Football Mad Books in Order

The Football Mad books are Paul Stewart's lively stories about school football, friendship, rivalry, and the pressure of playing as part of a team. They focus on young players who care deeply about the game, whether they are chasing a cup final, trying to keep their place in the side, or dealing with opponents who know exactly how to get under their skin.

The first book, Football Mad, introduces the competitive school-football setting. Captain Gary and his teammates are trying to hold onto a lead in an inter-school cup final, but winning is never only about scoring goals. Nerves, arguments, confidence, and the behavior of the whole team matter just as much.

Offside!, Hat-Trick!, and Teamwork! continue with players including Gary, Danny, and Craig as they face new matches and new problems. The books understand that football can make ordinary school life feel huge. A missed chance, a bad tackle, a selfish decision, or a disagreement with a friend can seem as important as the final score.

Every player wants the glory. Not every player knows how to share it.

The series keeps the action clear and direct. Matches bring pace and tension, but the stories also make room for the things around football: training, school rivalries, family expectations, friendships, and the temptation to blame someone else when a game goes wrong. Winning matters, yet learning to work with other people matters more.

These are not stories about professional stars. They are about young players finding out what sport asks of them. A talented player may need to listen. A less confident player may need a chance. A team that looks strong on paper may still fail if nobody trusts one another.

The tone is upbeat and grounded. There are setbacks, but the books do not treat them as the end of the world. Football becomes a way for the characters to test their courage, loyalty, and ability to recover after disappointment.

Start with Football Mad and continue in order for the clearest sense of the team's ongoing relationships. Each book has its own match-day stakes, however, so readers can also enjoy them as individual sports adventures.

These are good picks for young readers who want plenty of game action alongside stories about friends, fairness, and finding your place in a team.