Episode 79 - Dylan Arvela and Woonona's 2020 championship

Download and listen to this episode here.

Interminable married couple banter. Some news on the Merewether soccer Anzacs honour board. Then Ian follows up on his research on Footscray Thistle player and Victorian representative George Macaulay, which included meeting George's children, and taking scans and photos of Macaulay football memorabilia - including medals and member ticket booklets. We try to figure out where one of the photos with a scoreboard "G.B.P." on it - Paul thinks maybe the Motordrome. Ian tries to sum up what we've learned about Macaulay and the people he played alongside, and how he seemed to be lost to local soccer - and the ways in which the pre-WW2 soccer culture doesn't necessarily follow through to the post-war period. Also, how Melbourne soccer seems afflicted by a lack of depth, and a lack of native-born players to help carry the culture into second and third generations.

After the break we chat with journalist Dylan Arvela, about his book  A Drop in the Ocean: the story of Woonona's Illawarra Premier League championship, (available for purchase via Amazon). which covers the titular club's unexpected 2020 title run. Among the things we discuss are the history of Woonona, and its comparative lack of success; the current power balance within Illawarra football; what football was like under Covid conditions; what's more important, a league title or grand final win; is it a championship or a premiership?; how different clubs value different titles in terms of importance; the nature of the rivalries of Wollongong soccer; a dramatic final day of the league season; and what else Dylan has lined up to write next. 

(also Paul gets to talk about driving around Wollongong's northern suburbs soccer grounds with Travis Faulks).

We finish with a brief edition of 100 Years Ago Today, where finally we have some news of the Melbourne season, and we finish off with the segment's first ever reference to the Northern Territory, with the arrival of the Geranium in Darwin.

Episode 23 - Ian's Newcastle trip; Paul's map of Australian soccer cultural map

Download and listen to episode 23 here.

Paul begins the show by reminiscing about how good the NSL's disregard for punctual kickoff times.

We note that Mark Boric has been uploading match programs, including material provided by Graeme McGinty. Also credit to George Cotsanis for uploading some interesting videos, much of which would not have been seen in decades... and the discussion goes back to reminiscing. Even for a history show, that's a lot reminiscing.

And then Ian begins talking about his trip to Newcastle. First, there was the launch for John Maynard's revised Aboriginal Soccer Tribe.. but a lot of people who should have been there weren't.  Then Ian got chauffeured up to Newcastle from Sydney by Todd Blackwell. And then Ian spent the weekend being driven around everywhere by David McGaw. The overwhelming effect was how deep soccer's roots were in Newcastle.

Then Ian went to the Northern New South Wales grand final, and noted the differences between the styles in soccer support between Newcastle and Melbourne... a discussion about the difference between interest and intensity... and how much passion is too much. (For the blog by South Hobart blogger Richard Rants, see this link) And what do grand finals mean and what are they worth compared to finishing on top of the table?

The next day Ian went to the library, but apparently libraries are boring now according to Ian. More fun was catching up with Newcastle soccer historians and historian adjacent people... and more musings on belonging, and the material and cultural conditions which can create that relaxed sense of belonging.

Then Ian talks about meeting Bob Heppelwhite, a West Wallsend stalwart, who regaled Ian with a tale about playing against Reg Date, and Ian missing the chance to tap in old stories of Australian soccer.

After the break is a big announcement from David Eland, CEO of Northern NSW Football, and Greg Groombridge - an offer of a cash reward for anyone who can help find the whereabouts of the Merewether Advance roll of honour.

Then 100 Years Ago Today with the thrilling conclusion to the 1919 Victorian league season.

And finally, the birth of Paul's Australian cultural map project.

Episode 22 - an hour long chat about record keeping and cultural memory

Download and listen to episode 22 here.

The latest Mark Boric scan and upload news includes Mark's collaboration with Tony Persoglia. And we wonder what happened to the culture of record?

Ian finds a player missing from Jason Goldsmith's Surfing for England, one Frank Mitchell, who had an extended career in England.

Meanwhile Paul has been watching NFL history videos, specifically this one, which discusses the history NFL name change and franchise moves - and would love to do one for Australian soccer.

Where are the Australian soccer statues? (see this piece for a long read on Australian sports statues) And some spit-balling about would eventually become this map.

Then some chat about a Football Victoria history survey. Then Paul has a go at Football Victoria for its poor record keeping regarding the Dockerty Cup final, and the poor culture of record-keeping for  (you'll have to use your imagination for the papers Paul is holding up which were nominally visible on the Facebook stream).

(On the right, see an extract of a player's record - in this case belonging to Nicholas Tsiaras, a long term soccer official who was even on the Football Victoria board at one point - from the My Cricket website.)

Then 100 Years Ago Today with the 1919 Dockerty Cup final - and more record keeping foibles across the decades. Then to Ipswich and Newcastle, and across the country the soccer competitions are nearing their completion.

Moving on, Ian begins discussing his pending trip to Newcastle, and his desire to catalogue every soccer player from Newcastle prior to World War 1, with the hope of finding each one who enlisted. See this article for more information on the Merewether Advance honour roll. And this for the chat about Billy Maxwell.