Every parent of a football-mad child knows the scene. The ball goes everywhere, the kit never comes off, and the bedroom wall is covered in posters. Getting them to sit down with a book can feel like a lost cause.

For younger kids, start with a club annual or a football activity book. For 7 to 10 year olds, Marcus Rashford’s Breakfast Club Adventures and Tom Palmer’s football stories are brilliant. For reluctant readers, 365 Amazing True Football Stories is hard to beat. Read on for the full list.

Here’s the good news: football is one of the best ways to get kids reading. When a book is about the thing they already love, reading stops feeling like homework. At Chapters Bookstore, we see it every week, as young fans who “don’t like reading” head straight for the football shelf. Whether your child is just starting out or devours chapter books between training sessions, we’ve picked the best football books for kids at every age, from fun annuals and puzzle books to gripping football stories and the real-life journeys of their heroes.

Best Football Books for Kids by Age

Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick guide:

  • Ages 5 to 7: First football books, activity books and annuals, all full of pictures with short, snappy text
  • Ages 7 to 10: Funny football stories, player biographies and puzzle books
  • Ages 10 and up: Fact-packed football guides, longer stories and books about the game’s biggest names

Every child reads at their own pace. If you’re looking beyond football, our guide to what your child should read at each age is a good next stop.

What Are the Best Football Books for Young Children?

For ages 5 to 7, the best football books explain the game simply and keep little hands busy.

  • First Football Book by Simon Tudhope (Usborne)
    A friendly first guide to how football works, from the basics of playing to what it’s like to support a team.
    Why it’s good: It answers all those “but why is that offside?” questions in words young children understand.
  • Look Inside Football by Rob Lloyd Jones (Usborne)
    A lift-the-flap book that takes kids behind the scenes of the beautiful game.
    Why it’s good: The flaps turn reading into a game, so it’s perfect for curious kids who can’t sit still.
  • Wipe-Clean Football Activities by Kirsteen Robson (Usborne)
    Football-themed puzzles, mazes and drawing they can do again and again.

Why it’s good: Every page can be wiped clean and started again, so one book gives hours of fresh fun rather than being finished in an afternoon. The football-themed puzzles, mazes and drawing activities build pencil control, problem-solving and early reading skills without feeling like schoolwork. It’s mess-free and easy to slip into a bag, which makes it ideal for restaurants, waiting rooms and long car journeys

Which Football Annuals Are Worth Buying?

If your child supports a club, their official annual is the one they’ll want most. Each is packed with player profiles, a season review, quizzes and posters.

Not tied to one team? The Match Annual 2027 covers the whole football world, and the Match Attax Annual 2027 is a must for card collectors.

Why they’re good: Nobody has to read an annual cover to cover. Kids dip in, check their hero’s stats, try a quiz and come back for more, and before long they’re reading without realising it.

Few presents get a bigger cheer on Christmas morning than the latest club annual. With a new edition every year, it’s the gift football-mad kids look forward to most, and it’s often the first book they reach for on St Stephen’s Day.

What Are the Best Football Stories for 7 to 10 Year Olds?

Funny, fast-paced stories with short chapters are the sweet spot for this age.

  • The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Beast Beyond the Fence by Marcus Rashford
    Written by the England striker with Alex Falase-Koya, this is the first in a series of mystery adventures set around a school breakfast club. Fans can carry on with The Phantom Thief and more.
    Why it’s good: It’s funny and full of illustrations, and it’s written by a footballer kids look up to. That’s a powerful nudge for readers who think books aren’t for them.
  • The Soccer Diaries: Rocky Goes for Goal by Tom Palmer
    Rocky Race is heading for a big championship when nerves suddenly hit. Can she step up and take the winning shot?
    Why it’s good: Tom Palmer is one of the best football writers for children. This series tackles pressure and anxiety in a way young players will recognise.
  • Football Academy: Boys United by Tom Palmer
    The first in Palmer’s classic series about young players chasing their dream at a professional club’s academy.

Why it’s good: It’s packed with real dressing-room drama, from nerves before a big match to rivalries between teammates and the pressure of trying to impress the coaches. Tom Palmer knows exactly what young players worry about, so kids who play football will see themselves on every page. The short chapters and fast-moving plot make it a great first chapter-book series for confident 7 to 10 year olds.

Which Football Books Will a Reluctant Reader Actually Finish?

Short, true stories about real players and real matches work best for kids who struggle to get into books.

  • 365 Amazing True Football Stories by Matt Oldfield
    One true football story for every day of the year: legendary matches, unlikely heroes and how famous clubs began.
    Why it’s good: One page a day feels completely doable, which builds a reading habit without a fight.
  • Football Stories: Rashford by Simon Mugford
    The story of Marcus Rashford’s journey from a Manchester kid to an England star.
    Why it’s good: Kids love reading about their heroes, and Simon Mugford’s Football Superstars books, like Haaland Rules, are bright, funny and full of facts.

Are There Football Books for Girls?

Yes, and plenty of them. Football is for everyone, and the women’s game has some of the best stories around.

  • Lionesses: Defending the Crown (Ultimate Football Heroes) by Emily Stead
    The story of England’s Lionesses and their bid to defend the European crown.
    Why it’s good: It shows young players that the biggest stages in football belong to them too.
  • The FA Official England Women’s Fact File
    Stats, profiles and stories of the players behind the Lionesses’ success.
    Why it’s good: It’s perfect for fact fans who want to know everything about their favourite players.

For something to read alongside these, try Tom Palmer’s Soccer Diaries. The series follows Rocky Race, a determined young footballer who handles big-match nerves and chases her dream of going pro.

Which Football Books Teach Kids Something?

Football School is the series parents and teachers love most, because it uses football to explain maths, science, history and more.

Why it’s good: It’s brain training disguised as football fun. The 101 World Cup-themed puzzles and activities build logic, maths and problem-solving skills, but young fans will just think they’re playing. The puzzles are short, so kids can do one or two at a time or work through a whole match’s worth on a rainy afternoon.

What Are the Best Football Books for Older Kids and Teens?

For 10 and up, fact-packed guides and books about the game’s legends go down best.

DK The Football Book
A fully updated illustrated guide to football’s history, rules, skills, tactics, famous clubs and record-breakers, including the women’s game.
Why it’s good: It’s the football bible: a big, beautiful book they’ll come back to for years.

Ultimate Football 2027 (Scholastic)
Profiles of 90 players and 12 managers from the men’s and women’s game, organised by position, with a section to build your own dream team.
Why it’s good: It’s perfect for settling “who’s the best?” arguments with actual stats.

The Little Book of Irish Football by Barry Flynn
A pocket-sized celebration of Irish football.
Why it’s good: There’s a homegrown angle for young fans who follow the Boys in Green as well as the Premier League.

For the City fan: Pep Guardiola: A Decade of Unprecedented Success is the club’s official book of the Guardiola years, a real keepsake for teens who grew up watching City win.

Which Football Book Makes the Best Gift?

For most kids, a club annual is the safest bet: it’s affordable, personal and guaranteed to be read. For a child who already has the annual, Football School Facts or DK The Football Book will last well beyond the holidays.

Christmas gift idea: Pair an annual with a Football Superstars book about their favourite player for an easy, thoughtful Christmas present. Wrap them together with a new football or club scarf, and you’ve got a gift bundle any young fan will love.

How Can I Get My Football-Mad Child Reading?

Start with what they already love. Then try these simple tips:

  1. Let them choose. A book about their team or hero beats a book they “should” read.
  2. Go short. Annuals, fact books and short-chapter stories feel much more manageable than a long novel.
  3. Read together. Take turns reading a page each, or read a match report together after a big game.
  4. Everything counts. Puzzles, stats, match programmes and annuals are all real reading.

Love books where sport is about something bigger? Read our post on what a sports book really is, then pop into Chapters Bookstore on Parnell Street, Dublin 1. Our booksellers will happily help you find the perfect football book for your young fan, or you can order online with free delivery across Ireland on orders over €9.99.

Frequently Asked Question 

1. What are the best football books for kids?
The best football books for kids include official club annuals, Simon Mugford’s Football Superstars series, Marcus Rashford’s Breakfast Club Adventures and Football School by Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton. They mix fun, facts and real football stories, so kids want to keep reading.

2. What are the best football books for 8 year olds?
Marcus Rashford’s Breakfast Club Adventures, Tom Palmer’s Soccer Diaries and 365 Amazing True Football Stories by Matt Oldfield are great for 8 year olds. They have short chapters, lots of humour and plenty of football to keep young readers turning pages.

3. How do I get my football-mad child to read?
Start with books about the team or players they already love. Annuals, fact books and player stories feel less like schoolwork, and once reading becomes a habit, kids are much more open to trying other stories.

4. Are there football books for girls?
Yes. Lionesses: Defending the Crown, The FA Official England Women’s Fact File and Tom Palmer’s Soccer Diaries, starring young footballer Rocky Race, are brilliant picks for girls who love the game.

5. What is a good football gift for a child?
A club annual is one of the best football gifts for kids. It’s affordable, personal and guaranteed to be read. For a bigger gift, pair it with a Football Superstars book about their favourite player, or choose DK The Football Book for older fans.

6. Can I buy football books as a gift from Chapters Bookstore?
Yes. You can order online with free delivery on orders over €9.99 in Ireland, or choose free Click & Collect from our shop on Parnell Street, Dublin 1. Not sure what they’ll love? A Chapters gift card lets them choose for themselves.