Tom says “I hated reading as a child but my Mum encouraged me to read about my favourite football team in my local newspaper and I am now an award-winning football author!”
Find out more about my non-fiction and fictional football books for children by clicking on the covers below, try a chapter at Free Reads, watch videos of me reading here or visit my
Bookshop. Thank you.
Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available personalised to order from independent children’s bookshop “The Book Stop” here.
And here are all of my best-selling football books for you to enjoy!
“Tom Palmer is definitely in the premier league of children’s authors with an impressive back catalogue of soccer stories.” Mumsnet
Non-fiction – Football. Teamwork. History
I am currently researching two more of my Greatest Moments books about premiership teams to write in 2027 – can you guess which two teams I’ll be focusing on?
NEW Real Madrid’s Greatest Moments Featuring the record-breaking 15 Champions League titles, an unmatched run of five consecutive European Cups, Christiano Ronaldo’s astonishing goal-scoring feats and the club’s coronation as FIFA Club of the Century, this book is an endlessly fascinating treasury of unforgettable moments and legendary triumphs for fans of all ages.
More here
NEW England’s Heroes – Discover one hundred of the most memorable moments in England’s football history. From Harry Kane’s Golden Boot to Beckham’s stunning free kick, I have picked ONE HUNDRED of the greatest moments in England’s football history in this exciting Ultimate Football Heroes collection! More here
Football’s Greatest Moments – One hundred of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, and players from across the world in more than 150 years of the Beautiful Game – from the invention of the modern sport all the way to the present day. Featuring Pele’s World Cup, Maradona’s Hand of God, John Barnes’ Maracana magic, and the Lionesses’ European Championship triumph. More here
Liverpool’s Greatest Moments From the founding of the club in 1892 to present day, I’ve picked ONE HUNDRED of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, players and moments from more than 130 years of The Reds. Featuring the 2022 FA Cup win, the 2005 Miracle of Istanbul, Liverpool’s first division title in 1947, the 2006 “Gerrard Final”, and the ongoing Hillsborough Justice Campaign. More here.
Standalone football fiction …
Over the Line – historical fiction
It’s 1914 and Jack is making his debut as a professional footballer. But the match is marred by a demonstration demanding that the players sign up to do their duty in France. It is not long before Jack is bound for the trenches with the Footballers’ Battalion. More here.
Secret FC – a first chapter book
Lily, Maddie and Zach can’t believe it when the new headmaster bans football in the playground. Living in the inner-city, there is nowhere else to play. Then Zack has a brilliant plan and soon a very special secret football club is formed . . . More here.
The Fear – New!
Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story. More here
Ghost Stadium
Lucas, Irfan, and Jack want to mark the beginning of their summer holidays in style! With a camping cover story, the boys sneak into the old abandoned football stadium to spend the night. Are the rumours about it being haunted true? They’re about to find out. More here
Football Academy series
The Puffin Football Academy books are about an under-twelve Premier League side:
More here.
Foul Play series
The Puffin Foul Play series feature a fourteen-year-old boy called Danny Harte who wants to solve football crimes:
Buy the collection here.
Soccer Diaries
The Soccer Diaries is a brand new series starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big in a US soccer school.
Roy of the Rover’s sister Rocky Race is not your average fourteen year old. She’s determined, ambitious and the best football player you’ve ever seen.
Rocky Race is living the dream: she’s won a scholarship to a prestigious high school in Los Angeles, where she gets to play soccer and train for going pro. She’s got an amazing best friend, and a supportive mum and brother back home in the UK. But living away from home isn’t easy, and fitting in with American kids in high school is scary and new. Not to mention she has to keep her grades up if she wants to stay on the pitch! Will Rocky survive high school?
“a brilliant read… the issue of prejudice and racism in football was handled very well and sensitively” Priscilla Mante
Published by: Rebellion Publishing
1 Rocky Takes LA BUY here
2 Rocky’s Big Move BUY here
3 Rocky Goes for Goal BUY here
World Book Day 2025 – Very exciting news!
I have written a new Rocky story which has been selected as one of the books you can choose with your World Book Day 2025 vouchers. In Rocky Takes the Lead – will Rocky be able to take the lead and show both her British and her American friends that they’re all united by football?
More about Rocky here
Roy of the Rovers
Sixteen-year-old Roy Race always dreamed of playing up front for Rovers. Oozing with natural talent and possessing a powerful left foot, Roy may just be the answer to all of Melchester’s prayers.
More about Roy of the Rovers here
Fiction 1 : Scouted available here
Fiction 2 : Teamwork available here
Fiction 3 : Playoffs available here
Fiction 4 : On Tour available here
Fiction 5 : Playoffs read Chapter 1 here
Fiction 6 : Rocky read Chapter 1 here
And there is an exciting new series of middle grade fiction introducing Roy’s sister Rocky.
More about Rocky here
The Squad series
International espionage and football action combine when these teenage spies are sent to the world’s toughest trouble spots, going undercover with the England youth team. The world’s in danger and only The Squad can save us.
Buy the collection here
Wings
Wings is about four children at a football summer camp near an old airfield, who find themselves propelled back in time. If they can learn how to fly the great RAF planes – the Sopwith Camel, Spitfire and Typhoon, history will lead them on a flight path home to the present.
Buy the trilogy here
Kindle exclusive stories
FREE to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers or just 99p.
Football Academy : Teamwork Buy here
Foul Play : The Danger Academy Buy here
Shaking Hands with Michael Rooney
My first book for children was commissioned by Leeds Libraries. I called it originally Shaking Hands with Alan Smith. It was later published by Grassroots as Shaking Hands with Michael Rooney. Can you guess why and how the name changed?
Its out of print now, which is a shame as it has beautiful illustrations by artist James Innerdale. Its worth looking out for, especially as it has a good section on encouraging children to be football readers and writers.
Buy the book here
Football Literacy Resources
Download my free Football Academy quizzes, posters, packs from here.
Download my free Foul Play quizzes, posters, packs from here.
Football Reading Game
Read about my Football Reading Game author visits here.
