Mingalaba teams up with bestselling children’s author Dan Freedman to promote employability skills and opportunities

Mingalaba is thrilled to announce a partnership with author Dan Freedman, following the release of his latest book 50 Ways into Football: Dream Jobs On and Off the Pitch. The book explores employment pathways into the sport - from coaching and physiotherapy, to sponsorships, travel and media, or even designing kits and video games.

This exciting collaboration will give schools and pupils priority access to the book, reinforcing the employability messages delivered during the highly popular motivational assemblies and workshops delivered by Mingalaba across the UK, with the aim of inspiring pupils to pursue the study of Modern Foreign Languages to enhance their career and life prospects.

Steve Eadon, Founder of Mingalaba, said: “I am delighted to be working with Dan to promote his new book and give pupils an extra tool to help navigate their future career paths. There are so many exciting job ideas in the book – even for non-football fans – and hopefully that insight and guidance, combined with their continued study of Modern Foreign Languages, will give pupils a real head-start in achieving a dream career.”

Speaking about the partnership, Dan Freedman said: “I’m full of respect for the work Steve does in schools. Using the power of football to encourage young people to go for their goals is something I’m passionate about. Steve and Mingalaba embody this in everything they do.

“The book is aimed at 10-15 year olds and we want to light the imagination of young people and show them that, whoever they are, wherever they come from and however their mind works, there is a role for them in football. We’re also particularly proud to profile many of the hugely inspirational women working the game.”

Dan Freedman is a Sunday Times bestselling author, whose global booksales have surpassed 1 million copies. He is best known for his hugely popular series of Jamie Johnson football novels (Scholastic), which have been adapted for TV by the BBC and broadcast in 73 different countries.

Any school that has booked Mingalaba to visit during the 2024/25 academic year is eligible for priority access to the book, as well as additional teaching materials to use alongside the book.