Soccerufus and the Big Debut

Rufus’ new school is abuzz when world record breaking former Socceroo Archie Thompson visits to hold a soccer clinic. 11-year-old Rufus’ passion for the game is ignited the moment he scores his first ever goal and Archie gives him the nickname, ‘Soccerufus’. But Rufus still feels guilty about a big mistake he made at his old school that forced his whole family to move from the country to the sprawling suburb of Bayview. He knows his goal at Archie’s clinic was a fluke and he’s worried that he’ll let everyone down if he joins the school team. After accepting that it doesn’t matter whether he’s a born soccer star or not, Rufus becomes determined to earn a place on the team. But if he gets his chance to play, will it all end in disaster again? With Soccer tips and drills from Aussie soccer superstar Archie Thompson, as well as Adrian Beck’s quirky cartoons and a collection of soccer jokes to impress your friends, Soccerufus and the Big Debut is an exciting and humorous tale about an unlikely young sporting hero who learns that you don’t have to be a natural to love and enjoy the great game of soccer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adrian Beck writes funny, action-packed adventure stories for kids. Prior to his work on Soccerufus, Adrian co-authored the best-selling kids’ series Kick it to Nick, with AFL Hall of Fame inductee Shane Crawford. He has also written Stuff Happens – Dale, which tells the story of a redhead who gets teased once too often and plots revenge. All of Adrian’s stories are fun to read – even for kids who struggle to get interested in books.

Former Socceroo and Melbourne Victory star, Archie Thompson is an A-League fan-favourite— everyone loves Archie. Not only does he unite Aussie soccer fans in the green and gold, but his magnetic personality transcends club allegiance, attracting fans of all ages.