Overview

Billy was a champion soccer star, playing for Chelsea in the 1930s. But that was before war broke out...

Billy the Kid is told through the voice of an 80 year old man, who looks back on his life as Chelsea's champion striker until the outbreak of war in 1939 and on through his subsequent life.



Billy joins Chelsea as a football apprentice, rises through the reserves to become a real champion. His passion for football sees him through the war years - even as a prisoner of war he organises a friendly against the Italians - but, having been injured by a mine he cannot play for Chelsea on his return to England.



Billy turns to vagrancy and alcohol and for years he wanders up and down the country. He re-settles in London in a derelict house and is befriended by a family who move him to a shed in their garden. He, in turn, helps their son with his football who in his turn becomes a Chelsea player. Billy becomes a Chelsea Pensioner and his 80th birthday is celebrated when Chelsea play at home.



A novel for both children and adults which deals with some difficult issues. Michael Morpurgo's storytelling is superb and this will be a welcome follow up to the previous Morpurgo / Foreman collaboration - Farm Boy.

ISBN-13

9780007105472

ISBN-10

0007105479

Weight

0.29 Pounds

Dimensions

7.80 x 0.39 x 5.08 In

List Price

$8.84

Format

Paperback

Language

English

Pages

128 pages

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

Published On

2002-01-02



View All Offers

Sort by:

Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Very Good
Seller details
HPB-Ruby
★★★★☆

Dallas, TX, USA

Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and ...
$7.86

 Free delivery by: 28 Mar 2026

Used, Good
Seller details
Bonita
★★★★☆

Santa Clarita, CA, USA

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
$35.69

 Free delivery by: 28 Mar 2026


Bookstores.com relies on cookies to improve your experience.