The Socks That Saved Christmas: Tottenham Hotspur releases Christmas bedtime story to promote literacy and encourage book donations to disadvantaged children

On Christmas Eve, Tottenham Hotspur is delighted to release The Socks That Saved Christmas – a heart-warming story of friendship, kindness and a love of football, written and produced by Club staff and narrated by players.

This Christmas bedtime story will air exclusively across all Club digital channels at 5pm in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, to promote child literacy and encourage book donations to those in need this festive season.

It follows the story of two young football-mad friends, Remi and Sam, dreaming of Spurs gifts for Christmas. When Remi receives a shiny new pair of Spurs socks on Christmas morning and Sam does not, a toy from a Christmas cracker gives him an idea to save the day for his friend...

The beautiful story was thought up and written by a member of Club staff, with advice and guidance from best-selling children’s author and Spurs fan, Dan Freedman.

It is narrated by Club captain Heung-Min Son, alongside Welsh international and National Literacy Trust Ambassador, Ben Davies, and rising star of the women’s team, Lenna Gunning-Williams - who as a child starred in the TV adaptation of Freedman’s hugely successful football series, Jamie Johnson.

As the story reaches its conclusion, viewers are informed that 1 in every 10 children in the UK does not own a single book, rising to 1 in 8 in the most disadvantaged communities.

According to the National Literacy Trust, this matters because when children and young people enjoy reading and have books of their own, they read more often, helping to build vital reading skills and bring wider benefits for their wellbeing, confidence and learning.

With children’s enjoyment of reading also at an all-time low, the charity recently announced a commitment to supporting 1.5 million more children and young people from disadvantaged communities to read for pleasure over the next three years.

Viewers are given the opportunity to make a donation to the the charity’s annual Christmas fundraising campaign, to help provide books to children who need them the most.

Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Children’s enjoyment of reading is at an all-time low, while 1 in 10 don’t have a single book of their own. Without access to the joy and opportunity that reading can bring, these children are being left behind on their learning journeys. But their future isn't written.

“Tottenham’s magical Christmas story of football and friendship, brought to life by iconic Spurs players, will capture children’s imaginations and help to unlock an enjoyment of stories which can be the first step on a child’s journey to becoming a reader. Books can change life stories and, thanks to the incredible support of the club and fans, we will be able to get more books into the hands of children who need them most this Christmas - and beyond.”

Dan Freedman added: “As a lifelong Spurs fan, I am incredibly proud that my Club has combined my two passions - football and storytelling - in such a creative, engaging and poignant way this Christmas.

“The impact that football and its players can have on children’s literacy is immeasurable - I have seen it from my own experience of going into schools with the Club’s Foundation over many years.

“The power of that badge can engage the most unengaged child in any classroom – it is so important that Tottenham Hotspur clearly recognises this responsibility and has acted on it in the most wonderful way this Christmas.”

To find out more about the National Literacy Trust and its fundraising campaign, visit: https://literacytrust.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/christmas/