Pretty comedic kids football drama, where we follow the underdogs (from the point of view of the kid who is always the sub never the bride) through a knock-out competition of much that is highly unlikely. All sixteen teams enter the first round, but a fluke gets them through, then a slightly dubious decision means they're facing a team everyone wants to get on the books with – because that's how primary school football works, apparently. I'm surprised there wasn't a full-on transfer window. Anyway, in the lead-up to this semi-final match something else unlikely happens, meaning that the team seems destined to lose badly. Could the fact our shy bridesmaid is actually a whizz on football management console games help them?

Yes, we have a typical rags-to-riches kind of drama, and a comically bad gaffer for the team to suffer under. It starts with our kid, Alfie, proving his expertise with the game, and knowledge of football (tactics and history) when he is allowed to speak on 606 on national radio (that even has an unfunny ex-Leicester player manning it – hello, Robbie Savage). But you easily understand why he is reluctant to stick his head out and say what plays should be made in real life – meaning he's contrasted nicely with the boss, someone who played at a high level roughly four times, but refuses to let anyone forget it, and who seems to think tactics are a pack of mint sweets with distinctive packaging.

It is a slender, light read, but the sense of humour works, as does the involvement in the plot. It is published as part of a reading scheme, with all that that entails, but it probably deserves to break out of that and have a wider audience. It certainly has a broad appeal – a strong four stars.