sport

Martin McKenzie-Murray Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch captures a singular love of soccer. Although the game may have evolved enormously in the 30 years since its release, the book still has much to say about masculine frailties and obsessive fandom.

Martin McKenzie-Murray A Saudi-led consortium’s takeover of EPL club Newcastle United has buoyed the spirits of long-suffering fans, reaffirmed the power of sportswashing, and driven a financial stake through the heart of the Beautiful Game.

Jack Kerr When it comes to cash, City Football Group has plenty to kick around. Now the owner of Melbourne City may, finally, be able to add the A-League’s biggest title to its collection.

Engel Schmidl Melbourne-born soccer coach Arthur Papas has plied his trade in the far corners of the globe. Will his current stint in Japan set him up for a prominent future on the world stage?

Joe Gorman Once best known as SBS’s face of soccer, Craig Foster has parlayed his multicultural education from the game into passionate work for human rights and social justice, becoming a genuine ‘change agent’ not just for sport but for society.

Joe Gorman For star Matildas veteran Lisa De Vanna and other Australian players, the worldwide shutdown of soccer is having devastating consequences – both financially and psychologically.

Joe Gorman Where once Australia’s soccer success rode on the shoulders of European migrants, a new generation of African Australians has started to kick serious goals.

Kate O’Halloran While the recent Matildas pay deal is a welcome boost for gender equality in sport, women athletes – Ash Barty aside – still have a long way to go to reach equal pay with their male counterparts.

Kieran Pender An early exit from the FIFA Women’s World Cup left the Matildas bitterly disappointed. But for Indigenous goalkeeper Lydia Williams it just offers another opportunity to overcome adversity.