With the Euro 2020 tournament in full swing, award-winning Meirionnydd author Manon Steffan Ros has published a new novel with football at its heart.

This is the second novel Manon, who lives in Tywyn, has written about ‘the beautiful game’, following on from the success of Fi a Joe Allen which won the Tír na nÓg Children’s Literature Prize in 2019.

This time Aaron Ramsey gets centre stage, and the football-mad author, speaking prior to the start of the delayed Euros, said she was looking forward to the start of the competition.

She said: “I can’t wait for the Euros to start! I’ve been watching old videos from Euro 2016, and it fills me with faith and excitement!

“When you look at a football team, you can see that each player has their own strengths and unique personality, and it’s from these that I get ideas for the book.

“There’s so much to admire and appreciate about Rambo.”

Fi ac Aaron Ramsey follows Sam, who’s obsessed with football, especially Aaron Ramsey.

Sam tends to worry about everything, from his personal life to his time on the field, but through football Sam manages his anxiety better.

The novel aims to show the importance of talking about your feelings and sharing any worries you have.

Football is important to Sam’s whole family, but their relationship with the game is put to the test by one terrible event.

“I was delighted that people enjoyed Fi a Joe Allen, because I really enjoyed writing it,” Manon said. “Football is lovely and powerful and a brilliant way to create connections with other people – and it’s always nice to write about something you enjoy!

“it’s so important that everyone feels that there are characters in books, in Welsh and other languages, that represent them.

“I think that everyone worries but there is often a reluctance to speak or write about it, and as a result it’s difficult to discuss it.

“The truth is, worrying is very ordinary, and there are many things that can help.”

There’s a big demand for Welsh-language young adult fiction, especially books on subjects such as football.

Author Bethan Gwanas, writing on her blog about Fi a Joe Allen, said: “There really is a need for an original Welsh novel like this one, and if you have a child that refuses or doesn’t like to read because he or she prefers to play football, I honestly think this book could make a difference.”

Manon added: “I hope that there will be further books in the series – I get inspired by football all the time, so fingers crossed.”

Fi ac Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros is available now.