Six former Reading stars are retying their laces this weekend to appear in a charity match at the home of Queen’s Park Rangers.
Former R’s favourites Danny Shittu, Nedum Onuoha and Hogan Ephraim will be joined by six former Royals players at the event
Leroy Lita: born on December 28, 1984, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), is a former professional footballer who primarily played as a striker.
He began his career at Chelsea’s youth academy but moved to Bristol City in 2002, where he made his professional debut. Lita’s breakthrough came during his time at Reading FC, where he became known for his goal-scoring prowess.
39-year-old Lita, still playing for Coalville Town in the non-league pyramid, will lead the line for the Rest of the World XI. Reading’s first million-pound signing, he scored 32 goals in 100 appearances.
Mikele Leigertwood: Mikele Leigertwood, born on November 12, 1982, is a retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is best known for his time at Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Reading FC.
In January 2010, Leigertwood joined Reading FC on loan from QPR, and later that year, the move became permanent. His time at Reading was highly successful, especially during the 2011-2012 season when he played a crucial role in the team’s Championship title-winning campaign. Leigertwood famously scored the goal that sealed promotion for Reading, endearing himself to the fans even more.
After retiring from professional football, Leigertwood transitioned into coaching. He is currently serving as the Under-18s manager at Bearwood, continuing his involvement in the game and sharing his knowledge and experience with young players..
Jamie Mackie: Former Reading loanee Mackie, who featured in the 2015 FA Cup semi-final, is a club legend at Loftus Road for his two spells. Now regularly spotted on Sky Sports as an EFL pundit, the former forward is still only 38.
Noel Hunt: Reading’s Under-21s boss has a busy Saturday, seeing as his side are in PL2 action against Nottingham Forest from 2pm. The former Republic of Ireland international made over 150 appearances for the Royals and his legacy is still being written from the touchline.
Jem Karacan: A Royals youth product with nearly 200 club appearances to his name, Karacan is still only 35 and regularly heard giving insights on the club through his work on BBC Radio Berkshire. The energetic midfielder still has plenty to offer at 35.
Jem Karacan is a former professional footballer who came through the youth ranks at Reading FC. Born on February 21, 1989, in Catford, London, he primarily played as a midfielder. Karacan made his first-team debut for Reading in 2008 and went on to make nearly 200 appearances for the club.
During his time at Reading, Karacan was known for his energetic and combative style of play in midfield, contributing both defensively and offensively. He played a key role in the team’s successes, including their promotion to the Premier League in the 2011-2012 season.
Simon Church: Former Wales international Church made over 100 appearances for Reading and enjoyed a varied EFL career until injury forced him into early retirement in 2018.
Simon Church, born on December 10, 1988, in Amersham, England, is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. He represented the Wales national team at the international level.
Church began his professional career at Reading FC, where he progressed through the youth ranks and made over 100 appearances for the club. His time at Reading included stints on loan at various clubs to gain experience and game time.
As a Wales international, Church earned caps for his national team and was part of the squad during their campaigns in international competitions.
After leaving Reading, Church had a varied career in the English Football League (EFL), playing for clubs such as Charlton Athletic, MK Dons, and Plymouth Argyle, among others. However, his career was hampered by injuries, which eventually led to his early retirement from professional football in 2018.
Despite his retirement from playing, Church’s contributions to football, both at club level and internationally with Wales, are recognized, and he remains a respected figure within the sport.