Tom Palmer

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  • Bibliography:
    49 Books (1 Series)
  • First Book:
    April 1990
  • Latest Book:
    October 2024
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Full Series List in Order

Football Academy

1 - Boys United (Apr-2009)
2 - Striking Out (Apr-2009)
3 - The Real Thing (Jul-2009)
4 - Reading the Game (Jul-2009)
5 - Free Kick (Sep-2009)
6 - Captain Fantastic (Jan-2010)

Book List in Order: 49 titles

  • Dream Science

    Rocker Poole, a Connecticut businessman, finds himself confined for months in a small windowless office he's never seen before, and becomes convinced that he is either mad or trapped in an alternate universe...

  • Boys United

    Football Academy - 1

    Jake loves football and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. He's worried about his height though - what if he's too small for football? But on the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores - he's made it! Jake can't wait to pull...

  • Striking Out

    Football Academy - 2

    Yunis can't believe that he's United leading scorer. It should be the happiest time of his life, but his father wants him to give up football and work hard at school. Can Yunis convince his dad that he can do both, or will he have to hang up his boot...

  • Reading the Game

    Football Academy - 4

    Ben is at his happiest playing for United and is getting top marks from the coach. But every day at school is a trial for Ben, as he struggles to hide a huge secret from his teachers and classmates.Ben's secret is starting to affect his game - can he...

  • The Real Thing

    Football Academy - 3

    United's under-twelves are in Poland for a tournament. Goal-keeper Tomasz is very excited to be playing in his home country, but team captain Ryan thinks Poland are rubbish - in fact, he thinks everything Polish is rubbish. Ryan's behaviour causes tr...

  • Free Kick

    Football Academy - 5

    The fifth book in the fast-paced Football Academy series.James has been a junior player at United for a long time. Everyone expects him to follow in his dad's footsteps and play for England one day. But James isn't so sure. He has something he wants ...

  • Captain Fantastic

    Football Academy - 6

    It is an exciting football series, following the adventures of United's under-twelves side. Since Ryan Flynn got into trouble for bullying, he's been determined to pull his socks up and be the best captain United's ever had. So when team-mate Craig c...

  • Foul Play

    When Danny Harte finds out there's been an anonymous foreign buy-out of his favourite club, City, he's furious - the fans were about to buy it themselves. The club is being secretive and Danny is determined to find out what's going on - until he's ca...

  • The Secret Football Club

    James, Lily and friends have had some bad news - football is now banned at their school. But they all love football! So if they're not allowed to kick a ball the playground, they'll have to find another way to play - in secret . . ....



  • Dead Ball

    Russian billionaire Dmitri Tupolev and a mystery Englishman agree to fix an important match in Russia's favour by intimidating the England goalie, Alex Finn. But Alex goes against their wishes. His punishment: an 'accidental' car crash and he's out o...

  • Football Detective Foul Play

    Foul Play: the second book in this crime fighting series by Tom Palmer Danny is obsessed with two things: football - especially City Football Club - and investigating crimes. So when England and City footballing hero Sam Roberts is reported missing t...

  • Killer Pass

  • Foul Play Own Goal

    Meet Danny Harte. Football fan and crime detective. Danny loves supporting his local team, City FC. So when everyone starts supporting the Italian team Forza FC, Danny is angry. His club is in jeopardy and needs their support. Danny decides to invest...

  • Scrum!

  • The Squad Black Op

    The Squad - kickass teenage spies with the perfect cover. They are also part of an England youth football team. Wherever trouble is kicking off, the Squad are sent in. They're more than a match for any kind of enemy. In the first book in this excitin...

  • Real Cricket

    As he spends his days playing makeshift cricket, Adnan dreams of playing the game professionally for a team. When one of Adnan's games ends with a damaged car, he fears his chances of practising will be over - his future all depends on what the owner...

  • Ghost Stadium

    A thrilling ghost story from the author of the popular Football Academy series. Three boys decide to spend the night in an abandoned football stadium, but they're in for a shock as buried secrets come back to haunt them. Particularly suitable for str...

  • First Football Game

    Join Sam as she goes to her first ever football game. This exciting narrative by Tom Palmer follows Sam’s day from beginning to end, describing her journey to the stadium, the football songs she hears and the goals!

    •Collins Big Cat Phon...

  • Combat Zone

    First instalment in an explosive rugby trilogy. Woody is the new boy at Borderlands, a boarding school for children whose parents are in the armed forces, but he is already desperate to leave and get back to his dad. Can rugby help him get through? P...



  • Surface to Air

    Second instalment of Tom Palmer's rugby trilogy set against the backdrop of war. The Borderlands team are in the European Rugby Championship. The trophy is almost in their grasp but their parents are still overseas, serving in the growing conflict. C...

  • Deadlocked

    Final title in a rugby trilogy. The Borderlands team has made it to the World Championships in New Zealand, but the strain of divisions within the squad and worry for their parents fighting abroad have the boys well and truly rattled. Can they pull i...

  • Flyboy

    Jatinder seems to be living his dream - he's training for his team's youth squad, and his host parents Steve and Esther are really great. But something's holding Jatinder back from being a really great footballer - himself. Steve reckons it's OK to t...

  • Over the Line

    A stunning new edition of Tom Palmer’s bestselling novel based on the true story of WWI war hero and footballing legend Jack Cock.It's the proudest moment of Jack's life â€" his debut as a professional footballer. Now he has a chance to achiev...

  • Spitfire

    Greg is only happy when he's active - on the pitch or on his phone, it doesn't matter. But as soon as training's over or his host parent Steve takes the phone away, he's on edge. Steve suggests that Greg do something quiet with him, like making one o...

  • Typhoon

  • Secret FC

    A fun football story from one of the UK''s top writers of sports fiction for children, in an appealing chunky new edition jam-packed with fun extras!Lily, Zack and Khal can''t believe it when the new headmaster at their school bans football in the p...

  • Killing Ground

    Breathtaking first book in an new trilogy of spine-tingling historical adventures with a football twist from the top selling Tom Palmer.Everyone is freaked out when circles of scorched earth start appearing in Halifax â€" on the moors, the parks...

  • Dark Arena

    Action-packed follow-up to Killing Ground, this is an enthralling trilogy of spine-tingling spooky adventures with a sporty twist, from a master of footie fiction for kids.It's meant to be a stress-free holiday in London, but suddenly Seth and N...

  • Pitch Invasion

    Action-packed finale to an enthralling trilogy of spine-tingling spooky adventures with a sporty twist, from a master of footie fiction for kids.A tense Seth is waiting to hear if his mum's got the 'all-clear'. But instead of relaxing in Cornwal...



  • Gus the Famous Football Cat

    A funny and heartwarming story about a girl and her pet cat, who becomes a World Cup celebrity! 

    There's a football challenge at Yusra's school and everyone wants to win. Which class can find the best way to predict England's World Cup r...

  • Armistice Runner

    Tom Palmer celebrates the unsung athletic heroes of the Armistice in a powerful tale of the fell-running messengers on the front-line of war, publishing for the centenary anniversary of the end of WWI.Lily has lots of worries. She's struggl...

  • Scouted

    Roy Race is a totally normal 16-year-old. He just happens to be the best striker in Melchester, too... Roy’s always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and playing for Melchester Rovers, the team he’s supported his entire life, but he n...

  • Teamwork

    Roy Race is living the dream. After all, how many 16-year-olds get to play up front for their favourite football team? Except life as Melchester Rovers’ new star striker isn’t easy. Everyone’s looking at him differently, social media is a night...

  • Play-offs

    The end of the season is here, and it’s make or break for Roy Race and Melchester Rovers. Against all the odds, Roy and his teammates are close to getting Rovers promoted. However, if they fail to reach League One, then Rovers’ owner Barry Cleave...

  • D-Day Dog

    Master storyteller Tom Palmer returns with a touching celebration of the heroic paratroopers of WWII and their parachuting canine companions.Jack can't wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches. It's his chance to learn more about the war...

  • Rugby Academy

    Celebrate the buzz of the Rugby World cup with this action-packed, globe-trotting rugby adventure from top-selling author Tom Palmer.Borderlands School''s First XV have their sights set on becoming the best school rugby team in the world. But while t...

  • On Tour

    Roy Race is living the dream. After a whirlwind season that saw him become centre-forward for his beloved Melchester Rovers, he’s now recognised as one of the best young footballers in the country. But something is wrong. When Rovers go on a presea...

  • From the Ashes

    ROVERS ON THE ROPES! Roy Race has the world at his feet. He’s playing Premier League football, earning plenty of money, has a great girlfriend, and things are even looking up at home. The only problem is, he’s not playing for Melchester Rovers. A...

  • After the War

    Master storyteller Tom Palmer returns with a deeply moving and beautifully told novel of friendship and belonging, inspired by the incredible true story of the Windermere Boys."The best children’s fiction book I’ve yet read about the Holocau...



  • Rocky

    Rocky takes over!  A struggling student and brilliant footballer, Rocky Race is many things, but to most people she's just Roy Race's little sister. It's not much fun â€" especially as Melchester Rovers head to the League Cup Final. Rocky's sick...

  • Arctic Star

    Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer returns with a thrilling naval adventure inspired by the incredible history of the Second World War Arctic convoys.Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer returns with a thrilling naval adventure inspired by the in...

  • Sudden Death

  • Resist

    Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on life under wartime occupation, in a beautifully told story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for...

  • Rocky Takes L.A.

    Rocky proves that girls can be tough. She is a brilliant role model for girls and boys alike. - Kate Heap, A Scope for Imagination. Fourteen, and magic on the pitch, Rocky Race is one of the best up and coming young footballers in the UK. But does s...

  • The Soccer Diaries Book 1

  • Angel of Grasmere

    Tarn grapples with the loss of her brother at Dunkirk as she faces the threat of Nazi invasion in the Cumbrian countryside in this gripping wartime tale from Tom Palmer.July 1940 â€" as Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved bro...

  • Rocky's Big Move

    Rocky Race is going for goal - but what about her grades? Rocky Race is living the dream: she's won a scholarship to a prestigious high school in Los Angeles, where she gets to play soccer and train for going pro. She's got an amazing best friend, a...

  • Soccer Diaries Book 3

    Rocky proves that girls can be tough. She is a brilliant role model for girls and boys alike. - Kate Heap, A Scope for Imagination. Fourteen, hard as nails and magic on the pitch, Rocky Race is one of the best up and coming young footballers in the U...

  • The Underdogs Pitch Perfect



Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Tom Palmer has published 49 books.

Tom Palmer does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, The Underdogs Pitch Perfect, was published in October 2024.

The first book by Tom Palmer, Dream Science, was published in April 1990.

Yes. Tom Palmer has 1 series.
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