Today we celebrated the launch of our charity partnership with the Telegraph Sports Book Awards at a very special event!
Eight pupils from St Luke’s Primary School in East London were joined by sports broadcasters and former footballers Gary Lineker and Michael Owen at the BT Sport London studios.
In recognition of our partnership, a brand new Children’s Sports Book of the Year category was also announced, to celebrate authors whose sporting stories have encouraged children to read for enjoyment.
At the event, we hosted eight pupils from St Luke’s Primary School in East London, who are currently taking part in our Premier League Reading Stars programme, developed in partnership with the Premier League and delivered in their school by coaches from West Ham United Foundation. They were able to meet Gary and Michael as well as having a look around BT Sport’s London studio.
Both Gary Lineker and Michael Owen have been longlisted for Autobiography of the Year in the Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2020 with their respective books Behind Closed Doors (Century) and Reboot: My Life, My Time (Reach Sport). At the event the pupils quizzed the pair about their careers in football and broadcasting, what it was like to write an autobiography, and what their favourite books are.
“I’m delighted to support the National Literacy Trust’s highly relevant partnership with the Telegraph Sports Book Awards. It’s a pleasure to be able to meet some of their children at BT Sport who benefit from their partnership in football with the Premier League.”
Gary Lineker
“Today we met Gary Lineker and Michael Owen. It was amazing! I asked them what was their favourite book and what was their favourite movie. It has inspired me to play football a lot more.”
Keren, pupil, St Luke's Primary School
