Fozz On Football

by Craig Foster

In Fozz on Football , Craig Foster will explain the game and how Australia can develop to become a serious threat to footballing nations. He will explore the national styles of various influential countries and how that translates into a game that people love. He will also look at how the game in Australia is played, the goalkeepers and strikers, the past and the present, and importantly how Australia can maximize its opportunities. Easy to read and accessable, Fozz on Football will help anyone get a much deeper understanding of what football is about, how the game works, and how Australia needs to improve to excel at the game. Whether it’s exisiting fans who want a better understanding, or those who don’t currently follow football and wish to know more prior to the World Cup, Fozz on Football is a perfect guide to the "beautiful game."

Genres: Sports

316 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Fozz on Football' is, like the round ball game itself, divided up into two halves and is aimed at scoring a few goals. Part evangelist's screed, part j'accuse, part memoir and 100% focused on the beautiful game, this 2010 publication shows off the overwhelming passion that Craig Foster holds for football. He sets out in this text his vision of and for the sport and it is one that will definitely stir the soul of those perhaps partly converted to his cause. This reviewer is one such reader, so the themes and ideas that Fozz pushes are welcome. Unfortunately this also means that to some extent Foster is preaching to the converted. This is not a book that will convince those suspicious or indeed hostile to soccer.

The most noticeable and important attribute of the book is Foster's passionate focus on what he sees as the values, issues and problems of football, both in the global context and in the more parochial setting of Australian soccer. Fozz writes with all the fervour and visionary excitement that a devotee of football should have. He is not frightened of putting soccer on a pedestal whilst also trying to reveal and remedy some, if not all, of its frailties. For a book that is nominally about a sport, a football code, with all the attendant associations with athleticism and physical prowess 'Fozz on Football' is actually far more cerebral than expected. This is a book about soccer than positions the brain alongside the heart, and as a result the reader is encouraged to get on board with Foster's zeal.

If one comes to 'Fozz on Football' and is looking for personal reminiscences or an autobiographical text well prepared to be disappointed. Yes, the author does give some indications as to the experiences and personalities that have shaped his identity. However, he subordinated his life story to his thoughts about soccer. It might be said this is his football weltschauung. Through reading this book Foster allows the reader to discover a total philosophy of football that is extremely pertinent to the Australian context.

It must be noted that this book is now rather dated, and whilst some of the issues and ideas discussed herein are still relevant, others are not. Some of the optimism presented by Foster about the future of soccer in Australia is yet to be fulfilled. Also, whilst he has put plenty of effort into discussing the worth of football in a multicultural society such as Australia's, and conversely how our national game can be collectively improved by the involvement of the immigrant, indigenous and Anglo elements of this nation, he almost totally ignores the growth of women's football. I suspect this is not a sin of commission, but of omission from lack of awareness of the rise of women's soccer.

It is also interesting to read 'Fozz on Football' in the context of Foster's recent advocacy for refugees and human rights, the changing nature of the relationship between his employer (SBS) and Australian football, and the recent success of the Socceroos. This book reminds one how much has changed since it was written, yet it also offers some prophetic statements that are hopefully closer to being realised now than when Foster wrote them.

In conclusion, if one wants to read an Australian book about football through the eyes of a man who thinks about the game with an all-encompassing vision then this is it. For those of us who are faithful to soccer down under, who want it to become a huge success in our country and want our country to become a huge success on the world stage, this is a must read. It won't appeal to the unbelievers, but that isn't its point. Fozz has converted his spot kick no worries.

[Hiroshi Fukushima · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Australian football community needs to read and know to progress the game.

[Dennis Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The numbers never lie...
The 2006 World Cup final alone was watched by more than 700 million people. By way of reference, the US Super Bowl final is at 98 million, US Open and Wimbledon at 17 million, 2009 AFL final 3.8 million and the NRL Grand final even less.
Manchester United is said to have more than 50 million fans world wide which means it has at least 10 times the number of fans than the entire AFL code.

[Darren Clear · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quintessential book on Australian football.