Home Ground

Sam’s football team is second to last in their league and desperate not to be relegated. They try really hard but have barely won a game all season and Jordan, their captain, isn’t much of a team player, fighting his own team and blaming them for their poor record.

When Sam recruits skilled players Hasan and Faisal to join the team, it looks like their luck might finally change. For Hasan and Faisal, though, who are refugees, football means much more than winning a few games. Being part of the team means community, friendship, and a new sense of belonging. But not everyone’s happy about them being there, especially Jordan, who wants all the glory for himself. How far will he go to get his own way?

Printed in a dyslexia-friendly font, this novella brilliantly shows how sport can bring people together and forge new connections, while short factual sections at the end of each chapter provide valuable context for the refugee storyline.

Perfectly pitched by author Alan Gibbons, it’s a great read both for anyone who likes books football and sports, or anyone looking for a shorter read with real-life concerns.