World Cup 2018

Football Fever for the Classroom

Anchor 1

This resource has been written by football poet, Paul Cookson to support pupils studying poetry at Key Stage 2. It uses four poems written by Paul Cookson to introduce students to performance poetry. The class then follows a step by step guide to create and perform their own football poem.

Tom Palmer's Live World Cup Read

by Tom Palmer

Start a Reading Revolution in your school!

In June and July 2018 Tom will be writing a live thriller adventure set at the men’s football World Cup finals in Russia.

published each weekday morning
a new ten-minute read chapter will be available for free for schools and families to read
aimed at Y4 to Y8
featuring dramatic cliffhangers
influenced by the events of the tournament on and off the field
chances to vote and change the storyline
based on his new history series, Defenders

Recommended Fiction and Poetry

Anchor 2

The Mighty Dynamo

by Kieran Crowley

Cheer on Noah and his team in Kieran Crowley's The Mighty Dynamo. Filled with footy, fun and friendship, it's an hilarious story perfect for young football fans.

Noah longs to be a professional footballer – and playing in the Schools' World Cup qualifiers might be just what he needs to get scouted. But when he's banned from his school team for something he didn't do, all his dreams are in doubt.

Determined to live up to his Mighty Dynamo nickname, Noah must find his own way to enter the contest – no matter what it takes! With best friend Stevie on tactics, and the skills of some unlikely new teammates, he's soon ready to take on the world – just as long as no one plays foul . . .

Spinderella

by Julia Donaldson

A fantastic picture book all about a football-playing spider, written by Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, with glorious full colour illustrations from the talented Sebastian Braun and a sparkling, glittery foiled cover.

Spinderella the spider has a passion for football! She tries to play a match with her brothers and sisters but she doesn’t know how many spiders should be on each team. Even worse, she can’t count the goals! Luckily for Spinderella, her Hairy Godmother has a plan . . .

The Football Boy Wonder

by Martin Smith

Charlie Fry is football mad. He sleeps wearing his team’s full kit and dreams of scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup final. He plays football around the clock – at the park, on the way to school, at lunchtimes and even in his bedroom until his mum tells him off. But Charlie has a problem: he can’t run very far. He has plenty of skill but his poorly lungs stop him from sprinting. And as an 11-year-old planning to become the Golden Boot winner at the next World Cup, that’s a bit of an issue. Then one day a freak accident presents Charlie with a unique goal-scoring gift – it means he can’t miss. But can Charlie convince his local team Hall Park to give him the chance and use his new found skill to deadly effect? Or will the nasty bullies from his school keep him stuck on the sidelines? ** The Football Boy Wonder is a football story for children aged 7-13. It looks at themes such as bullying, friendship, loyalty and the wonderful world of football.

Football Fever

by Alan Durant

William has caught football fever. His symptoms are so severe that his sister's afraid there's no cure. He eats, talks and dreams football, and he's driving his sister crazy! Then one day William's dream comes true and Dad takes him to a football club for the first time. The match kicks off and the tension builds. The score is nil-nil and William has the ball. Will he score and be hero for the day? And who'll be next to catch the football bug?!

Football Fever by Alan Durant and illustrated by Kate Leake is a joyous celebration of football, perfect for footie mad boys and girls everywhere.

Football Mad 4-in-1

by Alan MacDonald

Four goal-scoring books in one!
·Mark's Dream Team
·Nice One, Sam!
·There's Only One Danny Ogle
·The Worst Team in the World
Kick it, pass it, head it, cross it, live it, dream it - SCORE! If you're mad about football, you'd be mad to miss this book!
Four awesome stories about all kinds of players - some great, some rubbish, some fair, some foul - all MAD ABOUT FOOTBALL!
Whether you like to play football, watch football, wear your team's shirt, or just love kicking a ball around the garden, there's a story in here for you.
Black and white illustrations throughout.

Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend

by Francesca Simon

Horrid Henry reads Perfect Peter's diary and improves it; goes clothes shopping with Mum and tries to make her buy him some Rootatoot trainers; is horrified when his old enemy Bossy Bill turns up at school; and tries by any means, fair or foul, to win the class football match and defeat Moody Margaret.

Football Crazy

by Tony Bradman

When football legend Joe Ramsey agrees to coach their team, Danny, Lewis and Jamil are delighted! But Coach Ramsey is tough. Very tough. Can the boys survive the pressures of the team and still enjoy the game? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers of 8+

Cool!

by Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo’s inspiring story of Robbie, a boy in a coma – victim of a car accident. Locked inside his own head, able to hear but not move or speak, Robbie tries to keep himself from slipping ever deeper into unconsciousness.

Robbie, football fan and animal lover, runs after his dog Lucky one day when he chases a cat and is hit by a car. Unconscious, Robbie lies in hospital, unable to speak, move or eat. But he can hear; he is aware, even though his family and friends don’t know this. Inside his head, we hear Robbie’s thoughts; on his Mum and sister, why his parents are separated. His friends and family try desperately to reach him – even Zola, his favourite Chelsea footballer, comes to see him. And still Robbie can’t ‘wake up’. Until one day, against hospital rules, Dad brings Lucky into the hospital. Can Lucky bring Robbie back to life?

Football Academy: Reading the Game

by Tom Palmer

Ben is at his happiest playing for United and is getting top marks from the coach. But every day at school is a trial for Ben, as he struggles to hide a huge secret from his teachers and classmates.
Ben's secret is starting to affect his game - can he swallow his pride and ask for help before he sidelines himself - for good?

Billy the Kid

by Michael Morpurgo

Billy was a champion soccer star, playing for Chelsea in the 1930s. But that was before war broke out…

Billy the Kid is told through the voice of an 80 year old man, who looks back on his life as Chelsea’s champion striker until the outbreak of war in 1939 and on through his subsequent life. Billy joins Chelsea as a football apprentice, rises through the reserves to become a real champion. His passion for football sees him through the war years – even as a prisoner of war he organises a friendly against the Italians – but, having been injured by a mine he cannot play for Chelsea on his return to England. Billy turns to vagrancy and alcohol and for years he wanders up and down the country. He re-settles in London in a derelict house and is befriended by a family who move him to a shed in their garden. He, in turn, helps their son with his football who in his turn becomes a Chelsea player. Billy becomes a Chelsea Pensioner and his 80th birthday is celebrated when Chelsea play at home.