Scotland Stars FC 1 – Calum’s New Team

Calum's New Team by Danny Scott is a football story for 7 year olds about being the new boy in town with the wrong shoes on.

What happens

Calum Ferguson has moved to Caleytown. New house, new estate, new school on Monday, and a back garden that's far too small to practise in.

He's been commentating on himself scoring the winner for Scotland against England while using the dog as a goalkeeper. His mum has put a stop to that. Poor Leighton the border terrier was never much of a keeper anyway.

There are plenty of kids his age on the estate. Calum just hasn't found the courage to say hello to any of them yet.

Then on his first morning he sprints round a corner and straight into a car door. That's how he meets Leo, who talks a mile a minute, asks about nine questions in a row and turns out to be in his class.

The bother is Jordan McPride. Jordan's dad played for King's Park Athletic. Jordan brings the ball to the pitches at break, so Jordan picks the teams and Jordan makes the rules.

Calum is playing in his stiff new school shoes, because his parents have said no to astros until Christmas. One enormous swing later, the ball has gone over the fence and Calum has a nickname. Clown Shoes.

Then comes the news that Jordan's dad is starting a team for their year, with a trial. Jordan says no proper boots, no place.

So Leo, who is a very good friend to have, proposes a penalty shoot-out. Jordan in his bare feet, Calum in his clown shoes. If Calum wins, he gets the boots.

It's a lovely size of story. The chapters are short, and the football is described the way a football-mad child would describe it, all nutmegs and one-on-ones and a commentary running in Calum's head.

The Scottish voice is a big part of the fun. There's a wee dog, an "Och, go and play in the park instead" from his mum, and a numpty or two.

Mr Aziz at the corner shop is the other good thing. He calls Calum "Scotland's future number nine", puts the football on his big screen and opens a bag of crisps to share.

There's real warmth underneath. His mum redoes his tie seven times and tells him she loves him at the front door, and he goes scarlet and tells her she's making him late.

What to read next

If you've got a reader who cares far more about boots than about books, this is a very easy one to get them started on. Book two, Calum's New Boots, carries straight on with the school team and another match report to argue about.