Walker Books ISBN 9781406391268 £5.99
Johnny, the hero of this story, is fanatical about football along with all the members of his family. Both parents had played for the local team, Tissbury Town, and his older brother, Daniel is already playing for the junior team (The Tissbury Tigers). The problem is that Johnny is just an adequate player and there are high expectations that he might not live up to. Luckily Johnny does have a secret skill; he understands the game and is great at motivating people and coming up with winning tactics. Can he help his school team to win the County Cup and what will that mean for his footballing future?
Even for a non-fan like me this was a really great read. Johnny is a fantastic character who is determined to do the best that he can. The book is full of humour and action, with some brilliant interaction between Johnny, his friend, Tabia, and Billy who is the captain of the school team. There is a real sense of family and friendship in the story, especially in the relationship between our hero and his grandad. This is a delightful story that will be perfect not just for football fans but also for those who want a funny and quirky feel – good read for age 8+.
Margaret Pemberton
