Books for young Boro fans at the Riverside Stadium

As Middlesbrough FC took on Arsenal this week, young football fans were given free books before kick-off.

The Middlesbrough Reading Campaign took over an area of the Generation Red Family Zone at the Riverside Stadium to inspire children and families in the town to read for pleasure.

Children were handed books including Peter Rabbit Friends Forever, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Spot’s Tummy Time and Chocolate Box Girls, which were gifted to the campaign by Penguin Random House. Our Hub Manager Allison Potter chatted to parents at the game, encouraging them to make reading a part of their daily routine.

The National Literacy Trust’s partner Boots Opticians also joined the event, handing out copies of Zookeeper Zoe and talking to families about the importance of eye health.

Middlesbrough FC has supported the Middlesbrough Reading Campaign since its launch in 2013. Players have given out books at schools, supported our reading ‘selfies’ initiative and helped us to turn football fans into reading fans.