Five Oz soccer books

A sample of the books I considered as possible inclusions.

Asked by Jason, a listener to If You Know Your History for advice about good soccer books to read, Paul and I have come up with our own lists of 5 (possibly mutually exclusive -- though who knows?).

Disclaimer: I am not trying to say the books I list are the best or most important books about oz soccer. They are merely books that are worth reading for differing reasons. Many of them are books that should be on the shelves of soccer clubs around Australia. And before you @ me, this is a personal list of books that have spoken to me and I know I have left off books that others would have at number 1.

Give us your 5!

Reasons for reading. The following criteria are useful:

1. revealing untold stories
2. correcting badly told stories
3. simply entertaining
4. important analysis
5. personal/emotional power

These are my books in order (I'll read from the bottom)

1. Mosely, Philip. Soccer in New South Wales, 1880–1980. Bannockburn and Carlton North, Vic.: Sports and Editorial Services Australia in association with Vulgar Press, 2014. 1,2,4
2. Williamson, John. Soccer Anzacs: The Story of Caledonian Soccer Club. Applecross, WA, John Williamson, 1998. 1, 2, 4, 5
3. Maynard, John. The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe: A History of Aboriginal Involvement with the World Game. Broome: Magabala, 2011. (Recently updated and published by Fair Play) 1, 2, 4, 5
4. Hay, Roy and Bill Murray. A History of Football in Australia, Melbourne, Hardie Grant, 2014. 1, 2, 4
5. Gorman, Joe. The Death and Life of Australian Soccer. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, 2017. 1, 2, 4

Honourable mentions

• Deans, Adrian. Mr Cleansheets. Melbourne: Vulgar, 2012. 3,5
• Andy Howe's Encyclopedia of Socceroos. (published by Fair Play)  1, 2
• Peter Kunz Chronicles of Soccer in Australia - The Foundation Years, 1859 to 1949 (published by Fair Play) 1, 2
• Peter Allen's book on Reg Date (which I haven't read)
• Kallinikios, John. Soccer Boom: The Transformation of Victorian Soccer Culture, 1945–1963. Sydney: Walla Walla Press, 2007. 1,2,4
• Warren, John with Andy Harper and Josh Whittington. Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters: An Incomplete Biography of Johnny Warren and Soccer in Australia. Sydney: Random, 2002. 1, 2, 4, 5

List of Australian soccer book references from my book, The Game That Never Happened

• Gorman, Joe. The Death and Life of Australian Soccer. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, 2017.
• Grant, Sidney James. Jack Pollard’s Soccer Records. Sydney: Jack Pollard, n.d. [1974].
• Hay, Roy and Bill Murray. A History of Football in Australia, Melbourne, Hardie Grant, 2014.
• Hay, Roy and Ian Syson. The Story of Football in Victoria. Melbourne: Football Federation Victoria, 2009.
• Hudson, Chris. A Century of Soccer, 1898-1998: A Tasmanian History. Hobart: Peacock, 1998. 
• Kallinikios, John. Soccer Boom: The Transformation of Victorian Soccer Culture, 1945–1963. Sydney: Walla Walla Press, 2007.
• Kreider, Richard. The Soccerites. Perth: SportsWest Media, 2005.
• Mangan, Patrick. Offsider. Melbourne: Victory, 2010.
• Maynard, John. The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe: A History of Aboriginal Involvement with the World Game. Broome: Magabala, 2011.
• Mosely, Philip. Soccer in New South Wales, 1880–1980. Bannockburn and Carlton North, Vic.: Sports and Editorial Services Australia in association with Vulgar Press, 2014.
• Murphy, Brendan. From Sheffield With Love. York, UK: SportsBooks, 2007.
• Thompson, Trevor. One Fantastic Goal: A Complete History of Football in Australia. Sydney: ABC Books, 2006.
• Warren, John with Andy Harper and Josh Whittington. Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters: An Incomplete Biography of Johnny Warren and Soccer in Australia. Sydney: Random, 2002.
• Williamson, John. Soccer Anzacs: The Story of Caledonian Soccer Club. Applecross, WA, John Williamson, 1998.