Reading FC has announced a new artificial intelligence (AI) partnership aimed at developing technology across football, business and education.
The club has joined forces with Stelia AI, NVIDIA and Lenovo to establish a Reading FC AI Centre of Excellence.
The initiative will focus on using AI in areas including football performance analysis, club operations, fan engagement and commercial activities, while also supporting skills development and innovation across the Thames Valley.
Reading FC said the centre would work with local schools, colleges, universities and technology organisations to help promote education and opportunities in AI.
The club will use Stelia’s AI platform, supported by computing infrastructure from NVIDIA and Lenovo, to develop and test new AI applications. The project will also explore emerging technologies such as generative AI and agent-based systems.
Tim Kilpatrick, chief revenue officer at Reading FC, said the partnership would bring together “the best of sport, technology and community”.
He said: “We’re creating a platform that not only enhances how we operate as a football club, but also delivers real value to the Thames Valley business and education ecosystem.”
Stuart Fenton, Reading FC’s head of AI, said football was “an ideal environment for applied AI” because of the volume of data generated and the need for rapid decision-making.
He said the centre would focus on practical applications, ranging from player performance analysis to fan engagement, while sharing knowledge with education and technology partners across the region.
Dave Hughes, chief technology officer at Stelia AI, said the project would help demonstrate how organisations can move from AI experimentation to delivering measurable benefits.
Anthony Hills, director for the UK and Ireland at NVIDIA, said professional football offered a unique environment for testing advanced analytics and AI-driven insights.
Andy Rhodes, vice-president and general manager for the UK and Ireland at Lenovo, said football demanded “speed, resilience and clarity under pressure”, making it a strong setting for developing practical AI solutions.
The organisations said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to ensuring advances in AI deliver benefits for sport, local businesses and future generations entering the workforce.
