Telegraph Sports Book Awards adds children's category and NLT partnership

The Telegraph Sports Book Awards has announced a new prize for children’s titles and made the National Literacy Trust its charity partner for 2020.

Organisers made the announcements at St Luke’s Primary School in east London where they were joined by Gary Lineker and Michael Owen. The youngsters were taking part in the Premier League Reading Stars programme and got the chance to quiz the two pundits.

Lineker’s book with Danny Baker, Behind Closed Doors (Century), and Owen's Reboot (Reach Sport) were announced on the longlist for the Autobiography of the Year award in December.

David Willis, chairman of the Telegraph Sports Book Awards said: “We are delighted to announce the Telegraph Sports Book Awards‚Äô charity partner for 2020 as the National Literacy Trust ‚Äì especially as this year is the first year that we recognise children‚Äôs authors in our inaugural Children‚Äôs Sports Book Award. Amongst other things, the numerous initiatives the National Literacy Trust run to increase child literacy rates are absolutely essential, and we look forward to using our platform to help them meet that challenge.”

The National Literacy Trust is a charity aiming to improve the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of children who need it most.

C.e.o. Jonathan Douglas said: "For the past 20 years, the National Literacy Trust has been using the excitement and passion surrounding sport to motivate children to improve their reading and writing skills. We’ve seen first-hand how combining sport and literacy can turn a child’s life around. That is why we are so thrilled to be the Telegraph Sports Book Awards’ charity partner for 2020 and to launch the brand new Children’s Sports Book of the Year category, celebrating the incredible authors whose sporting stories engage, inspire and educate young minds."

All shortlisted books for the Telegraph Sports Book Awards will be announced on 12th May. The winner of the Children’s Sports Book Award will be announced at the 18th awards ceremony, held on 2nd June 2nd at Lord’s Cricket Ground, featuring 11 categories.