From nineteenth century impromptu football games to the professional matches of the Socceroos and Matildas on the international stage – Australia’s fastest growing sport has a fascinating and turbulent history. International successes and the creation of the A-League in 2005 fuelled nation-wide enthusiasm for the ‘game of two halves’.
Roy Hay and Bill Murray’s lively and provocative account traces the history and development of football in Australia. The authors tell the story of a sport they have loved and followed all their lives, and shed light on the important role football has played in some of the nation’s most important topics: immigration, integration, and an evolving national identity.
