Competition Closed – Win a copy of Buzz Magazine signed by Sir John Madejski

Sir John Robert Madejski, OBE, DL (born Robert John Hurst; 28 April 1941) is an English businessman, with commercial interests spanning property, broadcast media, hotels, restaurants, publishing and football. He changed his name when his stepfather, a Polish airman during World War II, returned to Britain to marry his mother.

Madejski is the founder of the magazine which became Auto Trader and chairman of Reading F.C., as well as Chancellor of the University of Reading and Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire. He is a benefactor to many institutions, especially in academia, education and the arts. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2009 ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK he was placed 222nd with an estimated fortune of £250million.

Madejski became chairman of the Football League club Reading F.C. in 1990, and has given his name to the club’s Madejski Stadium, built in 1998 with £25 million largely contributed by him. He rescued Reading from receivership. He said “When Robert Maxwell was alive I offered him five pounds a share. When he fell off his boat I got them for 10p. Funny old life isn’t it?”. In 2006 he led the Royals to the top tier of English football for the first time in their 135-year history and proposed to expand the stadium to 38,000 seats. Having guided Reading to the Premier League, in 2006 Madejski said he was ready to sell up:

The brand is getting stronger all the time and if there is a billionaire who wants a nice accessory down the M4 then come and talk to me. Apart from Manchester United, unless you’ve got a sugar daddy with really deep pockets, you’re wasting your time.

The club achieved pre-tax profits of £6.6m during the tax year ending in June 2007.

On 21 January 2012 it was announced that Madejski planned to relinquish control of the club by selling a 51% stake to a Russian consortium (Thames Sports Investments) headed by Anton Zingarevich for £40m. Madejski announced that as part of the deal he would continue as chairman for at least another two years followed by becoming honorary life president of the club. Madejski’s reign as owner of the club officially ended on 29 May 2012 when the takeover deal was completed.

For a chance to win a copy of Buzz Magazine signed by Sir John Madejski, answer the following question:

Competition Closed on 18th December

What is Reading FC’s current nickname?