posted on 28 Jun 2023

Johnny Ball: Professional Football Genius by Matt Oldfield

Have you got a football-mad youngster living in your household? Would you like to find the perfect book for them to read? Well, if the answer to those questions is yes, Johnny Ball: Professional Football Genius is what you’ve been dreaming of.

In this fourth instalment of the Johnny Ball adventures, the self-proclaimed nine-year-old football genius is buzzing from his latest success – coaching the Tissbury Tigers ‘all the way to glory at the Worldies’. And, it seems, he’s not the only one who thinks he’s a genius because the flashy football agent, Darren Dealz wants to make him the next superstar in his agency roster. Much to his excitement, Johnny is offered the chance to become a real professional job as the Tissbury Thundercats ‘assistant manager for their under-12s academy team’.

Johnny is bursting to tell his very best friend, Tabia the great news about his step up to the professional ranks, only to discover that she too has been offered a place as a player in the Thundercats squad. The two friends are overjoyed that they are going to stay linked together and they are both determined to make a success of this first step to glory.

What follows is a bit of a roller-coaster ride as Johnny has to learn what it means to be a team player and how to marry his friendship with Tabia with his new role as her assistant manager. He discovers that any team is better when it works cooperatively and if the team is going to be a success there has to be a plan everyone can sign-up to. Management comes with hard decisions that have to be seen to be fair and sensible. 

On top of that, there are always people looking to exploit talent for their own gain – usually financial. At first, Johnny and Tabia are dazzled by the bling that Darren Dealz seems to bring to their door but when they discover just how duplicitous he can be in order to fill his own pockets, they need to have the strength of character to turn their backs on him – to save their careers and their friendship.

Matt Oldfield is brilliant at evoking the match-by-match excitement of the title chase between the Tissbury Thundercats and the Vex Hill Vipers, the two best teams in the league. And he cranks up the tension when the final game of the season becomes a shoot-out between these two teams for the league championship.

You can read the book for yourself to discover how the match plays out……..

This is a book that deals with ambition, friendship, teamwork and lots of other important issues but it’s also an enjoyable romp of a read that will keep any young reader rivetted. As a bonus there’s also plenty of drawings and other graphics provided by Tim Wesson.

You will be able to get a copy of the book from your local independent bookshop but if they don’t have copies on the shelves they will be able to order it from Walker Books for you.

 

Terry Potter

June 2023