Notice these words in the story.

• “chuffed”, meaning delighted or very pleased

• “nosey”, meaning inquisitive

• “gawky”, meaning awkward, ungainly.

These are words that are used in an informal way in colloquial speech.

Make a list of ten other words of this kind.

• Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of a ground.

• Sophie felt a tightening in her throat.

• If he “keeps his head on his shoulders.”

• On Saturday “they made their weekly pilgrimage” to the United.

• She saw… him ghost past the lumbering defenders.

Pick out five other sentences from the story in which present participles are used in this sense.

– Think of a person who you would like to have as your role model.

– Write down the points to be discussed or questions to be asked, if you were asked to interview that person on a television show.

Look for other stories or movies where this theme of hero worship and fantasising about film or sports icons finds a place.