Ryan is the team captain – so why does he bully his team mates?

Yunis is the star player – so why does his dad want him to give up football?

James is the son of an England international – so why does he start making terrible mistakes?

Follow United FC through a season where they have to play at Liverpool, Chelsea and against Real Madrid.  Meet Ryan, Yunis, James and the rest.

Experience life as a Premier League academy player. And find out who makes the grade: and who doesn't.

TOM PALMER TALKS ABOUT FOOTBALL ACADEMY:

‘I wanted to get the series right,’ Tom says. ‘If I was going to write a book about being part of a football academy at a Premier League club, it needed to be accurate.’

So Tom went to his nearest football club, Burnley FC, now in the Premier League. He asked if he could watch the under twelve’s play to give him some ideas.

‘But Burnley did more than that,' Tom went on. 'They let me talk to the players. And their parents. And then the head coach answered all my questions. They were wonderful. I hope that means this series is as close as you can get to what it’s like playing for an academy like that.'

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE BOOKS:

‘I loved Boys United. I’m buying the rest of them. They’re the best books I’ve read.’

Aaron, Manchester

‘It is fun, exciting and realistic and doesn’t keep you in for too long when you could be out in the park practicing penalties with your mates.’

The Book Bag

‘this book is one of the best books I’ve read so far... you will probably like it if you are 7-12 and into football.’

Amazon Books

‘these books are perfect for my class.... they hang on every word’

Teacher, Essex

There are six books to read in Football Academy series, so far:

• Boys United
• Striking Out
• The Real Thing
• Reading the Game
• Kick Off
• Captain Fantastic