yet to announce next season’s prices.

Mr Madejski added: “We have submitted a planning application to increase the capacity of Madejski Stadium from the 2008/9 season.

“That would allow us to be more flexible with pricing so we intend to review our pricing strategy again towards the end of next season.”