The eyes of the footballing world are on Reading for their FA Cup meeting with Manchester United, allowing the Royals to draw attention to the campaign around their shirt sleeves.
It is the third time the two sides have met in the competition in the decade since Reading were relegated from the Premier League. United won both of the last two clashes, 4-0 in 2017 and 2-0 in 2019.
Reading have been wearing their usual blue and white hoops this season, but the red and blue striped sleeves are a new addition. It's part of a campaign aimed at raising awareness of climate change, and partners with the University of Reading have provided more details.
"Created at The University of Reading by Professor Ed Hawkins, the #climatestripes use accurate data to show the rise in average temperatures over the past 150 years," the university explained on Twitter. "Blue stripes show colder than average years, red stripes show hotter. They warn that the world is getting warmer.
"This season, Reading FC wanted to tackle their environmental impact and called on us as one of the UK's greenest Unis. We worked with them on a 10-point sustainability plan. But, they wanted to raise awareness even further. Cue, a novel kit launch.
"The famous blue and white hoops were complemented by a bespoke set of warming stripes for Berkshire. It's the greenest shirt the club has ever produced." The kit is made 100 per cent from recycled bottles and is recyclable itself.
"The climate stripes are intended to start conversations about climate change - and making them visible to thousands of football fans across the country every week brings that to a new audience," professor Hawkins said in July. "We hope Reading Football Club’s fans will push them on to success this season, while at the same time, the players and the club will be supporting climate action and recognising the science."
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Ahead of the game at Old Trafford, Reading boss Paul Ince has praised opposite number Erik ten Hag. England international midfielder Ince spent several years with United as a player, winning two Premier League titles with the club.
"With previous Manchester United sides, I just sensed that teams went to Old Trafford believing they could get something," the 55-year-old said. "But what Ten Hag is doing now is giving his team a presence, and they are tougher than they have been for four or five years.
"Were they a soft touch? Probably, yeah. But I sense that he's building something now.
"For a club like Manchester United not to win anything for six years cannot be right. It's important that they win something – and keep winning trophies."
