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Blenheim celebrated the upcoming 2026 World Cup by welcoming award-winning author Matt Oldfield to Blenheim Library.

Matt is the author of a wide range of children's sports books, both fiction and non-fiction, and was named Children's Sports Book of the Year in 2020. During his visit, he spoke to students about his journey into the world of publishing, from studying English Literature at the University of Edinburgh to working as a researcher and editor before becoming a successful author.

Matt explained that, when he was young, he loved football but struggled to find books about the sport that appealed to him. This inspired him and his brother to create the hugely popular Ultimate Football Heroes series, giving young readers the football stories they wanted to read. He also spoke about the importance of collaboration, explaining how he enjoys working with others and combining different skills and expertise. This has been particularly valuable when writing books about sports such as cricket and rugby.

Matt encouraged students to identify their passions and work hard to build careers around them. For aspiring authors, he emphasised the importance of developing a regular habit of reading and writing. He highlighted how high-profile footballers have helped promote reading by writing books, sharing photographs of their favourite reads, and supporting literacy campaigns. He shared a quote from Marcus Rashford:

"Reading is cool. Books are cool."

When asked for his prediction for the 2026 World Cup, Matt said that he believes France will win the tournament, although he would love to see England lift the trophy. The visit concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, during which our students demonstrated impressive football knowledge and a keen interest in careers connected to the game.

Matt kindly signed many books and posed for photographs with students. If his visit has inspired you to explore his work, we have a growing collection of his books available in the library.