Stephen J Ward

TOGGER - A Northern English slang term that refers to soccer in America and football to the rest of the world. Commonly used by kids on the playground. Example "It's sunny outside, let's go play togger!"

The stories I have created, specifically the ones relating to Tommi and Thrifty 1 - 3, are all based on actual events that happened to either myself or my team mates when I used to play togger.

I was lucky enough to play with and against some real legends of the game. There were two players I recall who earned the right to be called Kings of Togger. Their character and abilities inspired me to write 'The Raiders of Leaf'.

My Togger World began on the Scunthorpe & District League football pitches. I played in hundreds, if not thousands, of football matches. I wanted to live in a world where I played football all the time. I knew I belonged inbetween the lines of the marked out pitch where I felt at home and never wanted the games to end.

Although I enjoyed many a fine game, I never made the grade to become a professional player. Eventually age, my legs, and footballing skills failed me. What I was left with though was a wealth of togger knowledge, experiences and a burning ambition to tell a story. In 2008 I started work on my first togger book 'Thrifty's Stand'. About a young togger player who starts from humble beginnings and goes on to do things that only dreams are made of. I would call my collection of stories 'The Greatest Togger Story Ever Told', and just maybe these stories might inspire a young footballer to go on to greater things.

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 was the Book Launch of 'Thrifty's Stand' at Huddersfield Sports Centre. After a number of talks at local Primary Schools, 300 young togger fans turned up to get their hands on Thrifty's book and to enjoy the togger skills test in the Sports Hall. The response from this day encouraged me to continue writing this epic story.

You may never get the opportunity to play Togger, but you should always consider time to wield a pen over paper and let your imagination run wild, who knows who you may inspire.

I hope you enjoy all of my books

Stephen J Ward