Derry author Peter McCauley has had his debut six-book series, The Fearsome FC, published by the Norfolk-based educational publisher Badger Publishing.

The book series is aimed at the schools and libraries market, and is written specifically for teenagers with literacy difficulties and a low reading age.

The Fearsome FC series tells the story of a group of teenagers from a deprived background who decide to form their own team so that they can enter a prestigious local football tournament.

The team, made up of boys and girls, encounter all sorts of problems and barriers along the way, and confront such issues as poverty, misogyny and mortality, as they strive to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Intercity Shield.

Peter McCauley has had his debut six-book series, The Fearsome FC, published by the Norfolk-based educational publisher Badger Publishing.

placeholder image — Peter McCauley has had his debut six-book series, The Fearsome FC, published by the Norfolk-based educational publisher Badger Publishing.

Peter was previously shortlisted twice (in 2023 and again in 2025) in the RTÉ Short Story Competition in honour of Francis MacManus, and had poems published in the Ulster University anthology New Worlds New Voices.

The Fearsome FC series was nominated ‘Book of the Week’ by the SLG (School Libraries Group). It was published at the end of March this year, and is available to buy now from badgerlearning.co.uk.

The author Peter McCauley, says: "Football played an enormous part of my own childhood. I played football in the garden and the street, watched matches on TV, and even got Subbuteo for Christmas! So, when Badger Publishing put the call out for a football series that would address a range of social issues, I jumped at the chance to put some ideas together. I ultimately pitched two ideas – one of which was accepted, and that was the Fearsome FC!”

This series is for anyone who enjoys a classic ‘overcoming the odds’ tale, whether you’re an ardent football fan or you don’t like any sport whatsoever.

As readers will discover, the Fearsome FC isn’t just about football. It is about life, death, family, friendship, poverty, hope, equality, misogyny, striving against the odds after a dream, never waiting for other people to solve your problems for you and, crucially, never giving up.’

For further information on The Fearsome FC, log on to https://www.badgerlearning.co.uk/fearsome-fc.html