Select Car Leasing has said it remains “as invested in the club as ever” after stepping aside as Reading FC’s front-of-shirt sponsor to make way for a new commercial partnership.
The Reading-based vehicle leasing company recently relinquished its position on the front of the club’s shirts, with online casino operator Mr Vegas becoming the Royals’ new principal sponsor.
However, Select Car Leasing will continue as a major partner of the club, retaining the naming rights to the Select Car Leasing Stadium and keeping its branding across several club teams and training kit.
Mark Tongue, chief executive and co-founder of Select Car Leasing, said the decision had been taken to help the club secure additional revenue.
He said: “Select Car Leasing has vacated front-of-shirt sponsorship at Reading Football Club to make way for a new sponsor.
“It’s a deal that delivers significant additional income to the Club at an important time and we remain hopeful that an opportunity to resume front-of-shirt sponsorship will present itself in the future.
“While our logo may have moved, our support most certainly hasn’t. Select remains a proud and passionate partner of Reading FC, and we’re excited about what the future holds for the Club.
“Crucially, we retain the naming rights to the Select Car Leasing Stadium and fans can still call the SCL their home.
“Our branding will continue to feature prominently on the back of the First Team match shirts and front of training wear.
“The Select Car Leasing logo will also be displayed on the front of Academy match shirts, Reading FC Women’s match shirts and on the front of junior replica shirts, ensuring Select remains at the heart of the Club.
“We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with Reading FC for the past decade and we remain as invested in the club as ever. Over the last year alone we’ve increased our support for Reading FC Community Trust, renewed our backing of Reading FC Women, continued our Tickets for Kids initiative and hosted our annual charity football match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, helping to raise thousands of pounds for the Trust.
“We’re incredibly proud of the relationships we’ve built with supporters and the wider community, and we’d like to reassure fans that our commitment to Reading FC remains as strong as ever.”
The company has been one of Reading’s longest-serving commercial partners, first becoming the club’s principal sponsor in 2021 before securing the stadium naming rights in 2022. Despite the change to the front of the shirt, Select Car Leasing said it would continue to support the men’s, women’s and academy teams, as well as the club’s charitable and community initiatives.
