As the world celebrates World Book Day, Oxfordshire FA is excited to announce an innovative literacy partnership with renowned publishers HATRIQA, which aims to encourage and inspire children to develop their reading and writing skills through the power of football.

As a County FA, Oxfordshire FA is constantly looking at fresh ways to use football to help encourage and inspire children to have fun, while also developing self-confidence and life skills.

The partnership with HATRIQA’s Soccer Reader Method™️ has the potential to achieve these aspirations. The HATRIQA Soccer Method™️ is a literacy and English language learning programme, developed in collaboration with the University College London’s Institute of Education, built around Sunday Times best-selling author Dan Freedman’s internationally acclaimed Jamie Johnson series. 

The method includes specially adapted Jamie Johnson graded readers, which allow students at different reading levels to enjoy and benefit from these popular stories, alongside workbooks and teaching materials that support systematic literacy and English language development. This innovative approach helps address the critical challenge of literacy and language development by connecting reading and writing to students' passion for football.

The Jamie Johnson books have sold over a million copies, and have been adapted into a successful BBC television series. The exploits of Jamie Johnson in print have inspired countless young people discover their love of reading through football, with Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham among those to credit the inspiration of Jamie Johnson in his own journey to becoming a professional footballer.

Author Dan Freedman’s own personal journey highlights the transformative power of combining football and reading. As a self-confessed reluctant reader growing up, Dan went on to become a football journalist, travelling to two World Cups as part of the official England team. Dan’s experience of working and living with some of the best players in the world inspired him to start writing the Jamie Johnson books.

Since becoming a television series, Jamie Johnson has become the UK’s most downloaded children’s TV drama on BBC iPlayer, with Dan Freedman becoming a Premier League Primary Stars Ambassador. In this role, he has given inspirational talks to over 500,000 children across more than 2,000 schools.

Jonathan Duckworth, Chief Executive Officer of Oxfordshire FA, said: “Oxford being a worldwide centre of education, we are especially proud to play our part by providing support for this initiative through football across Oxfordshire.”

Jamie Johnson creator and author, Dan Freedman, added: "What makes this partnership with Oxfordshire FA so exciting is how it combines the community reach of grassroots football with an innovative approach to literacy. I’ve seen first-hand in thousands of school visits how football stories can be the key that unlocks reading for young people.”

Tim Gentles, Head of Publishing at HATRIQA, shared his own personal connection to the initiative: “Having experienced playing for Crowmarsh Boys (now Wallingford and Crowmarsh Football Club) while growing up, I know first-hand the positive impact Oxfordshire FA has on young people’s lives. Being able to bring the Soccer Reader Method™️ back to my home county and work with the Oxfordshire FA to inspire the next generation of readers and players is a fantastic opportunity.”

Teachers, coaches, and parents can register for more information by visiting this exclusive Oxfordshire FA link – www.hatriqa.com/oxfa