Extra Time [Paperback] Gleitzman, Morris

Matt Sutherland 14yrs lived in Australia and loved playing football, a group of large boys challenged them to a game, Bridie 10yrs his little sister and sel named manager was worried for Matt, Matt had pins in his legs from a bad car crash, they accept and Matt runs rings around them, they win the match easily, Matt suggests blind penalties but one of the team kicks the ball to high and it goes into the cattle yard, Matt sees where the ball is and climbs into the pen, suddenly the cattle stampede towards them, Matt shows his skill by dribbling around them to avoid being hurtMatt's parents had lost 12yrs old twin boys in a car crash and Matt survived, they visited the grave on Sundays, near the cattleyard a politician had been filmed showing Matt in the background showing his skill, Bridie his sister had phoned the tv station, later at the pub with uncle Cliff three men enter in suits asking to see Matt, One was Franco Di Rafaela the famous footballer and one of the others was marketing executive from a famous football club, Franco wanted them to come to England, watch a match and meet some footballers for publicity purposes, Matt's mum and dad couldn't go so uncle Cliff went with themAfter a long flight to England they are taken to a house with a kind landlady Mrs Jarvis who looked after some of the young footballers, later they met Gaz a famous footballer and his wife , the house was amazing, we are taken to a youth training pitch and Matt is asked to play, Matt impresses and is introduced to Neal Merchant the head of the academy, he asks Matt to join his training program, this is where he meets a frien Ayo who is a rough footballer, Matt scores two great goals, Matt is put in the under 15yrs team for Sunday against Manchester United, Matt scores a wonder goal and sets up two othersBridie thinks Matt has lost the fun part of football and is taking it to seriously and tries to get him to a local housing estate to play with kids again but he won't go, Bridie has the idea of getting Ayo to go to the estate so she could get Matt there, she hides in his locker to see him after the match in the boys changing room but they are both shocked when Ayo opens his locker he is naked, Bridie has had brothers and seen it before so ingores it and gets him to go to the estate gameFrom this point on things start to get complicated, Matt and Ayo have a great time on the estate with the other kids, Ayo is in big trouble, Gaz finds the fun side of football and his playing improves, Matt is in the first team , the youngest player in the premiership, what happens after this, well you will have to read on

It was a very emotional book and I am a fan of that genre. It had one or two bits of text that I didn't understand but I got through them. Morris Gleitzman is a great author but I don't recommend his book `Once`

Excellent book for boys and girls!!! It's very well written and I really enjoyed it at 39! Will be recommending it to all my class and looking for more by the author

This book is life changing and a little bit sad sometimes. This book shows to people never give up and always be their for family.

I would totally recomend this book. My son just loves it, it is well written, has good aussies humour and is engaging.