Off the Bench

Big Cat Read On supports fluent readers to improve their reading skills and nurture a love of reading. Consisting of a wide range of engaging chapter books, the Big Cat Read On series improves reading stamina and comprehension, develops vocabulary, and introduces children to more sophisticated narrative structures and themes.

Hi, I’m Alfie. I’m in the Fulwood Rangers Under-11 football team (well, I’m on the bench mainly – sub number 2, that’s me). We’re playing in the Sheffield Youth Cup football tournament, and do we have a chance of winning? Nope. Our coach is an ex-pro, but all he does is get us to run round the field. We’re never going to lift the cup unless we use some new tactics, on and off the pitch.

Ask the author and Book talk questions invite the reader to think more deeply about the themes in the book and reflect on their reading experience. Online lesson plans provide guidance in using this book in a range of settings, including independent, social and whole-class reading – all designed to support the reader to connect with the book and encourage a positive attitude to reading.

As a father to two football-mad children and a long-suffering Sheffield Wednesday fan, I've always wanted to write a football book. We've all read enough narratives about a star striker getting an injury before a cup final or an underdog triumphing against the odds, so I wanted to go for something different. Based on my experiences on the touchline of my son's games (you won't believe the behaviour of some parents – or maybe you will) and my love of Football Manager, I thought it'd be interesting to focus on a kids' team and a player who, actually, isn't very good. I think it's more laudable to play sports (or engage with anything) that you're not naturally talented at, it's brave for one thing, and this isn't often discussed. The book, therefore, is dedicated to all players, like me, who aren't gifted but give it a go anyway. That's showing real love of the game!