Personalised book for your child's first football match

What happens in your child's First Football Match

1. Your child puts on their kit and heads to the pitch.
2. Coach explains the whistle, the touchline and taking turns.
3. Your child makes a first careful pass to a teammate.
4. After a muddy tumble, the team helps your child back up.
5. The match ends with cheers for every player, whatever the score.

How the first page could read

On Saturday morning, your child pulled on their team shirt and listened to the rain tap gently at the window. Today was their first football match. At the pitch, boots shuffled, grown-ups waved from the touchline, and a small whistle hung around Coach Sam’s neck. “We will learn as we play,” said Coach Sam.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

This personalised book for a first football match gives your child a friendly way to picture the parts of game day before they arrive: pulling on their kit, meeting teammates, hearing the whistle and having a go at passing. The story keeps the focus on practical moments a new player may notice, including waiting for a turn, getting back up after a tumble and listening to the coach. Rather than making winning the point, it celebrates joining in, encouraging teammates and enjoying a busy morning on the pitch. With your child as the player in every illustration, it makes a lovely read before a first match or after one.

Reading it together

• Read the whistle page together and ask your child what they think the team should do when they hear it.
• Before match day, let your child point out the kit, boots and water bottle in the story, then gather their own.
• After the game, revisit the final spread and talk about one pass, teammate or moment your child enjoyed.

Suggested art style: Animated film

The animated film style gives the passing, running and touchline moments clear, lively movement while keeping young players easy to recognise. A sidekick idea: a patient coach with a whistle and a bag of spare cones. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.