Collection: Blog

From the Socceroos squad announcement on 1 June to the final on 20 July (local time), we're opening the Reading Room: a new themed shelf every week, with 26% off all our World Cup Reading Room titles (26% for 2026 - it seemed only right), mystery boxes, and a competition we're rather excited about.

Looking for author events in NSW and Queensland this month?

Over the coming weeks, Fair Play Publishing authors will appear at writers festivals, book launches and literary events across NSW and QLD, from the Sunshine Coast to Sydney and the Southern Highlands.

Former Kangaroo and Balmain legend Garry Jack will celebrate the launch of his autobiography Jumping Jack, written with Adam Hawse, on Wednesday, 18 March at the historic Red Lion Hotel.

From 19-22 March, the Manly Writers' Festival brings together writers, readers and ideas across Manly, and several Fair Play Publishing authors will be part of the conversations. Here’s where to catch them.

It’s been a busy start to the year, building toward the Manly Writers’ Festival in March and preparing a strong new line-up of books for 2026. If you enjoy thoughtful sports writing, history, memoir, and books about life, this season is for you.

As the year draws to a close and we all begin to wind down for the holidays, we’re celebrating a wonderful year of books, storytelling, and Australian voices with our Top 10 Reads of 2025 – the ten titles Fair Play Publishing proudly released this year. Here's 1-6. 

We believe all our stories matter. That is why we publish them, and why we publish for a purpose. 

From Dave Mitchell’s trailblazing move to Rangers to Ange Postecoglou’s history-making run at Celtic, Socceroos in Scotland, by Paul Murphy, charts four decades of Australian footballers’ growing impact in Scotland and the surprising two-way bond between the two footballing cultures.

Throughout this week on social media, we've been highlighting three of our books relevant to the aim of NAIDOC Week, which runs from 6th-13th July. This year's NAIDOC is of special significance as it is the 50th anniversary of the celebration, with the theme of The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy.

100 years ago today, Australia played its first football match against England at the 'Ekka' (Exhibition Ground) in Brisbane. It was the first of a five-match series played in Sydney, Melbourne and Maitland. We figure if we didn't tell you about it, who would? 

Shoutout to the Socceroos fans in Jeddah on Wednesday morning who acknowledged the work of Simon Hill. Simon has always been a big supporter of Fair Play Publishing, our work, and the efforts of our authors, for which we are grateful. 

Baby, it may have been cold outside, but it was worthwhile getting up early this morning to watch the Socceroos (and Maty Ryan in his 100th match) make yet more history.

Their sixth consecutive World Cup. 

The point is that his contribution to football extends beyond his personal story, or the trophies he has accumulated in four countries as both a player and a manager. His role in our game and his influence have spanned decades, from the worst of times to the best of times and the bits in between.

Join us at the Manly Writers' Festival on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, March 28, 29, and 30, to meet several Fair Play Publishing authors (and friends) across our three imprints: Fair Play, Popcorn Press, and Pepper Press. We're also releasing three books this month, especially for the Festival. 

What better way to find out more about your favourite books or get them signed than to join us at the 2025 Manly Writers' Festival from 28-30 March 2025?

As the 2025 football season approaches and players register across Australia after the record-breaking 1.9 million participants last year, Amy Schembri's new book, Making It...Or Not—The Real Journey Told by Professional Players, is timely and invaluable. 

Sometimes maligned, sometimes celebrated, and often misunderstood, the professional football agent is an essential part of today's football landscape in Australia and globally. What happens behind the scenes in securing potentially life-changing deals has been a mystery—until now. 

It's 'Booktober': want to have a chat about a really good book?

Then join us at one of our book launches or author talks this 'Booktober'.

Whether your dad is a football enthusiast, a sports history buff, someone who loves a gripping novel or just a great read about people, we're happy to share a selection of books that make the perfect gift. 

With the Paris Olympics just ten days away, it's time to highlight our two Olympic books published this year.

The first, released in March, is an autobiography of 1980 Gold Medalist Michelle Ford, in Swimming, Turning the Tide, written with Craig Lord.  The second, Ladies First by Ashley Morrison, released last month, is also an incredible story of an otherwise forgotten team: the 1988 Seoul Olympics Gold Medal winners in women's hockey. 

 

Our latest book is another Olympics non-fiction about some forgotten Gold Medalists, the 1988 Australian Women's Hockey team. Ladies First - The Story of Australia's First Olympic Hockey Gold Medal is a compelling account of the remarkable journey undertaken by the Australian women's hockey team at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

It was 50 years ago today that the team we know as the #Socceroos made their debut in the World Cup, facing off against East Germany in Hamburg. This historic match marked the beginning of a legacy that continues to inspire football fans and young players around the country.

Chances are that most Australian football fans are not familiar with midfielder Charyl Chappuis, yet he is one of the best-known footballers from Thailand, one of our Asian Football Confederation neighbours.

For many, South America epitomises most of what we love about football. Tales of South American Football - Passion, Revolution and Glory by Jorge Knijnik weaves the fabric of culture and sport in 13 chapters that give the reader a path into the region's modern history and social realities.