The Team, by David Bedford

“Can’t he talk?” said Harvey.
“No,” said professor Gertie. “His brain is pure football. He chases. He tackles. He keeps the ball. And he scores goals. He’s a Football Machine, and he’s programmed to win! Watch.”

Harvey Boots and his friends have a football team – but, Harvey says, they’re rubbish. They can’t win a game. Then Harvey’s friend Professor Gertie comes up with a new invention to help them. Mark 1 is a football-playing robot, and he’s good. The only problem is that inventions aren’t allowed on the field. Can Mark 1 help them at all?

The Football Machine is the first of three titles in this compilation, which brings together author David Bedford’s first three books about The Team. With plenty of soccer action (the author is UK-based, hence the term ‘football’), lots of humour and illustrative support, the stories are suitable for readers aged seven to ten, especially boys.

Good fun.

The Team Omnibus (Team S.)

The Team, by David Bedford, illustrated by Keith Brumpton
Little Hare, 2007

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