Rob Childs

Rob Childs is a British author, who has written over seventy books, mainly aimed at young people. Most of the stories have a sporting theme, with over fifty of his books being about football. However, he has also written non-sport books based on historical characters: for example, Guy Fawkes.

Rob studied social sciences at Leicester University from 1969-72, where he met Joy, whom he was to marry in 1972. That same year, he began his teaching career at a high school in Loughborough, Leicestershire. In 1974, he moved to Kibworth Primary School, also in Leicestershire. Besides being a class tutor, Rob ran the school's sports teams. Drawing on his experiences, he began writing, and his first book, Soccer at Sandford, was published by Blackie's in 1980. The publication of The Big Match in 1987 inspired Rob to give up teaching and become a full-time writer. However, it became hard to make ends meet, so he resumed full-time teaching at Manor High School (Oadby) in 1990, where he was to remain until 1994. After doing a year's training at the Dyslexia Institute, the increasing popularity of Rob's books again encouraged him to take to writing full-time. In 2002, Rob and Joy moved to a new house near Leicester, where Rob often writes well into the night. Still busy, Rob spends his time visiting schools, and, of course, writing yet more books!