Showing titles in Sports & Recreation

Born into a footballing family, Leah Williamson followed in the footsteps of her mother who cut her hair short so she could play with the boys. Williamson began playing at Scot Youth, a boys' team in Bletchley, quickly becoming their star striker. Williamson went on to join Rushden & Diamonds Centre of Excellence, before joining Arsenal at the age of nine, where she has remained, making her senior team debut in 2014 at the age of 17. Representing England since 2010, Williamson has played at an international level since the age of 13, and was made permanent captain of the Lionesses in 2022.

Mary Earps caught the football bug at an early age, kicking a ball in the back garden with her brother, and training with his team. At the age of ten she joined West Bridgford Colts and an incredible footballing journey began, which would take her from success in Germany, to Manchester United - and on to the biggest stages of all. Discover how the skill, passion and determination of 'Mary Queen of Stops' helped England to victory in the European Championships, and led her to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world.

The story of Marcus Rashford is nothing short of extraordinary - one of the brightest young stars on the Manchester United team, future England goal-scoring legend and shining example of philanthropy off the pitch. From tough beginnings in Manchester, Rashford has proven to be one of the Premier League's shining stars. Harry Kane used all his self-belief to prove that he could make it as a footballer. Now a superstar striker for Tottenham Hotspur and England, his hard work and determination have paid off.

Lionel Messi is a legend - Barcelona's star player and the world's best footballer. But when he was young, he was so small that his friends called him 'Little Leo' and coaches worried he wasn't big enough. Yet through bravery, talent and hard work, he proved them wrong. Messi tells the magical story of how the tiniest boy in South America grew up to become the greatest player on earth.

Cristiano Ronaldo overcame poverty and childhood illness to become one of the best football players ever. Escaping the hot streets of Madeira, Ronaldo first proved himself as a wonder-kid at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, before becoming a legend for Real Madrid and Portugal. This is the story of how the gifted boy became a man, a team player and a legend.

In this biography designed for children, your child will learn all about their football hero in a way that's enjoyable and easy to understand. We dive deep into the player's upbringing with the situations and circumstances that made them the player they are today. The highs, the lows, and everything in between. If your child loves football, we can assure you that they’ll love the My Football Hero Series. From the feedback we’ve received, we recommend that the ideal age group for these books are between eight and 13 years of age.

When Declan Rice was released by Chelsea's youth academy at the age of 14, he was devastated. But he wasn't going to let that get in the way of his Premier League dreams. He worked harder than ever, and by the time he was 20, he was the captain and star of top-flight West Ham. Discover how the two-footed, high-energy, combative midfielder established himself as an irreplaceable member of the England national team and Arsenal's new record signing.

Meet Harry Kane - Ultimate Football Hero. When Harry Kane was released by Arsenal at nine years old for being too small, he had to use all his self-belief to prove that he could make it as a footballer. Now a superstar striker for Tottenham Hotspur and England, his hard work and determination have paid off. Kane is the amazing story of how the boy from North London became the Premier League's most lethal goalscorer.

Norwegian international Erling Haaland is the rising star of Europe. Having already smashed Messi, Ronaldo and Harry Kane's record of quickest player to twenty Champions League goals, 'The Terminator' is proving to be a ruthless, efficient goalscoring machine. At such a young age, the world is his playground. Discover how he's caught the eye of the footballing world and whether he'll pip Mbappe to a Ballon d'Or!

Marcus Rashford is not only an England International footballer – he's also a campaigner who has been on a mission to end child food poverty. Starting on this journey was never something that he could have done alone, and in Heroes Marcus wants to shine a light on ten brilliant people who have inspired him to make a difference. Each person has made a changed Marcus's life in their own way, and now he wants to show YOU how his heroes can inspire you to be your best self, and make a difference to the world around you.

The debut children's audiobook from star player and Golden Boot winner of the groundbreaking Euro 2022 England women's team, Beth Mead. Drawing on her amazing trajectory from playing with the boys' team on the pitches of North Yorkshire to becoming a football champion and role model, Beth will inspire girls and boys everywhere to dream big, work hard and never give up.

As an energetic six-year-old, Beth Mead was taken to a weekly local football session by her mum. Finding a passion for the game, Beth often found herself as the only girl on the team. Despite being laughed at for this, she let her natural talent do the talking. At 16, Mead was signed to Sunderland where she made a name for herself as a top goalscorer. Putting off offers from Arsenal until she completed her university degree, Mead continued juggling work, study and football until she graduated. She then signed to Arsenal and earned a place as a Lioness, representing the England national team.

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior is the boy who carries the hopes of Brazil on his shoulders. Although he now faces a new challenge at Paris Saint-Germain, it was his years playing for Barcelona, in a fearsome attacking trident alongside Messi and Suarez, that made him a legend across the world. This is the heart-warming true story of Neymar's road to glory.

Hailing from a footballing family, Jude Bellingham started his football career as an under-8 at Birmingham City before going on to make history as the club's youngest ever first-team player when he made his senior debut at the age of 16. His natural talent caught the eye of the scouts at Borussia Dortmund. Joining the German team in 2020, Bellingham became the club's youngest ever goalscorer in his first competitive match. Discover how this midfielder from the West Midlands balanced school and a burgeoning football career to hone his skills.

Clare Balding, TV presenter, sportswoman and best-selling author has had some spectacular falls in her life - from not fitting in at school and falling in with the wrong crowd, to last-minute hiccups and mistakes on live TV - so she knows what it takes to embrace your mistakes and move on from them! With personal stories from Clare herself and from the lives of the people she most admires, children will discover how to develop courage in the face of tough situations.

Foden is one of the hottest talents in the world and his rise through the Manchester City first team has been remarkable. He has matured from Man City youth prospect, to the first footballer ever to be named Premier League Young Player of the Season in consecutive years, despite competing for a position in a team of world class players. And this is testament to his silky style of play and natural flair for football.

At 16 years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true - and yet it’s only the beginning for this highly accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn last summer when she was chosen to be a part of the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team. After winning gold in Rio as part of the Final Five, Laurie also earned an individual silver medal for her performance on the balance beam.

Imagine tackling the exciting world of soccer and meeting its greatest players—Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Mbappe, and Haaland, even if you have never followed the sport before! Do you dream of scoring the perfect goal, just like your favorite soccer icon? Perhaps you seek inspiration to fuel your passion for the sport, and to learn how the biggest soccer stars made their mark on the world..

Born and bred Brummie, Jack Grealish became captain of his boyhood club Aston Villa at just 23 years old. In this gripping story, discover how Jack battled through many ups and downs, like suffering relegation, and overcame these obstacles at each turn. Through his dribbling prowess and ability to get back up when knocked down, Jack became not only the most expensive English player ever when he signed for Man City, but England's poster boy at Euro 2020.

Sadio Mané is one of Liverpool FC's 'Fab Four'. Along with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shakiri, Sadio's goals have helped make Liverpool the deadliest attacking team in the Premier League. Since he moved to the Premier League, Sadio has been setting the bar to new heights - from scoring the fastest hat-trick in history to becoming the most expensive African footballer ever. There is no stopping the Fab Four, and the sky is the limit for Sadio Mané.