James Stafford’s latest book ‘Wonderful Welsh Sporting Heroes‘ is set to be released in October 2025 and it will be produced in two languages.
Wales might be a small country, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to producing sporting heroes
Stafford’s new children’s book, which will be released in English and Welsh editions, tells the stories of 20 of the nation’s most exciting athletes, past and present.
The book, which will also be released in Welsh as Arwyr Chwaraeon Cymru, aims to educate, entertain and inspire kids, and features Olympians, Paralympians, team stars and solo heroes, including household names like Gareth Bale, Jess Fishlock, Alun Wyn Jones, Colin Jackson, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Lauren Price, Geraint Thomas and Jade Jones.
It also introduces fascinating athletes who children today might not know, but who are no less impressive. These include swimmer Irene Steer, the only female Welsh Olympic gold medallist for 96 years; Jimmy Wilde, the early 20th-century boxer still considered one of the best of all time; Wilf Wooller, the rugby international who also won cricket’s County Championship with Glamorgan after being captured by the Japanese in World War II; and Billy Boston, the record-breaking titan of Rugby League.
Specifically written to appeal even to those who don’t always enjoy reading, the chapters have been specially designed using a dyslexic-friendly font and short chunks of text. They’re packed with fascinating facts and the book is full of fun, colourful illustrations by well-known Welsh illustrator Telor Gwyn.
This will be Stafford’s second book with Y Lolfa, a follow up to the bestselling How Wales Beat the Mighty All Blacks, which tells the story of New Zealand’s first rugby tour to Britain.
‘I think sport is a fantastic way to inspire children and to get them involved in reading,’ said Stafford. ‘Sadly, in Wales, we aren’t always great at celebrating our own people. I wanted to write this book to show children that so many people from the communities they come from have reached the top of their sports. This is exactly the kind of book I would have loved when I was young and I hope it makes children excited not only to learn more about Welsh athletes past and present, but also to make sure they go out and stay involved in sports themselves. We need our children to read and exercise as much as possible.”
Wonderful Welsh Sporting Heroes / Arwyr Chwaraeon Cymru by James Stafford (£9.99, Y Lolfa) is available for preorder now from all good online booksellers and will hit bookshops from October 24.
