Mental health forum for fans at troubled club

Shane Long and Johnny HuntJohnny Hunt

Johnny Hunt (right), pictured with former Reading FC star Shane Long, has organised the mental health forum

At a glance

  • Reading FC fans can join an online forum to discuss mental health issues

  • The group helps fans who are struggling with the club's turmoil, organisers say

  • Some fans have posted online about their fears for the club's survival

  • Reading FC have been docked four points this season over cashflow issues

Fans at a troubled football club are being urged to open up about their mental health issues at an online forum later.

The Talking Royals session can help Reading FC fans who may be struggling with the season's turmoil, organisers have said.

Some supporters have expressed fears online that the club could fold.

A World Mental Health Day awareness post on X by Reading FC on Tuesday drew comments from fans who pleaded for the club to be saved.

Johnny Hunt

Mr Hunt has previously organised fans' mental health walks

One wrote: "This club has been an escape for me. Win, lose or draw it’s been more beneficial for my mental health than any pill. Please don’t let this club die."

Another fan, posting about a mental health episode, said: "Going to watch the Royals that night helped massively... We have to fight with everything we have to save this great club."

Many fans made wry comments about Reading FC's season and the effect on them.

The club has been docked four points over cashflow issues and has been put up for sale by Chinese owner Dai Yongge.

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Forum organiser Johnny Hunt said it was "for people struggling with what's going on with the club" as well as for those who wanted to share their mental health stories.

He said: "It's a scary world. With Reading at the minute, it's very up and down.

"All these rumours about the new owners... everything that's going on, it just creates a lot of stress.

"And this is just a safe space for people to talk about their mental health, about football."

Mr Hunt, who is open about his own bipolar and eating disorders, has previously teamed up with fans at other football clubs for mental health walks.

On Tuesday, Norwich City FC was widely praised on X for a moving video to raise awareness of hidden psychological suffering.

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