Football – it’s always about so much more than just what happens on the pitch, exciting and, if you’re lucky, beautiful as that can be, and the best stories about football recognise that. Joe O’Brien’s book stars Charlie, a gifted young footballer who is offered a trial at Manchester United, but its field of dreams is somewhere very unlike Old Trafford: it’s a derelict tarmac pitch that used to stage hotly contested local games and where Charlie’s grandad scored a legendary hat-trick. The game that Charlie and his team play there is as exciting and skilful as anything the Premier League has to offer, and the drama is more intense because we know just what it means to players and spectators. An exciting story, full of terrific football action and a lot more too.
Readers will also enjoy Kieran Crowley’s The Mighty Dynamo, which has a similarly interesting back story to the football action, and Tom Palmer’s Football Academy series. ~ Andrea Reece
When Charlie's family moved from Dublin to Manchester it was hard, but at least he was close to his favourite team. Manchester United. Now twelve, Charlie's been in top form all season for the Salford Devils and a scout from Manchester United has been keeping a close eye on him! With his beloved grandfather coming to visit, everything is looking great ...But then tragedy strikes and Charlie's life turns upside down. A hurried move back to Dublin, his family dealing with a deep loss - and his football career stalled. Then Charlie discovers that his grandfather was a great soccer player. He hears about The Legends' Lair and he soon sets his sights on organising one more tournament on the legendary football ground. But what old rivalries and buried tensions will he open? It's all to play for in LEGENDS' LAIR...
Joe O'Brien lives in Ballyfermot in Dublin with his wife and children. He is the author of nine Alfie Green books as well as three books in the Danny Wilde GAA series for older readers and one fantasy novel, Beyond the Cherry Tree. He has appeared on RTE's The Den, TV3's Ireland AM and many radio shows. His book Alfie Green and the Chocolate Cosmos was shortlisted for Children's Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in 2010. He regularly holds readings in bookshops and libraries around the country. His website is at www.joeobrienauthor.com.
