Reading FC has released a statement to Club 1871, urging them to quash their recent behaviour towards away fans at the Madejski Stadium.

Club 1871 is a Reading fan group formed in 2018.

They're infamous at the ground, and their aim according to www.readingfc.co.uk is to 'improve the atmosphere and get fully behind the team, by using both old and new Reading chants to make home games feel like the best away games'.

In recent weeks though, Club 1871 have been deemed a danger to 'both stewards and fans' with their behaviour - it comes after a number of incidents have been reported in recent home fixtures.

The statement, which can be read in full on the club's website, asks a 'small minority' of Club 1871 not to 'provoke the away fans':

"Overwhelmingly, our supporters’ behaviour remains impeccable, both at home - across all four stands - and on our travels to away grounds.

"However, it can only take a very small minority to spoil it; to surge across safety netting at the top of the South Stand or to consistently provoke the away fans instead of channelling their efforts into supporting our team

The group is well-liked by everyone at the club, and the statement goes on to make that clear. But as ever with fan trouble, it's a select few who choose to damage the reputation of their club by acting inappropriately at football matches.

Reading have five remaining fixtures at home in the Championship, the next being against Stoke City this weekend.

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The verdict

Reading has never been known to be a raucous bunch, and pleas like these are often mocked by the fans they're aimed at. But the point is all about safety and the club felt the need to act now before anything got out of hand.

Mark Bowen's side have a chance of securing a top-six spot this season, and it'd be a real shame if fan troubles were to scupper that in any way.