More than £2,000 has been donated to the Reading Football Club Community Trust via fan group Elm Park Royals' fundraising page, going toward their work with the elderly in the town.

With more than 10,000 social media followers, Elm Park Royals are one of the largest fan groups connected with the club- along with The Tilehurst End and Sell Before We Dai.

Last month, the club faced a well-publicised 'shortfall' and the fundraising page was set up originally to assist with bridging this.

Hundreds of supporters contributed to the scheme, which saw the group purchase hundreds of match tickets also in order to allow those supporters who may not usually afford to go to see matches during the run-in.

Exclusive negotiations were announced in April and supporters were given the opportunity of a refund or to allow their donation to go to the RFC Community Trust.

£2,050 has been sent to the charity, with manager Dave Evans confirming to the Reading Chronicle that it will go towards work with the elderly.

"As a registered charity Reading FC Community Trust relies on donations, sponsorships, and fundraising and so Elm Park Royals donation of £2,050 is massively appreciated by the Trust and our staff, Evans commented.

"The £2,050 will help support our projects for the over 65s including our Friends of the Elderly and Dementia Café. Both sessions held at the Select Car Leasing Stadium are in place to help address not only dementia but also loneliness, self-worth, anxiety, and depression. To be able to deliver sessions which actively encourage participants to socialise and interact with each other, reminisce about past events and communicate on a regular basis with old and new friends.

"The funding will enable the charity to continue to deliver the sessions offering entertainment, refreshments, player visits (past and present), and match day visits. Thank you."

Alex Everson of Elm Park Royals added: "We’re delighted to be able to give such a large donation on behalf of Reading fans to RFC Community Trust.

"The donation scheme we ran last month allowed us to be able to offer people the chance to move their donation to help to provide activities within the Reading community and for them to continue to develop their work and out reach."