Stuart signs up for new book scheme
9:01am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in News
Wanderers star Stuart Holden is encouraging youngsters to read as part of a national campaign.
The American midfielder has been announced as the team’s representative for Premier League Reading Stars.
The annual scheme involves a footballer from each Premier League club putting forward their favourite children’s and adult book to inspire primary and secondary pupils who are not reaching the expected levels in literacy for their age.
The players also create films in which they set literacy challenges, explain why they picked their books and talk about the joys of reading.
Mr Holden said: “The Twits by Roald Dahl was my favourite book as a kid because it painted the picture of a family that can be horrible to each other, kind of like the way I treated my brother when we were growing up.
“They think of nasty ways to treat each other, but in reality it’s all love.
It’s a book that anyone can relate to and find funny at any age.”
He said his favourite book now he is an adult is Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist, a choice shared by Manchester City’s Owen Hargreaves.
Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Our research shows that a quarter of boys say that a sportsperson could inspire them to read, so getting footballers on board gives us a new and powerful strategy to get boys reading.”
Since the scheme was launched in 2003, more than 100 footballers have taken part. Previous Wanderers reading stars have included Paul Robinson, Kevin Davies and Jussi Jaaskelainen.
