Football Legends: Mary Fowler

Football Legends: Mary Fowler by Kit Cross and Leigh Hedstrom (Albert Street Books, Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN: 9781761181344

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Do you want to become a trivia whizz when it comes to Australian sports legends? The ‘Legends of Sports’ series is just what you need – and Football Legends: Mary Fowler is perfect for all that essential soccer knowledge about the game and about one of the youngest players to ever join the Matildas.

For example, can you answer these questions about Mary Fowler?

·       Who is Mary Fowler’s role model? (Hint: she’s known as the greatest female footballer of all time.)

·       How old was Mary when she started her professional football career – and which club did she sign with?

·       Which Olympics was Mary selected for?

·       Why does Mary wear black gloves when she’s playing?

·       Which country wanted Mary in their soccer team before she went with the Matilda’s instead?

No? What about these ‘soccer buff’ questions?

·       What is the most popular sport in the world? (I’ve given you an easy one here.)

·       How long ago were the earliest versions of soccer played – and where?

·       In soccer, what is the difference between a ‘pitch’ and a ‘playing field’?

·       What causes a player to get ‘red carded’ and what happens when they do?

·       What does FIFA stand for?

If you can’t answer all the questions – or even if you know most of the answers – you’ll need to check out Football Legends: Mary Fowler for the answers and plenty more.

Once again, author Kit Cross has gone above and beyond with their research, sharing information that will really resonate with a young audience, with Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations and layout drawing attention to all the fun facts, stories and stats.

Full disclosure: I am not a soccer (football) fan, although my son and daughter both played for a while. However, even I was drawn in and wowed by much of the information. So, if you or your child are football fans – whether you play or spectate – you’ll love Football Legends: Mary Fowler.

Designed for independent readers aged 6–10 years, this series is sure to become a favourite with readers and sports fanatics of all ages.