Billy has just been picked to play for Chelsea when WWII breaks out . . . Master storyteller Michael Morpurgo weaves a powerful tale of triumph and tragedy on the pitch and off it. Billy's no kid – he's eighty today.

He's enjoying watching the boys in the park knock a football around and this afternoon he'll be cheering on his team, Chelsea, as he has done all his life.

In 1939 Billy was picked for Chelsea. Not quite nineteen, and his dreams had come true: 'Billy!

Billy the Kid!' they shouted as he scored goal after goal.

Surely life could get no better. But in 1939 too, the Second World War began and Billy's life would never be the same again . . . From the world renowned author War Horse, War Boy, War Game and Farm Boy and the creators of The Boy Who Would Be King and There Once Is a Queen. Full colour artwork throughout, from world-renowned illustrator Michael Foreman.