Media centre
Premier League stars Rooney and Carragher are reading role models
3 Apr 2009
4 April 2009
New study by National Literacy Trust reveals that sports people are powerful role models for reading as Premier League players release recommended book list
A new study on young people and reading, launched today by independent charity, the National Literacy Trust, reveals the power of sports people as reading role models.
The study suggests that the most powerful public figures to inspire young people to read are not film stars, musicians or even authors, but sports people. Footballers Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher are among 20 players pledging to use this influence for good through Premier League Reading Stars (PLRS), an initiative that uses footballers' reading habits to inspire a love of reading.
PLRS taps into the power of sports role models by getting footballers to talk about reading, recommend books and work with schools and libraries. Big name internationals Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher are new in 2009, while England keepers Robert Green, Paul Robinson and David James are also taking part. Reading Stars players have recommended a variety of children and adults' titles for the 2009 season. The choices are eclectic and personal, ranging from the fun and accessible to the aspirational and unexpected. They include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Wayne Rooney, Manchester United), Michael Morpurgo's War Horse (Jamie Carragher, Liverpool), Muhammad Ali’s autobiography The Soul of a Butterfly (Bacary Sagna, Arsenal) and Lord of the Flies (Boaz Myhill, Hull City). In 2009, 11 out of the 20 Reading Stars are goalkeepers.
The study, which questioned 2,176 primary and secondary schoolchildren, examined how role models can influence young people's reading habits. Key findings support the positive influence that footballers will have through PLRS:
• Other than family members, sports people are the most likely role models for young people
• Sports people are the most likely public figures to inspire reading. Family and friends are the most important people from the immediate social environment who can inspire reading
• Boys are twice as likely as girls to say sports people can inspire them to read
• Young people from poorer backgrounds are twice as likely to say that their role model is a sportsperson
• Young people say role models can inspire reading by providing reading recommendations (54%) or explaining why reading is important (49%)
The study also asked young people about the relationship between reading and future success, and found 24% were unsure or did not see a link. Most young people felt that being successful means being happy, having a good education and having a good job. Reassuringly, only 25% said that being successful means having lots of clothes, being famous, having a flash car or being good at sports.
Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, said:
“Football is such a huge cultural influence in this country, and this study confirms that many young people aspire to be like footballers. Premier League Reading Stars help us to harness this power and change attitudes, getting the message across that reading is important and valuable to the lives of footballers and to success.
“Almost a quarter of young people in our study were unsure about or did not see the relationship between reading and future success. This suggests there is more to be done to help young people appreciate the role that reading plays in key aspects of success, such as a good education and good job.
“The influence of footballers was particularly strong for young people who do not enjoy reading and those in areas of disadvantage. These are groups that can be very difficult to reach. However, Premier League Reading Stars gives us an invaluable opportunity to use footballers to engage them.
“To engage people with reading, as with many things, it’s best to start with what you love. For so many, that means starting with football.”
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney chose Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first in the Potter series. He said:
“Harry Potter is almost every child's favourite book and the same goes for a lot of adults too! JK Rowling is a fantastic author and I would encourage any child to read the Harry Potter books; they are full of excitement and adventure and they really get your imagination going.”
West Ham United goalkeeper Rob Green is his club's Reading Star and has chosen the epic Trojan war story, The Iliad. He said:
“Reading is such a big part of all our lives, everyone should try to make a bit of time each day to read more. You should never be scared of a book either. Reading classics like The Iliad might seem daunting, but if you take your time, they really are interesting to read and you gain such a lot from trying them.”
Sir Dave Richards, Chairman of the Premier League and the Football Foundation, said:
“With Premier League Reading Stars, we hope to be able to use footballers' favourite book choices as a way of inspiring families to read together. It gives players the opportunity to act as positive role models and shows that by using the power of football we can successfully change people's attitudes to reading.”
Premier League Reading Stars launches its seventh season today and is run in partnership by the National Literacy Trust, the Premier League and the Football Foundation.
Ends
The full list of PLRS players’ choices for 2009 can be found in the notes below and at www.premierleaguereadingstars.org.uk
Premier League player images and quotes are available to download at www.premierleaguereadingstars.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. National Literacy Trust study on role models
Reaching out with role models: Role models and young people’s reading, Clark, Osborne and Dugdale, April 2009. The study questioned 2,176 pupils at primary and secondary schools. Download the full report
The research was supported by Slaughter and May
2. The PLRS scheme has been developed as part of a partnership between the National Literacy Trust, Football Foundation and the Premier League, and will be supported by a series of family reading groups at libraries across the country. Funding is provided by the Premier League, Football Foundation and Arts Council England.
Results from last year’s project indicate that Premier League Reading Stars is working, with 95% of children who took part saying that they will read more regularly as a result and 87% of parents said they would go to a library more often.
3. Any school, library, youth club or football team can get involved with Premier League Reading Stars by taking part in the PLRS Challenge, which challenges groups to read 100 books as a team in order to win Premier League prizes. Free posters can be requested free of charge at www.premierleaguereadingstars.org.uk
About the Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. Funded by the Premier League, the FA and the Government, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity, having already funded more than 5,000 projects worth over £600 million. www.footballfoundation.org.uk
About the National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy. It links home, school and the wider community to inspire learners and create opportunities for everyone. The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, no. 1116260, and a company limited by guarantee, no. 5836486, Registered office: 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL
www.literacytrust.org.uk
The National Literacy Trust sport and literacy initiative, Reading The Game, works with professional football to promote literacy and uses the motivational power of football to encourage reading for all ages. It is largely funded by the Football Foundation and works in partnership with the Premier League, the PFA, the FA, the Football League, Football in the Community, and the DCSF initiative Playing for Success. www.readingthegame.org.uk
Premier League
The Premier League is involved in a wide range of community activities, investing over £120 million a season down through the game. For more on the 'Creating Chances' programme, or to read about some of the projects that the clubs deliver, visit: www.premierleague.com/creatingchances
