With the festive season upon us, I’ve been scouring the market for books (remember them?) based on football for kids. As a father of two lads, I’ve been through more than my share - and it’s fair to say the ‘zero to hero’ genre has been done to death (Jamie Johnson et al). Of the pro’s efforts, Theo Walcott’s books are ok, and the Frank Lampard ones offer something different for younger readers. However, the biggest success has been an independent publication called ‘Broiter United’. Instead of the usual Roy of the Rovers style narrative, it features rhymes about a team of cheaters who all get stitched up as a result of their skulduggery. Every position is covered, including a cannonball goalkeeper, a time-wasting DM (who inadvertently gets hypnotised), a serial diving winger (and an overzealous St John’s Ambulanceman), through to a financially dodgy chairman and a ref-bashing manager (who has to officiate a school match). It’s a really good book and makes a great stocking filler.
Anyone got any ideas for footy stocking fillers this year? Btw, Broiter United is 15% off during the world cup (discount code on twitter)
i have several i could recommend. I bolded two that I've reread a few times. Soccermatics: Mathematical Adventures in the Beautiful Game. Das Reboot. The Expected Goals Philosophy: A Game-Changing Way of Analyzing Football. The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force in Sports. Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty Kick. Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football The Mixer: The Story of Premier League Tactics, From Route One to False 9's Soccernomics (2018 World Cup Edition)
Fantastic Footballers: 40 Inspiring Icons My niece has been reading this in the build up to and over the course of the world cup. It seems like a nice book presentation wise. It's basically a collection of favts and a short bio on players like Best, Buffon, Neymar etc.
I know 'Inspiring' is the mot du jour in the sporting world - and that he was a fantastic player when he was on it, but I'm not entirely sure I'd describe George Best as an inspiration....
