The Academy

<p><b>FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE</b><br><br>Born and raised in a small town in the United States, Leo K. Doyle has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane. But Leo is a star footballer with big dreams in life.<br><br>Rock-star, Olympic gold, dragon-slaying dreams.<br><br>While Leo has a pet lizard named Messi and longs to one day go pro, he has no idea how to achieve his goal – until a professional scout pays a chance visit to one of Leo’s games and extends an invitation to try out for the London Dragons youth squad, known as The Academy.<br><br>Leo is stunned. The London Dragons isn’t just any old football club. It’s a world-famous Premier League club. Soon Leo is off to a whole new country, embarking on the greatest adventure of his life. The downside? Only eleven players can make the team.<br><br>Eleven out of two hundred of the very best youth players on the planet.<br><br>Along with the gruelling competition, Leo must also face a bully intent on torpedoing his summer, a roomie who doesn’t know how to have fun, a terrifying camp director, and, most of all, Leo’s own lack of formal training and the fear he’ll never succeed. By the end of the summer, Leo will become a much better player and forever changed by his experience.<br><br>But will he be good enough to make the Academy?<br><br><b>T.Z. Layton''s inspiring first book in The Academy series is perfect for primary school readers and young sports fans looking for their next exciting read.</b><br><br>Ideal for young readers aged 7-13 looking for:</p><ul><li>Page-turning football chapter books</li><li>A humorous, action-packed, sports adventure book series like no other!</li></ul>