Frank Lampard Q&A

millievanillie

Ooh I would love to win one!

I would like to ask Frank what inspired him to start writing books

I was inspired by reading to my daughters and watching their reactions to adventure stories. I felt like a football-based adventure series would be a good idea and really wanted to try something outside of playing football.

hatty64

I bought the first 3 for my GS and he loved them. Have you been surprised by how successful the books have been given the huge number of children's books on the market you had to compete with?

I was delighted when one person bought my book, let alone seeing them doing so well over their first year. I think there are lots of great books for children out there, but hope that my series brings something different in its own way that young readers can enjoy.

Tegan

I hadn't heard of these books. My grandson is still struggling with having finished the last Harry Potter book [must point out he hasn't read them himself but he's had a great time having his mum read all of them to him at bedtime]. He's just getting interested in football so I'll definately look at these books for him. When you think about it it's obvious to write books that combine football with magic [just wish I'd thought of it first ]. Not having read the books the answer may be in them but I wonder if/how he includes girl players into the stories and, if he hasn't already is there a plan to do so?

It was very important for me to have a girl (Louise) in Frankie's team. Women's football has become hugely popular in recent years and it was important to have a girl that young girls who read my books can relate to. The books are not just for football-loving boys. I hope they can be enjoyed by boys and girls whether they are football fans or not.

penguinpaperback

I shall look out for these books. Grandson loves reading and has read all the younger Dahl, Mr Majeika series. He goes to football practice, loves stories about football and any 'magic' and baddies, these sound perfect.
Were you a young bookworm Frank? Great to hear you are meeting young readers. I'm always telling my grandchildren reading is 'cool' and now I can let them know you're an author this will help me back this up.

I did read regularly as a kid, as well as kicking a football around in between! I think it’s very important in the modern day for children to read regularly; that is why I've enjoyed interacting with them and trying to encourage this. I've had great experiences in visiting schools and helping with reading initiatives.

Riverwalk

Frank what do your daughters think of the books ... and dare I ask if they like football?

My daughters like the books. They are the first children to read them and give me great feedback that can often be a help in the writing process! They are not crazy on football but are beginning to become bigger fans as they grow older.

Gally

I am about to confess. I have never attended a football match - ever. It's on my list of things to do before I die - better get a wiggle on then .
My eldest gs would love your book - he's a great reader and loves his footie albeit Ozzie Rules.
What gives you more pleasure now, scoring on the field or your work with the Reading Agency and seeing the pleasure being able to read brings to your young fans? Silly question?

Scoring a goal and winning football matches has always been my first love but I am getting another type of pleasure out of writing and being involved with encouraging kids to read. It’s been an amazing experience and as I get towards the latter part of my football career, it’s something I want to do a lot more of in the future.

CJ

Hi Frank
Where do you stand on the subject of the teaching of English grammar in schools -or rather the lack of it- these days? It seems to me that young people today do not know what a verb or an adjective is, so how can they write coherently!

I hope you are going to Brasil. The team needs players with experience.

Always been a big fan of yours and loved your autobiography.

CJ

I feel very strongly about children learning a strong base of English grammar at school. I think there is certainly room for improvement on this. The core subjects of English and Maths are of great importance to me and should be strongly focused on. (Thanks for your kind words!)

Buckle

Did you start to write for your own children ? Or is it something you always would have dabbled in anyway ?

I enjoyed writing stories in my younger years but had stopped for a large part of my football career. Having taken it up again in recent years for the Frankie books, I have loved it and have got great pleasure from the whole experience.

Rosannie

What was your attitude to learning in general and reading in particular when you were a young schoolboy? Has your own learning experience influenced your decision to write fun, relevant books for young readers?

I think I was a very dedicated pupil at school. By no means the most naturally talented but I was very keen to learn and always wanted to impress my teachers! I think I have been fortunate to have a very long and interesting football career. This has given me the opportunity to use my early learning to do something footballers rarely do and give something back to young children now in a different way.

Harlequin56

Dear Frank

I'm a huge West Ham fan and your Dad was always my favourite player as a child. How much influence did he have on your writing career? As a child did you get to spend time reading books with him or was it all football?

PS. Please come back to West Ham.

Regards
Glenn Marvell-James

My Dad had a huge influence on my football career, as you would expect, but my Mother in particular was always encouraging me to read and concentrate on all my school subjects. I would usually read with her and I am very thankful for this now, as I would not have been able to go through this experience without that base.

mcculloch29

My grandchildren are a bit old for Frankie's stories, which is a shame.

They are Sunderland season ticket holders and despite that, they both love football.

Have you thought about moving along with your own children and writing for older children and young adults? Or moving into adult fiction even?

Thanks for all your efforts to promote literacy, I'm a literacy and numeracy tutor for adults.
It's so sad when someone says 'I've never read books.' They have missed so much in life.
Cheers, Andrea McC.

At the moment I am concentrating on writing for this younger age group. I feel very comfortable doing so and have got a lot of enjoyment from it. I would not rule out trying to write for older children or adults but at this point I am very happy with where I am at!

IroningMaiden

Hi Frank as an avid Chelsea fan your my hero

What was your favourite book as a child, and did it inspire you to write your own books.

Thanks

I loved all things Roald Dahl as a youngster and my favourite book was The BFG. It certainly inspired me in terms of children's books at the time and I still have great memories of reading all of his books.

EastEndGranny

Hi
I am also a West Ham fan but have always followed your career even if it was spent else where!!! Corny I know but you seem like quite a 'nice bloke'. Infact my family are all West Ham fans and my poor Grandson even has the middle name Upton!

As a retired teacher I think it is great that you have become involved in reading as it does help boys who are struggling with reading for someone such as you to be identified with literacy.

Do you ever get a chance to get inside a classroom or are you always dragged onto the playing field when you visit schools?

Did you find it difficult for people to take your writing seriously?

As West Ham are out of the running for the league title I can afford to wish you luck. I would rather see a London club win the title!

East End Granny

I have been able to get inside the classroom and listen to children read extracts of my books and speak to them about the importance of reading. I hope people have taken my writing seriously and I hope they see I genuinely care about the educational side as much as anything else.

olmarshall

Hello, Frank!
I have read all the series of Frankie’s Magic Football and I know my granddaughter would love them too. I would love to know how did you manage to find time and inspiration to write the series while playing football professionally? I hope you will answer my question so that I can show my grandchildren that every dream is possible to achieve with a hard work.

Thank you
Oli Marshall

I realised a few years ago that being a professional footballer I had lots of spare time while travelling and preparing for games that I was wasting! I wanted to do something constructive that I enjoyed in this time and have got much more pleasure from doing so. It started with writing down a few ideas that have now developed into a 5-book series, which has been brilliant!