Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford launches book club

Marcus Rashford has revealed plans to publish a book club to enable all children to experience the ‘escapism’ of reading.

The Manchester United and England forward is set to partner with renowned British publishers Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) to promote reading and literacy among children regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.

Rashford says he wished for the opportunity to read more while growing up, howwver, his family’s income was only enough to prioritise food.

“Imagine if all children were on an equal playing field. Imagine if we all started at the line equal instead of 20 yards behind,” tweets Marcus Rashford.

“Imagine children waking up believing that their dreams could come true. Imagine what that belief could do for the future of this country…”

Imagine if all children were on an equal playing field. Imagine if we all started at the line equal instead of 20 yards behind. Imagine children waking up believing that their dreams could come true. Imagine what that belief could do for the future of this country…

- MR14 (@MarcusRashford) November 16, 2020

MCB say they will create a particular focus on motivating children from vulnerable and under-privileged backgrounds to read by making books available to them.

May 2021 has been set aside for publishing the maiden edition of the partnership titled, “YOU ARE A CHAMPION: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice And Be The BEST You Can Be.” This title is a non-fictional one targeting young people between the ages of 11-16.

In May 2021 we will publish YOU ARE A CHAMPION: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice and Be the BEST You Can Be by @MarcusRashford. This book will show young people aged 11-16 how to develop resilience, navigate adversity and discover the unstoppable power of their own voice pic.twitter.com/ql03mcLzSJ

- Macmillan Children's Books (@MacmillanKidsUK) November 17, 2020

The beginning of each chapter will contain excerpts from Rashford’s own life while covering topics such as female role models, positive mentality, the value of education and understanding culture.

The Athletic’s Carl-Anka will contribute to the project as co-creator with Katie Warriner, as a performance psychologist.

The Marcus Rashford Book Club, a reader-recommends initiative publishing front-list titles from MCB’s successful list will also be launched in 2021.

“I only started reading at 17, and it completely changed my outlook and mentality,” said England forward.

“I just wish I was offered the opportunity to really engage with reading more as a child, but books were never a thing we could budget for as a family when we needed to put food on the table.

“There were times where the escapism of reading could have really helped me. I want this escapism for all children. Not just those that can afford it.

“We know there are over 380,000 children across the UK today that have never owned a book, children that are in vulnerable environments. That has to change.

“My books are, and always will be, for every child, even if I have to deliver them myself. We will reach them.”

The aim of the project is to promote reading culture and literacy among children from all socio-economic backgrounds. Rashford adds that acceptance and acknowledgment are a key focus of the initiative, saying: “Let our children read that they are not alone and enable them to dream.

“Equip them for obstacles and adversities they might face.

“Allow them to relate to characters by making sure people of all race, religion, and gender are depicted correctly and representative of modern society.

“No matter where you grow up, talent should be recognised and championed.

“Under the Marcus Rashford Book Club young writers, illustrators and creatives will be seen and they will be offered a platform to shine.”

The 23-year-old has attracted praise from far and wide for bringing the issue of child food poverty to mainstream consciousness with his campaign resulting in the government announcing free meals would be provided to underprivileged children across the UK over the Christmas holidays, back-tracking on an earlier decision not to do so.

The Manchester United Academy graduate was also recently awarded an MBE after compelling a government U-turn on free meal vouchers.