Clarke was originally nominated as a Reading Champion for Queens Park Rangers by Sarah Wilkie, Lifelong Learning Manager with Westminster Libraries.
Sarah explains the connection: 'The football club supported the Reading Relay summer reading challenge held in Westminster Libraries this summer, offering prizes and othern incentives to children who participated. Clarke spoke very eloquently at our Reading Relay launch and talked to invited classes from local schools about what reading has meant to him, both when he was a child and as an adult. Roald Dahl is a particular favourite and Clarke explained that it was through Dahl’s book Boy that he discovered the joy of reading autobiography'.
Q: What memories do you have of reading or being read to when you were a child?
Clarke Carlisle: "I always remember being a good reader. I could read properly before I went to school and I remember helping the teacher in reception class by having the other children read to me."
Q: What kind of reading do you most enjoy?
Clarke Carlisle: "I like fantasy books like Terry Pratchett and the Harry Potter books, but I have just gotten into biographies/autobiographies, having just finished Alex Ferguson's Managing My Life and just started Mandela."
Q: How would you encourage boys to read?
Clarke Carlisle: "I would encourage boys to read by starting with funny, easy reading books, to try to show them that books can be fun and exciting."
Q: Why do you think reading is important?
Clarke Carlisle: "Reading whilst you are young can be very helpful, especially by giving you word power and a grasp of English grammar and language, which can help you in exams. And believe me exams are very important."
Have you heard about Reading The Game - working through professional football to promote literacy and lifelong learning?