Competition winner Oliver Minns was selected as the lucky Young Royal that would lead the team out onto the Madejski Stadium pitch before a clash with Cardiff City on Boxing Day.

Oliver, whose 11th birthday ironically falls on Christmas Day, correctly answered that Noel Hunt celebrates his birthday on 26th December every year.

Oliver had a fantastic day as matchday mascot. "When we got to the stadium we bought a programme and he was really pleased to see his photo in there," Oliver's dad Graham explained.

"He loved meeting the players in the changing room and having his photo taken with them. And coming onto the pitch with everybody cheering was fantastic - he had butterflies in his stomach.

"Noel Hunt got the match ball and passed it to him to warm up with and Ollie hasn't taken his Reading shirt off since!"

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