Episode 47 - Greg Stock and resetting narratives

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Apologies again for Paul's sketchy internet connection.

Life during the plague time continues, but so does the show.

We note that this week much of Mark Boric's attention has been on establishing a letterhead section for his site. George Cotsanis has been uploading video items on his YouTube and Facebook accounts - much of them from Gary Cole's personal collection - as well as new interviews. A shout-out for Matthew Galea, who has been promoting his efforts at creating at an online space for Essendon Royals' history. Then a mention of Garry MacKenzie and his ongoing research to the certified rogue, Arthur Prinsep (more on that later in the year, we hope.)

Ian discusses his nascent project idea of writing and editing a book of biographical essays (from a variety of writers) on important, prominent, and interesting figures in Australian soccer history before 1945.

Then Ian gets back on his hobby horse of people campaigning against public spaces being converted into soccer fields. Paul tries to put him back in his place by providing the necessary social and historical context. Only time will tell if Ian learns anything from the experience.

In 100 Years Ago Today we're joined by recurring guest Greg Stock as we visit Perth for the ongoing visit of the Prince of Wales; note the news of an English team touring South Africa and wondering if they'll make the trip across to Australia; note passing comments made on the popularity of the various football codes in England; a seemingly confused snippet on soccer in North America; reports of a soccer brawl in Queensland, as reported in Port Pirie; and lastly, a bit on new oval for Granville.

For the final segment Greg, Ian, and Paul discuss a piece which Greg wrote on the latest call by governing bodies for a reset of the narrative as part of Football Federation Australia's XI Principles document. Among the issues covered:

• the idea that the recurring idea within Australian soccer of resetting - and how that often leads to rewriting and/or forgetting
• is this recurring attempt at "fresh starts" an inherent quality of Australian soccer?
• why don't we have a collective sense of a broader shared soccer history
• comparisons to other sports in Australia, and why we should be cautious in thinking other sports are better at presenting a collective historical front
• the state and regional lines which make a shared collective soccer history difficult
• how much of the blame for the lack of a linear or shared history should be on historical circumstances (fractured state lines), governing bodies (resetting and clean slates), and ordinary fans (who take little interest in their own histories, and moving on to new ones) 
• whether the lack of sustained multi-generational cultural relevance following strong eras for the game is in part the reason why soccer fails to gain traction in the way Australian Rules or rugby league do
• the game's failure to embrace its depth of history, essentially focusing only on very specific and comparatively recent events
• the absence of a national, primeval soccer mythology
• a left-field theory from Paul - that the lack of Socceroos success in qualifying for World Cups (and relevance, for often playing minnows or touring clubs) - is part of the cause of a lack of a national soccer identity. 
• as another left-field example of the strangeness of Australian soccer history being wiped out - Andy Harper's playing history was institutionally and culturally erased by his employer, Fox Sports.
• ultimately, the one unifying concept in Australian soccer history - is it self-loathing?