The Boyhood Of Burglar Bill Av Allan Ahlberg

<p>Allan Ahlberg''s <i>The Boyhood of Burglar Bill</i> is a nostalgic, autobiographical story about football, schooldays and growing-up in the ''50s. Allan Ahlberg is the internationally bestselling author of children''s classics that include<i> Peepo!</i> and <i>Each Peach, Pear Plum</i>, illustrated by Janet Ahlberg.<br><br><b>Archie was a wonder dog in all our eyes. Nearly a year ago he had got run over. They found his foot in the street but the rest of him ran off. Mr Purnell mourned for a while; Mrs Purnell offered to beat the motorcyclist up or at least wreck his bike. Then, lo and behold, a fortnight later back came Archie. <br><br></b>Coronation year, 1953. The boys from the bottom pitch - a great soup of boys - play football. When the ''Coronation Cup'' is proposed, they put their heads together, pool their pocket money and get a team up. There''s no chance they''ll win of course. They''re just the odds and sods in Mr Cork''s opinion. Besides, he''d go berserk if they did; men