Alan Gibbons trained as a teacher and through working with young people discovered his literary voice. He started writing fiction for his pupils and published his first novel in 1993.Alan has also appeared on the BBC education programme Writer’s Block, the Blue Peter Book Awards, radio 4’s Front Row, and is a regular contributor to TES, Junior Education, Carousel, Books for Keeps and other journals.
"""Barrington Stoke have scored a winner … Perfect for topping up even the most knowledgable football fan's trivia"" – Primary Teacher Bookshelf ""As with all of Alan Gibbon's stories, this feels completely authentic … real-life stories add to the sense of football as an alternative family"" – Andrea Reece, LoveReading4Kids ""This story had such an authentic voice. It really celebrates the boys’ love of football and how being part of a team or a group of supporters can be like having an alternate family"" – Library Girl and Book Boy ""Gibbons handles the issue of domestic violence and abuse with sensitivity and without dodging the issues and shows just how important something like football can be to a child caught up in these adult situations"" – The Letterpress Project"