Football Fever 1: The Kick-off

Everyone's got football fever!


The first book in an action-packed junior fiction series in partnership with Football Australia. Featuring Commbank Matildas and Socceroos stars Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, Mary Fowler, Rhyan Grant, Joel King - and more!

It's a new season for the Under 11s Merridale Fever! Kyra's the star striker and can't wait to meet the team's new recruit, Sam - all the way from England. But Sam has a secret - he's never played on a mixed team, and it's shaking his confidence. Will advice from some very special football superstars help Kyra and Sam join forces so the team can kick off the season with a bang, or will it end in disaster before it even begins?

Part of an expansive publishing program in the lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

About the Author

Kristin Darell has been a passionate storyteller since she was a child. Whether it was making up adventures with her twin sister, or writing about the world around her, she was rarely found without a pen and paper in hand. As an adult, she made this passion her life. She worked as a broadcast news and sports journalist for major Australian news organisations for more than twenty years. After the birth of her two children, Kristin re-focussed her attention on writing for children. As an author, she has contributed to children's writing anthologies and is publishing her debut junior fiction series in 2022. Kristin is a strong advocate for children's literature, working as the Program Manager for the Australian Children's Laureate Foundation. She lives on Sydney's northern beaches with her husband, two children, two dogs, pet snake and three-legged pygmy bearded dragon.