Home : Tom Palmer : Author of Foul Play the first book in his Football Detective series.

Welcome! I hope there’s lots here for readers, parents, teachers & librarians to find out more about me and my books. But if you want to know something particular – click here to email me.

I am the author of three Puffin fiction series for children. My first novel Foul Play was short listed for the 2009 Blue Peter Book Award. My latest book, out May 3rd, Black Op for Puffin is about The Squad : teenage spies trying to protect the England Team at Euro 2012.

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NEW Books

I am currently writing The Squad.

The Squad: Black Op out May 2012. Click here for more.

Foul Play 5 : Own Goal out now. Click here for more

an excellent fast-paced detective novel The Times

Scrum! out now. Click here for more

NEW Resources
"Your Activity Pack is fantastic, so many wonderful ideas!" Sam Heale, Improving Boys' Literacy Library Coordinator, Cardiff Central Library
Click here for my new literacy packs to promote reading and writing using the Olympics & Euro 2012 as well as a selection of packs supporting my books.

Premier League Reading Stars

I am proud to be the official author for the National Literacy Trust's Premier League Reading Stars scheme. I hope your school enjoy the tactics book and classroom read story,The Danger Academy. There is an online quiz based on top footballers reading from their favourite books.

You can see Mark Schwarzer from Fulham FC reading Foul Play here

You can see Charlie Adam from Liverpool FC reading Scrum! here

Click here for more about this fantastic scheme that uses the power of football to promote reading for pleasure.

I have also written a Using Football to get Children Writing resource for Bookspace and contributed to Words for Life's Football Fever resources

NEW Film Click here to watch the Foul Play 5 : Own Goal trailer made by children from Ghyllgrove School, Basildon

Click here for the article by teacher Diane Baker, Filming a Book Trailer to Engage Readers: The Ghyllgrove School Football Writers.

The Mystery of the Stolen FA Cup Medal

Click here for a story to read and listen to with classroom resources, commissioned by the British Council and Reading Agency's 'Chatterbooks' project.

Football Academy (7+) series follows the challenges - on and off the pitch - of the players at an under-twelve Premier League academy.

This is one of the first proper books I have read on my own, sometimes I get a bit bored with some books, but your book is brilliant – the best book I have read ever Finn Tierney

The Foul Play (9+) books are about a fourteen year-old boy who investigates football crimes, like kidnapped players and murdered managers.

Tom's books have been read more than other books that have been in the library for years! It makes me smile when some boys come to the desk with their friends and it is a competition between them about how many of Tom's books they have each read! Carol Dwan, Harrowden Middle School

Click here for more information about The Secret Football Club, a special pocket money treat written to celebrate Puffin's 70th birthday.

Click here for more information about my books for adults.