Football Club Sets Reading Goals

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 19th Jul 2003

Chris Huhne MEP visited Southampton Central Library to support the Premier League Reading Stars initiative which aims to encourage children to use public libraries more often and promote family reading.

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne has given his support to the Premier League's innovative new national reading scheme that sees Southampton adopt a local library.

The new initiative, Premier League Reading Stars, is run in partnership with the Club, the National Literacy Trust and Southampton City Libraries. Top-flight football teams from across the country have learnt their support to use the power of football to encourage children and adults to read and visit their local libraries.

Reading Champions from each team - including Paul Telfer from Southampton, Graeme Le Saux from Chelsea and Rio Ferdinand from Manchester United - nominate a book to form a specially created Reading Stars booklist for the participants to choose from.

Each Premiership club has adopted a local library, where children and adults meet regularly to discuss and review the books they have read.

And such has been the demand for the pilot scheme amongst Saints supporters, projects are running in both Southampton and Winchester.

This project is one of a range of initiatives that Southampton runs in the local community. The Club is also involved in schemes such as The Prince's Trust Football Initiative and Playing for Success.

Chris Huhne MEP said: "Southampton Football Club plays a vital role in the local community in running schemes that help tackle social exclusion and raise educational standards.

"I think that Premier League Reading Stars is an excellent idea and it is great that the power of football is being used to encourage children and adults to read more often."

Southampton's Reading Champion Paul Telfer added: "I have always been a keen reader and I am delighted that I can help encourage people of all ages to visit their local libraries more often."

Clive Barnes of Southampton City Libraries said: "By joining forces with The Saints we hope to attract people who may not normally be interested in coming to their local library. It is good to see Dads enjoying reading with their sons."

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