READING FC’s home ground has been named the fifth safest football stadium in the UK, according to a study.
The Select Car Leasing Stadium has an average of 0.1 incidents per 100 attendants, as reported by scams.info, who analysed police data and over 70 million incidents in the vicinity of grounds.
The Royals’ lofty national ranking means it is also the safest away day in the Championship, England’s second tier.
On average, Reading welcomes 298,931 fans to its home every year, with a yearly average of 297 incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour.
On Saturday, October 1, Reading welcomed thousands of children to its designated schools and grassroots game against Huddersfield Town, showcasing the club’s family ethos.
Under the scheme, adult tickets cost £10, while under 12s could attend the game for only £1.
The stadium’s family area is made up of three blocks in the Eamonn Dolan stand.
Brighton and Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium was deemed the safest ground in the UK, with just 0.04 incidents per 100. It has an average of 445,037 attendants and 180 recorded yearly incidents.
The club’s Premier League rivals Manchester United came second, seeing 0.06 incidents per 100 attendees. Old Trafford boasts the largest number of visitors, with 1,418,806 fans coming every year.
In joint third position were Bolton and Wycombe Wanderers, whose stadiums experienced 0.09 incidents per 100 fans.
Aiden Howe, of scams.info, said: “Away games involve going to the other teams’ home turf which means heightened risk of being the target of football-related violence.
“Be careful when walking around wearing your team’s kit in areas where rowdy home fans are likely to accumulate.
“Large crowds also attract petty theft as it allows anonymity for pickpockets, so make sure your bags are zipped and not left unattended, avoid flashing cash or expensive items in public making you a target for criminals.”
The least safe UK football stadium was deemed to be Mourneview Park Stadium, home of Glenavon in Northern Ireland. It has 13.44 anti-social incidents per 100 attendees.
With an average yearly attendance of 9,360, the 1,258 yearly incidents seem particularly high.
To see the full rankings, visit: www.scams.info
