Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters, by Johnny Warren (2002)

I was over the moon when I received a copy of this book for my birthday. It was printed on demand and represented the culmination of a year’s search asking for it at bookstores around Melbourne.

After a slow start (largely biographical) this book delighted me with unheard stories that I feel every football fan in Australia should know. From the Socceroo’s tour of Vietnam, the lockout friendly against the New York Cosmos and much more I took heaps of fascinating anecdotes from this book.

This book was written well, it was clear and digestible and although there were a couple of writers Warren’s strong tone stands out. Here is someone who backs himself and in a uniquely un-Australian way is proud of and stands up for his and his community’s achievements.

There was a lot said about Warren’s role as an Anglo-football evangelist and although he clearly did a remarkable job in that role, I can’t help but think of all the others who missed out on their flowers owing to their inability to cross over into mainstream networks.

Regardless Warren is an inspiration who thought deeply about the game and is probably the best personification of Australian Soccer DNA. Much more needs to be done to share his story and that of Australian Soccer to the current and future generations of players and fans.