Barclays Finds Space For Reading

Reading is the latest beneficiary of the Barclays Spaces for Sport initiative as
£600,000 from Barclays and the Football Foundation has paid for new facilities
in the city.

The site, just two miles from the Madejski Stadium, is
part of a larger development providing a range of activities for the local
community, including football, basketball, volleyball, dance, aerobics,
gym-based activities and badminton.

Reading chairman John Madjeski and club
players Dave Kitson and Greg Halford joined stars from other sports at the
opening, including England cricketer Darren Gough, former Great Britain rower
and Olympic champion Tim Foster and former England rugby union international,
Chris Sheasby at the AcademySport Leisure Centre in Whitley.

With the backing
of Reading FC the site is part of a £30million investment from the Barclays
Spaces for Sports initiative to create sustainable sports facilities across the
UK. The Reading project will receive a further £45,000 from Barclays to ensure
the sustainability of the site plus kit and equipment worth £5,000.

Since the
announcement of the scheme in September 2004, Barclays Spaces for Sports has
opened more than 130 sites and awarded more than 2,900 coaching packs to local
communities up and down the country, giving over 360,000 disadvantaged people
the opportunity to benefit from sport.

It is the single biggest investment in
grassroots sport ever by a company in the UK. With over 130 sites now open and
more than 2,900 coaching packs awarded, Barclays Spaces for Sports has given
over 360,000 disadvantaged people the opportunity to benefit from sport.Barclays
Spaces for Sports is a partnership between Barclays, the Football Foundation and
Groundwork.