Keeper

A talented new goalie faces problems at home in this thought-provoking football story, accompanied by fascinating facts about famous goalies and the history of goalkeeping.

New boy Shane Logan has a temper, but he’s also a talented goalie. When Peter and his friends invite Shane to join their football team, he delivers a star performance in the first match.

But Shane’s not the only one who makes an impression. Hanging over him like a shadow is his dad, Mick, who yells orders and insults from the sidelines. What is Mick’s problem? And why does Shane seem afraid of him? The more Peter gets to know Shane, the more he worries that something is wrong – and that Shane’s not as tough as he seems.

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Reviews

"Barrington Stoke have scored a winner … Perfect for topping up even the most knowledgable football fan's trivia" – Primary Teacher Bookshelf

"As with all of Alan Gibbon's stories, this feels completely authentic … real-life stories add to the sense of football as an alternative family" – Andrea Reece, LoveReading4Kids

"This story had such an authentic voice. It really celebrates the boys’ love of football and how being part of a team or a group of supporters can be like having an alternate family" – Library Girl and Book Boy

"Gibbons handles the issue of domestic violence and abuse with sensitivity and without dodging the issues and shows just how important something like football can be to a child caught up in these adult situations" – The Letterpress Project

About the author

A former primary school teacher, Alan Gibbons has sold over 1.3 million books and won many prestigious awards including the Blue Peter Award for ‘The Book I Couldn’t Put Down’. Alan is a high-profile library campaigner and education consultant and is a very popular speaker at schools, libraries, colleges and conferences – he visits over 150 schools a year.