Good Reads: Football Books for Parents
Raising a young player in or around a football academy can feel exciting and overwhelming. These recommended reads will help you understand the pathway, support your child, and keep perspective along the way.
Good Reads: Football Academy Books for Parents
Raising a young player in or around a football academy can feel exciting and overwhelming. These recommended reads will help you understand the pathway, support your child, and keep perspective along the way.
The Dream Factory
A look inside the make or break world of football academies.
The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made
Insights into the science of performance and the environmental factors that contribute to elite success.
Football Parent - Navigating your Child's Football Pathway
As a football parent, you want to see your child grow, both on and off the pitch. But navigating the world of youth football can be challenging, especially with the pressures, expectations, and choices that come with it. 90 Minutes as a Football Parent is here to help you every step of the way.
Written by Carl Dixon, a coach with experience at top UK football academies like Chelsea and Tottenham, this book offers practical advice on how to support your child’s football journey. Whether they dream of turning pro or just want to enjoy the game, Carl gives you the tools to help manage expectations, balance pressure, and ensure the focus stays on enjoyment and growth.
No Hunger In Paradise
Michael Calvin explores the high-stakes world of youth football and the pressure on the next generation.
​Shortlisted for the British Sports Book Awards 201
The Next big Thing
The Next Big Thing tells the stories of 15 footballers who were tipped for the top as youngsters yet were unable to fulfil their potential.
Warming the Bench - Chasing a Dream
This is the story of Daniel and thousands of children like him.
Daniel was a special lad, electric and explosive, who chose the hardest path: pursuing his football dream. For years he knew more benches than starting places, more frustrations than glories, more tears than celebrations.
But he kept training. Kept dreaming. Learned not to give up when everything invited him to do so. Because he loved football, even when football didn't love him back.
A true story of effort and overcoming. A story that will
captivate you.
​
Every Boys Dream
Short listed for the Best Football Book in the 2010 British Sport Book Awards The way Britain develops its top football talent is a hot topic of debate.
The Sports Gene
David Epstein investigates the balance between nature and nurture in athletic development.