Tom Palmer getting kids reading...

I was deep in to Chelsea and Fulham FC territory yesterday for a visit to Fulham Library as part of the Premier League Reading Stars Scheme. The PLRS Scheme is run by the sports’ charity Football Foundation (www.footballfoundation.org.uk) and is in its 8th year of encouraging children to read using the dual powers of sport and libraries.  Included in the package is that the children involved get to meet an author.  Tom Palmer is the main man who does this - and does it brilliantly through his Reading the Game project but sometimes I get to be The One.  Go me!

The librarian in charge at Fulham, the uniquely-named Zedh Foley, gallantly met me at Parsons Green tube station to escort me to the venue. I wished he’d been at South Kensington tube station before that to ensure I caught the right tube to Parsons Green in the first place. it would have saved me heading for Ealing and diving off at Earl’s Court to retrace my steps!  It’s ironic not being able to read a map for the underground when you’re on your way to give a talk on the importance of reading but hey…. nobody’s perfect.

The group I met - nine boys, one girl with assorted family members - were delightful. Keen and interested but reluctant readers, these are just the sort of children the scheme is targeting. This year they are being mentored by Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira whose favourite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  I don’t know if they get to meet him in person but I’m sure Mr Abramovic will have some amazing package up his sleeve. A trip on his yacht for the kids who read most books maybe??

Anyway, hello to everyone I met yesterday. You were great!

The reason Tom couldn’t take the Chelsea session was because he’s in the middle of a sponsored bike ride to raise money to buy books for a children’s library in Ghana. One of Tom’s Foul Detective titles, Off Side, is set there and he wants to help. So far on his bike ride he’s had his hotel door kicked in and been bitten by a rottweiler. Well, if you will cycle through Harrogate, Tom…  You can check out his progress on his blog. Go to www.tompalmer.co.uk

He ends his ride at the London Fairtrade Festival this weekend. Go along and say hello if you live nearby.

lining up for the FA Cup...

Many congratulations to the Everton Ladies team who beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final 3-2 yesterday in extra time. I’m blogging it because you won’t find much reference to it in the sports pages, as per usual. Everton’s win was a huge upset as Arsenal have been the winners so often. I reckon its a good thing for the game - when one m or a handful of teams dominate leagues, it can become tedious for them as well as everyone else.

 I watched the match on TV (Sky channel) and it was exciting stuff; the football was much more free-flowing and skilful this year because the two teams were so evenly matched. Everton striker Natasha Dowie, niece to Iain Dowie the Hull City manager, won the Player of the Match award. She absolutely deserved it. Can’t wait to watch her playing for England in the 2011 World Cup.

Attendance was down on previous years at the City Ground (Nottingham Forest). 17, 500 compared to 25,000. I wonder why? 

Right, off to London today to meet the Premier League Reading Stars at Fulham Road Library. FulhamFC territory - now there’s another team confounding expectation.

Group participation is what it’s all about…

A school visit with a difference yesterday. I spent the afternoon at Topcliffe Primary in Birmingham as part of the Premier League Reading Stars scheme. This is a joint venture between libraries and Premier League football clubs to engage children in reading. Selected families get to meet an author, meet a player, have a guided tour of the stadium as well as participate in lots of exciting stuff with their designated librarian. The thinking behind it is that the way to a reluctant reader’s heart is through their football club.

Judging by the enthusiasm shown yesterday, the group at Topcliffe were well on their way to becoming switched on to books.  Having keen leaders from Birmingham Library Services like Debbie and Mandy has got to help. They were fab.