Matt Oldfield
A Bristol author who writes football books for children.
Matt Oldfield is a children’s author. A Bristol author who writes football books for children. This page is a short guide for parents, teachers and young readers: who they are, which of their books are in the current top 20 and where to start.
About Matt Oldfield
Matt Oldfield is a children’s author based in Bristol who writes football books for readers of about 7 to 12 and runs literacy workshops for football fans and reluctant readers.
He writes the Ultimate Football Heroes and Classic Football Heroes biography series with his brother. His non-fiction book Unbelievable Football won the Children’s Sports Book of the Year award in 2020, and he has also written football fiction such as Accidental Football Genius and Undercover Football Genius.
He works with organisations including the National Literacy Trust, the National Football Museum, Beanstalk and Football Beyond Borders.
Matt Oldfield’s books in the top 20
- Classic Football Heroes: Best: number 20 in the list we checked on 7 November 2026. The story of George Best, the Belfast boy who was told he was too small and became a Manchester United legend.
Other well-known books and work
- Ultimate Football Heroes (series)
- Classic Football Heroes (series)
- Unbelievable Football
- Accidental Football Genius
- Undercover Football Genius
Awards and recognition
- Unbelievable Football won the Children’s Sports Book of the Year award (2020)
Where to start
Start with a Football Heroes biography of a player your child already follows.
Frequently asked questions about Matt Oldfield
Who is Matt Oldfield?
Matt Oldfield is a children’s author based in Bristol who writes football books for readers of about 7 to 12 and runs literacy workshops for football fans and reluctant readers.
Which books by Matt Oldfield are in the top 20?
Classic Football Heroes: Best (number 20). See our Top 20 children’s books for the full list.
Where should I start with Matt Oldfield?
Start with a Football Heroes biography of a player your child already follows.
Biographical details are drawn from publisher biographies, reference works and the author’s own site, and may have changed. The illustration is our own and is not a likeness of the author. See all the authors.
Sources: Matt Oldfield (Contact an Author).