RTG news

New Quick Reads released - 18/05/06
On 18 May, Quick Reads launches 12 new titles from Andy McNab, Val McDermid, John Francome, Hunter Davies, Mike Phillips, Courttia Newland, Damien Lewis, Tom Holland, Danny Wallace, Lynn Barrett-Lee, Katherine John, Gareth Roberts/ Dr Who.

Find out more about the Quick Read titles.

Reading The Game - The Movie! - 02/05/06
Reading The Game has created a short film in football review programme format. The DVD, available to all state schools in England for free thanks to funding from the PFA and the DfES, is officially launched on 3rd May 2006.

Find out more about 'Reading the Game - the movie'.

Kevin Wilson and David Hibbert visit PWW school English Martyrs

Playing With Words - 01/05/06
Reading The Game has been developing a new programme in partnership with the Football League, Puffin Books and the DfES. The idea is partly based upon the Northampton Town FC programme Cobblers Reading Stars, where boxes of books are delivered into schools and children receive football-based incentives for reading them.

A pilot has just been completed with the Cobblers and Preston North End FC, working with three local schools each.

Stephen Kelly of THFC is a Reading Champion for PLRS

Premier League Reading Stars - 18/03/06
Premier League Reading Stars has relaunched for 2006, with many new Reading Champions, and up to 60 libraries taking part.

World Book Day 2006 - 'The Team' 02/03/06
In celebration of World Book Day 2006 the Premier League has worked with football writer and Reading Champion Mick Dennis on his book 'The Team.' The book details the fascinating lives of 11 people involved in all aspects of football. 'The Team' is one of 12 books that are part of the Quick Reads campaign to mark World Book Day. Find out more about 'The Team.'

RTG News-- 2005

RTG News-- 2003-02

BBC RaW campaign RTG pilot - 24/11/05
The BBC launched its new literacy campaign, RaW (Read and Write), in October, aimed at encouraging adults to make the most of their reading and writing skills.

As part of this campaign, Reading The Game has been working on a pilot project with RaW and Brentford FC, where Bees fans have been collecting their stories about the club. An adult tutor has been on hand to help them to write them up, and a book will be launched at the Club on 10th December.

Find out more about the BBC RaW campaign.

John Terry with 'Cool!'

Premier League Reading Stars - 02/04/05
Premier League Reading Stars has relaunched for 2005, with many new Reading Champions, and 40 libraries taking part.

Andy Booth with some of his favourite reads in the library

Andy receives his Reading Champion certificate

Press Release from Huddersfield Town - 07/01/05
Reading Champion selects his favourite reads
Huddersfield Town striker Andy Booth (read his interview) has already proved himself the ideal ambassador for a local initiative to promote reading.

He caused quite a stir when he visited Huddersfield Library to be presented with his official Reading Champion badge and certificate as part of the Reading The Game scheme to encourage people of all ages to read. As well as signing autographs for fans who happened to be in the library at the same time, he made the day of a group of schoolchildren visiting the library by saying an impromptu hello to them.

Reading the Game is a National Literacy Trust initiative supported by the Football Foundation and involving professional footballers from all divisions. Kirklees Libraries have teamed up with Huddersfield Technical College to promote the scheme locally and they are already convinced that their signing will be a huge success.

"Having seen the initial reaction of people seeing Andy in the library, we have high hopes of the response he will get when he attends special Reading The Game events, particularly among dads n lads," said Judith Robinson, Kirklees Libraries Support Co-ordinator for Basic Skills.

Andy was presented with his Reading Champion badge and certificate by Library Assistant Genieveve Augustine, a town fan. He also took time to browse some of the libraries stock of sports-related books and selected his recommended reads. They will be used as a display in the library.

ENDS
For further information please contact Judith Robinson, Libraries Support Co-ordinator for Basic Skills, tel: 01484 226364, email: judith.robinson@kirklees.gov.uk, or
Isabel Ibeson, Communications Officer, tel: 01484 226330, email: isabel.ibeson@kirklees.gov.uk.

RIF projects - 14/12/04
We now have set up over RIF projects in 35 football clubs - ranging from Arsenal to Barrow AFC! Initial funding has come from the Football Foundation, but clubs have raised lots of capital themselves, as well as other funds being raised by RTG and RIF centrally. Find out which clubs are doing what.

By July 2005, over 6,000 children will have received over 18,000 books through RTG.

Rising Star

Follow the season through graphic novels - 31/08/04
A series of graphic novels following the life and times of new rising star Zack Cassidy. The first book, A Rising Star, comes with a DVD which includes match-commentary from Lawrie McMenemy and Graeme Le Saux.

You can also create, manage and train your own squad online. See 'The Manager' at www.the4aces.com.

Big Match Manager

Football Fantasy

New books where you choose the ending - 31/08/04
Two publishers are releasing books where you get to choose what happens to your team.

Big Match Manager (Bloomsbury) places you as a manager who has to take vital choices to help you win the cup... as well as locate your kidnapped star player. Available now - sample from www.bigmatchmanager.com.

The Football Fantasy series, sees players (a.k.a. readers) actually using books to play against each other. Just like the real thing but without the mud... Find out more at:www.footballfantasygamebooks.com. You can also download how to play a tournament.

Reading Is Fundamental, UK (RIF)

Ten new Reading Is Fundamental, UK (RIF) projects announced - 24/08/04
Since 2002 24 football clubs have distributed nearly 9,000 free books to nearly 3,000 children through Reading The Game.

For 2004 we are pleased to announce that 10 new clubs are coming on board thanks to funding from the Football Foundation. The new clubs are:

Bolton, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Doncaster Rovers, Everton, Northampton Town, Oldham Athletic, Preston North End, Reading and Scunthorpe.

442 groups at Elland Road

Leeds United hold second 4-4-2 literacy day - 19/6/04
Elland Road threw open its doors to specially invited families on June 19 for the second 442 Literacy Activity Day, attracting families to join the literacy push which launched across Leeds in April, last year (read more).

"4Leeds 4Reading 2Together" - or '442' for short - is a family reading project created by Leeds United, Leeds Libraries and the National Literacy Trust and funded by the Barclaycard Free Kicks programme. Since its launch , six 442 Clubs have already been set up at libraries across the city with another four planned for the near future.

"Leeds United player, Lucas Radebe is at the forefront of the 442 campaign and an active supporter of literacy initiatives. Lucas says: "It's great to see how far this project has come and I know from visiting the Chapeltown 442 Club last season how much the families enjoy taking part and how much confidence they gain from each other. The best way to learn is by having fun and learning together makes it a valuable experience for everyone."

A host of talented authors have signed up for the Literacy Activity Day including: Tom Palmer, Craig Bradley, Heather Sharpe, Nick Toczec, Steve Skidmore, Paul Cookson and David Harmer. They were joined by hundreds of Leeds families, including current members of 442 and potential new recruits.

Tottenham Hotspur's Kasey Keller

Premier League Reading Stars launches for 2004 - 2/5/04
A new list of favourite reads from Premier League Reading Stars was announced this weekend to mark the launch of the scheme now running in 39 libraries across the country. Read about PLRS.

Coaches from Reading FC storytelling

Reading Kick into Reading - 3/5/04
Reading FC have just completed their tour of Kick into Reading programme, thanks to funding from the Arts Council, Grants for the Arts. The Royals have been the first team to work with their academy players as well as their Football in the Community coaches. Read more about Kick into Reading.

Brentford FC Literacy Day - 3/5/04
The Bees held their fourth literacy day on April 24th, but this year combined it with a Kick into Reading 'family day'. Children and parents were invited to a special storytelling event in Griffin Park's new learning centre, where they were treated to tales from the club's Football in the Community team and representatives from the London Broncos.

Many thanks to the following publishers: Scholastic, Hodder Children's Books, Oxford University Press, and Watts Publishing Group. Read more about the Bees' reading promotion work.

Free books at Stoke City

Stoke City FC Literacy Day - 3/5/04
Stoke City FC held a literacy day on April 24th for the West Ham game. Thanks to the generosity of publishers we were able to give away literally hundreds of free books to children in the family stand, whilst Stoke Libraries were on hand to give away free bags and to tell everyone about their free facilities.

Many thanks to the following publishers: Icon Books, Walker Books, Random House and Scholastic. The Potters have 16 Reading Champions and also run a RIF project.

Dean Kiely and RIF friends at the RTG celebration

Author of 'Keeper' Mal Peet

Meet a player, an author, and get free books!

Never underestimate the power of football - 11/11/03

Reading The Game celebrates the launch of its second year

In the last year 12 football clubs have distributed nearly 3000 free books to over 900 children through Reading The Game.

The 10 new clubs are:

Arsenal FC, Aston Villa FC, Birmingham City FC, AFC Bournemouth, Charlton Athletic FC, Chesterfield FC, Crystal Palace FC, Hull City FC, Leeds UTD FC and Stoke City FC.

Charlton Athletic was host to the launch of the 2nd year of Reading The Game with author Mal Peet, Charlton's keeper Dean Kiely, and England's Women's Team Keeper Pauline Cope, joining local school children for a reading from Mal's book Keeper, a Q & A session with the players about reading and their favourite books and a book distribution.

Lucas Radebe at Chapeltown 442 library in Leeds

Lucas Radebe visits Leeds Libraries - 15/10/03
"4Leeds 4Reading 2Together" - or '442' for short is a family reading project created by Leeds United, Leeds Libraries and the National Literacy Trust and is funded by the Barclaycard Free Kicks programme.

Leeds United defender, Lucas Radebe, joined author of 'If you're proud to be a Leeds Fan' Tom Palmer for a question and answer session about his love of reading and football with members of the Chapeltown 442 Club and then played a football reading game. Lucas was clearly impressed by the take up and interest of the 442 clubs and commented;

"The best way for families to learn is together and it is so much more fun sharing the experience. I hope that more and more people will visit their local library and get involved with 442, it has certainly started off in a positive way and from speaking with the families here today they are really enjoying themselves and learning new things all the time."

Janice has taken part in the Chapeltown 442 club since it started in June and enjoys bringing her two nephews; Joevan and Tyrell, grandson, Jevae and cousin, Raiken to the club. She commented;

"The activities we do here are decided by us as a group so we are doing what we want to do. Recently we spent time researching the theme of carnivals, looking up things on the internet, which I've never done before, and as a result we made carnival masks for the children."

East London Football Festival
2/3 August 2003
This Saturday and Sunday sees the 'Giving it back' East London football tournament taking place. Tickets can be purchased on the door for this event which is supporting Reading The Game, Kick it Out, Save the Children and the Keep Your Eye on the Ball campaign. The weekend takes place at: Waltham Forest FC, Wadham Lodge, Kitchener Road, Walthamstow and starts at 10am.

Football pros and celebrities including (Sir) Les Ferdinand, Blue and Mis-teeq will join in the fun. The Reading The Game team will be there on Sunday so come and say hello!

Soccer Saturday kicks off the event and the preliminary rounds of an exciting 7-a-side knockout tournament. Each age group comprises of 16 teams to under 7's and under 14's showcasing their skills in the purpose built arenas.

Celebrity Sunday features football pros and celebrities, including members of pop sensations Blue and Mis-teeq, and the legendary Drifters. The day's schedule brings an array of celebrity teams including Sky One's Dream Team, Footballers Wives, Gary Beadle from Eastenders and Hollyoaks to name but a few. Read more about it: Local news

Reading on together - 29/4/03
Leeds United kick off reading scheme to support families and improve literacy skills.

"4Leeds 4Reading 2Together" - or '442' for short is a family reading scheme launched by a partnership of Premiership sponsor Barclaycard, Leeds United, Leeds Libraries and the National Literacy Trust.

Leeds United defender Lucas Radede joined trainees at Wetherby Young Offenders Institution to launch the project, on Tuesday, 29th April 2003. 442 sees Leeds United and Leeds Library Service building on the success of the Leeds United Book Challenge launched two seasons ago which proved a huge success with over 12,500 children and adults taking part.

Read more...

The Premier League Reading Stars - 1/4/03
In partnership with the FA Premier League, RTG has established a scheme where family reading groups based at local libraries can join together with their local Premiership side to enjoy reading activities.

This programme is now beginning in libraries throughout England. A Reading Champion has been identified at each club who has chosen a favourite read. To read more go to Premier League Reading Stars.

Brentford FC - 1/4/03
Brentford held their third 'literacy day' on Saturday 1st March 2003. This year's home game was against Tranmere Rovers. Sadly not a home win for the Bees, the day did provide lots of free books for children who came to the day, and there was information available for interested parents about their local libraries and education services. More...

Kick into Reading - March 2003
Working with established children's storyteller Pat Ryan, RTG is establishing a project where football club members (first team players, academy players, Football in the Community officers, in fact anyone who works at the club) are trained in the art of storytelling.

Sessions will be held in libraries local to clubs, where schoolchildren will experience stories and meet positive male role-models.

The three teams who will be developing the project are Brentford FC, Charlton Athletic and QPR, and is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. To find out more click KiR.

This project is based upon an original idea piloted by Oxfordshire libraries and Oxford United FC.