Penguin Random House Australia (Puffin) has acquired an eight-book publishing program with Football Australia to promote football and Australia’s senior national teams, the Socceroos and CommBank Matildas, ahead of a huge 12 months for football in Australia.
The eight-book publishing program for young readers, featuring CommBank Matildas and Socceroos players, includes junior fiction, non-fiction, hardbacks and a picture book, with something for engage and entertain every junior football fan.
“We are delighted that Puffin is the publishing house for football in Australia. The sense of passion and excitement that surrounds the CommBank Matildas and Socceroos, as well as grassroots football in Australia, is incredible. It is these emotions that have inspired our extensive publishing program,” explained Holly Toohey, Head of Brands, Partnerships and Director of Audio, Penguin Random House Australia.
“We are absolutely delighted that Penguin Random House has joined the Football Australia family. The CommBank Matildas and Socceroos have an incredibly exciting time ahead, especially with two FIFA World Cups approaching. Football is Australia’s largest and fastest growing team sport and by working with Penguin Random House we will be able to reach a diverse audience that will help us inspire young children across the country to involve in our great game and support our beloved senior national teams,’ commented James Johnson, chief executive of Football Australia.
The CommBank Matildas were crowned Australia’s favorite sports team in 2019 and their popularity skyrocketed during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when they became Australia’s most-watched women’s sports team in history. television, with a record 1,468,747 viewers tuning in across the country to watch them take on Sweden. Meanwhile, on June 15 this year, the Socceroos qualified for a fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup after a spectacular penalty shootout against Peru, with media around the world and nation celebrating the success of the team.
The first book in a four-book series of junior fiction in partnership with the Matildas and Socceroos is set to be released on August 30, with the second book scheduled for December 29. Written by author and journalist Kristin Darell, the series will follow the ups and downs of a talented junior team.
The books will feature current members of the Australian team, including Ellie Carpenter, Mary Fowler and Joel King as well as respective national team captains Sam Kerr and Mathew Ryan.
Kristin Darell has been a writer and journalist for over 20 years. She has worked at the Seven Network, the Australian News Channel and the ABC as a news and current affairs reporter and producer.
Football Fever 1: Kick Off is available for pre-order here.
