Church strikes new deal

Reading striker Simon Church has signed a new contract which will keep him at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2013.

The 21-year-old Wales forward has become a first team regular this season and scored the opener in Saturday's 1-1 FA Cup draw at home to Liverpool.

Director of football Nick Hammond said: "We are delighted that Simon has signed this contract and we have tied him down for another three years."

Hammond added: "He has developed enormously, especially in these past six months, and he is a great boy with a great mentality.

"It gave us great pride to see him, and a number of other academy players, not only playing against Liverpool but very much competing with them.

"Simon, along with Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jem Karacan and then Ben Hamer all gave us a great lift as part of the team's performance against some of the very best players in the world. Their performances were a great tonic in what has been a tough run for the club."

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