NORWICH City club captain Russell Martin was in the fore on Wednesday as the club showed its support for the National Literacy Trust’s Premier League Reading Stars programme.

In an interview on the National Literacy Trust’s web-site, Martin told viewers of how important a role reading has played in his life and how he is now able to share his love for books with his young son.

“I’m a big reading fan and books have been a big part of my life for a long time now,” said City’s long-serving right back.

“When I was young I started getting into books by Roald Dahl and Jacqueline Wilson and I can’t wait start to reading those kinds of books to my 2-and-a-half year old son.

Martin also said his love for books has accompanied him throughout his career as a professional footballer.

“I still love reading. I read books on the coach to away games. It’s a great way to relax and to take your mind elsewhere.”

MORE INFORMATION ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE READING STARS PROGRAMME:

In terms of reading attainment, there is a significant gender gap. Indeed, the latest National Literacy Trust research of over 35,000 8 to 16 year olds shows that only one boy in four reads outside of class every day, and almost two thirds of boys prefer watching TV to reading (63.6%). While Premier League Reading Stars is an inclusive programme, it is an intervention which has an impact upon this particular issue because of the high appeal that football holds for so many boys. Research study into the effectiveness of Premier League Reading Stars has found that it is having adramatic impact on participating pupils:

• Three out of four of pupils made six months’ to a year’s progress in reading in just 10 weeks

• The number of pupils who read every day had doubled by the end of the programme

• Nearly nine out of ten pupils said they now read more because they know Premier League footballers read

• 50% of pupils joined their public library

RUSS LOVES READING

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