By Allan Ahlberg (author)
Paperback (b Format) In Stock £7.99 £7.19
View All Editions (1)
Friendly Matches is poetry for children at its best, combining wit and wisdom with occasionally heartbreaking humour tinged with sadness. And the real joy of this fine collection by Allan Ahlberg is that boys will simply love it (no matter if they are 7 or 67).
Read the full description
This neat little book is packed with 29 poems about the ups and downs of football, following the boys who want to play for England, to the kids who don't get picked for the teams in the playground, through to school football matches and games in the park: dreamers galore, waiting to score that all important goal for England.
Remembering Allan Ahlberg: A Beloved Voice in Children’s Literature
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Allan Ahlberg, one of the UK’s most cherished children’s authors.
Allan, often writing alongside his late wife Janet, gifted generations of young readers with stories full of warmth, humour, and heart.
From the timeless Each Peach Pear Plum to the mischievous Burglar Bill and the tender The Jolly Postman , his books have sparked joy and imagination in millions of homes and classrooms.
His legacy is one of kindness, creativity, and an unwavering respect for children’s intelligence and curiosity. He wrote with clarity, poetry, and an irrepressible sense of fun — always putting young readers first.
At LoveReading4Kids, we celebrate the countless memories his stories have created and the lasting impact he’s had on children's reading lives. Thank you, Allan, for all the magic. You will be missed, but your stories will live on in every shared bedtime read, giggle in the classroom, and child who discovers the wonder of books.
Allan Ahlberg (1938-2025)
As a child Allan was born in Croydon, but grew up in Oldbury in the Black Country. He says that if he hadn't grown up to be a writer, he would have loved to have been a soccer player. As an adult Allan always dreamed of being a writer, but tried his hand at many other jobs before he achieved his ambition. He was a postman, grave-digger, plumber's mate and teacher - it was teaching that gave him such sharp insights into the minds of children, and enabled him to write his perfectly observed poetry about primary school life As an artist Allan has collaborated with many illustrators, including Andre Amstutz, Gillian Tyler and Katharine McEwen, as well as his late wife, Janet Ahlberg (nee Hall) and his daughter Jessica Ahlberg. He has won numerous awards for his books including, the Kurt Maschler Award in 1986, The Children's Book Award in 1987, the Blue Peter Book Award 2001, and The Children's Book Award: Books for Young Children award 2002.
the best books for 7-9 year olds
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Friendly Matches and determined it is suitable for children aged 5-8 years old
Friendly Matches features in the following genres: Featured Books for 7+ readers, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 5+ readers
Paperback (b Format). £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Friendly Matches was written by Allan Ahlberg and published by Penguin Books Ltd
Friendly Matches has 86 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.