Zero to Hero

Simon - Zero to his older brothers - would rather be watching for kingfishers down at the river with his dog Tilly than playing football. But when they drag him along to the park to help with goal-shooting practice, they discover that he has a natural talent for goalkeeping. The school team already has a goalkeeper, albeit one who lets in more goals than he saves, so there seems little chance Simon will get a game. But as the cup final approaches, tension in the team mounts and Simon teams up with new boy Ollie, who has come from the opposing school, and soon the pair are making an impression in practices. Will they be selected for the crucial game, and will Ollie be able to stand up to the tactics of his former schoolmates?

This gripping story will entrance all young football lovers, as well as raising issues of bullying and self-esteem.

When Simon was eventually called into action again, he was ready. He set off like a sprinter to kick the ball away before any attacker could reach it and then, just a couple of minutes later, came out to narrow the angle as their right-winger prepared to shoot, forcing the boy to steer his shot wide of the target.

There was no need for Simon to fetch the ball. Tilly was on the loose again, doing her favourite, self-appointed job as ball-girl.

She was fast enough to beat any of the spectators to the ball and dribbled it all the way back to Simon with her nose and front paws.

“Good girl!” he said. “Now sit.”

Tilly sat, tensed, waiting for her young master to kick it away again.

“Stay!”

Amazingly, she stayed, too, allowing Dad to grab hold of the lead and Simon to pass the ball out of the area to Nails, who immediately lofted it over the halfway line to find Jake in the clear.

The Princes had perhaps been caught napping, not expecting the ball to reappear on the pitch so quickly. Like Tilly, Jake made the most of his temporary freedom. He burst through a weak challenge, cut into the penalty area and, as the goalkeeper advanced, slid the ball past him into the net to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.

It was a perfect family goal. The move had been started by Tilly from a deep position, carried on by Simon and then Nails who sent Jake away to score. No-one else had even touched the ball.

“Magic!” cried Dad. “All down to the Browns!”

He leapt up and down behind Simon's goal, shouting and whooping, not caring what anybody might think of his antics. Tilly was making almost as much noise and even Mum was clapping.

The Princes, to their credit, fought back hard, driven on by Connor, who would never give up. Simon did well to hold on to an awkward, swerving shot, with strikers ready to pounce on any loose ball, but soon he was distracted by another sighting of the green woodpecker. The bird flew low across the pitch, perhaps alarmed by the noise, skimming over his goal and disappearing into the trees nearby. He watched it all the way, forgetting about the game for a few moments.

It almost cost his team dear. Simon never even saw the ball coming his way, but he certainly heard it smack against the crossbar, shaking the whole goal. Nails cleared the rebound to safety and then whirled round to swear at his brother. Simon simply gave a little apologetic shrug.

“Huh! Hero back to zero,” Nails muttered as he wandered away.