Alan Gibbons pens Hillsborough tale for Barrington Stoke

Barrington Stoke has acquired a children’s book based on the Hillsborough football disaster by Alan Gibbons.

The Beautiful Game is about a boy called Lennie who hears Manchester United fans chanting about Hillsborough at a game. His Dad and Granddad, who survived the disaster, tell him what really happened that day, as well as explaining the racism they have experienced.

Barrington Stoke editor Emma Hargrave acquired world rights to The Beautiful Game directly from the author and will publish under the 8-12 list in April 2017. The book will be illustrated by Chris Chalik.

Alan Gibbons said: “People always talk about football players. My book looks at the people without whom the game would not exist, the fans. They have often had to tolerate terrible conditions. The Hillsborough disaster was the moment that shone a torch on issues such as poor safety, poor treatment and racism that have blighted the beautiful game. The Hillsborough justice campaigners helped change the face of football.”