Rooney's is Harry Potter, but whose is The Iliad?

Premier League footballers may be more used to having their rights read to them than reading for themselves but today they reveal their favourite literary works in a campaign to persuade more children to take up books.

The choices of the 20 players (one from each club) selected as "reading stars" are eclectic – ranging from children's books to the classics. Interestingly, eight of the teams selected their goalkeepers as the person most likely to devote time to helping children with their reading.

Robert Green, the West Ham and England goalkeeper, selected Homer's The Iliad – a departure from 2007's list, when he plumped for Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United star who began this week being described as a "crazy man" by Fabio Capello, chose Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling.

"Harry Potter is almost every child's favourite book and the same goes for a lot of adults, too," he said. "J K Rowling is a fantastic author and I would encourage any child to read the Harry Potter books: they are full of excitement and adventure and they really get your imagination going."

Green added: "Everyone should try to make a bit of time each day to read more. You should never be scared of a book either, reading classics like The Iliad might seem daunting but if you take your time you gain such a lot from trying them."

The selection of the reading stars, who will take part in reading sessions with children over the next year, coincides with new research published today showing that footballers are the most likely role models to be selected by children outside of their own family.

The study, published by the National Literacy Trust, reveals boys are twice as likely as girls to say sports people can inspire them to read. Children from the poorest families are also more than twice as likely to chose sports people as their heroes.

Top of the literature league: Stars' favourites

Arsenal Bacary Sagna The Soul of a Butterfly, Muhammad Ali

Aston Villa Brad Friedel Stick Man, Julia Donaldson

Blackburn Paul Robinson The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Robin S Sharma

Bolton Jussi Jaaskelainen How To Speak Dragonese, Cressida Cowell

Chelsea Henrique Hilario Black And Blue, Paul Canoville

Everton Carlo Nash Luxury Backpackers, Jill Nash & Carlo Nash

Fulham Mark Schwarzer Scarves, Sombreros And Penalty Shoot Outs, Wallace And Schwarzer

Hull City Boaz Myhill Lord Of The Flies, William Golding

Liverpool Jamie Carragher War Horse, Michael Morpurgo

Man City Daniel Sturridge Pele: The Autobiography, Pele

Man Utd Wayne Rooney (left) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J K Rowling

Middlesbrough Ross Turnbull Blessed, George Best

Newcastle Steven Taylor Friendly Matches, Allan Ahlberg

Portsmouth David James Moneyball, M Lewis

Stoke City Danny Higginbotham A Quiet Belief In Angels, R J Ellory

Sunderland Craig Gordon Head On: Botham The Autobiography, Ian Botham

Tottenham Didier Zokora The Kick Off, Dan Freedman

West Bromwich Albion Chris Brunt James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl

West Ham Robert Green The Iliad, Homer

Wigan Emmerson Boyce Wallace And Gromit: The Bootiful Game, Ian Rimmer