Reading Football Club are delighted to announce that Chairman John Madejski has been knighted for charitable services in the 2009 New Year's Honours list.

Madejski, the Club's longest-serving Chairman, had previously been awarded the OBE and DL honours, and he will now become a knight of the realm.

His charitable work sees his name given to a wide range of institutions, including the John Madejski Academy in south Reading, the Fine Rooms at the Royal Academy Of Arts, the Garden at the Victoria & Albert Museum, an Art Gallery at Reading Museum and the Seat Of Reputation at Henley Business School, as well as the Lecture Theatre at the University Of Reading, where he became Chancellor last year and was awarded a Doctorate.

He is a Freeman of the Borough Of Reading, and his OBE in 2000 was awarded for his contribution to the community of Reading and the Football Club. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County Of Berkshire.

He said, "This is a great honour and I feel so very privileged. I am so grateful to all the people I am associated with who have helped me achieve this wonderful accolade.

"My only regret is that my mother was not here to share in it, I know she would have been very proud."