By Allan Ahlberg (author)
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Sixty-six boys, two footballs, two sets of shirts, one madman and a whistle – that’s the basis of the Malt Shovel Rovers. They’re a football team put together to try their luck in the Coronation football competition. A wonderful story about friendship, growing up – and football.
Coronation Year, 1953, and in Oldbury a Coronation football competition is organized. The boys from the bottom pitch get a team up, but there's no chance they'll win, of course. They're just the odds and sods - one of them is even a girl.
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This is a story of football and friendship in a world when the streets were full of kids and empty of cars.
'An exceptional piece of writing . . . comic, poignant and true. Anyone will be enriched by reading it' Sunday Times 'Affectionately downbeat . . . this artfully informal story has something for everyone' Nicholas Tucker, Independent
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.
Coronation Year, 1953, and in Oldbury a Coronation football competition is organized. The boys from the bottom pitch get a team up, but there's no chance they'll win, of course.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Boyhood Of Burglar Bill and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-8 years old
The Boyhood Of Burglar Bill features in the following genres: Recommended Children's eBooks, Recommendations, Featured Books for 7+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Boyhood Of Burglar Bill was written by Allan Ahlberg and published by Penguin Books Ltd
The Boyhood Of Burglar Bill has 180 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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