Football fans will be in seventh heaven in Jamberoo this month as legendary players, coaches, administrators and authors come together to talk about, debate and dissect the state of the game in Australia.

The Football Writers Festival – dedicated to sports literature and journalism – is the only one of its kind in the world.

After a COVID-induced break, it will again bring together football writers, readers, players and all those who love the round-ball game at the Jamberoo Pub, home to the Johnny Warren Football Museum.

One of the returning workshop presenters, former Socceroo, human rights campaigner and author of Fozz on Football and Saving Hakeem, Craig Foster, says that this festival is a special opportunity for fans and scholars to share “what makes us all so passionate about the game”.

“The Football Writers’ Festival is the only event I have ever had the privilege of being a part of that gives the perception-changing power of literature and journalism in sport the attention it deserves as part of our football culture,” he says.

The Festival launches on Friday night 25 March, with an exhibition ‘Portraits in Football’ at the Jamberoo School of Arts.

Sports photographs, once part of the Fairfax Media Archive, which tell the story of Australian football from the mid-20th century to the 1990s will be shown for the first time courtesy of festival presenters, Fair Play Publishing.

Saturday starts with a breakfast event in Kiama, where Football Australia Board member, Matildas legend, and CEO of Australian Taekwondo, Heather Garriock, talking about why Australia needs to make the most of co-hosting the 2023 World Cup.

Sessions at Jamberoo Pub over Saturday include:

• Writing with Purpose with Craig Foster; broadcaster, Michael Cain; and author of The End of the Game, Michael Fiddian.
• You Can’t Write That with former News Corp, SBS journalist and author Philip Micallef; Chairman of the North Coast (NSW) Academy of Sport and author Greg Downes; and author Antony Sutton getting to grips with the different forms of sports storytelling and the process journalists, authors, editors and producers go through to engage with their audiences.

Later in the day, former players Frank Farina, George Harris and John Kosmina will be joined in conversation with the co-authors of Be My Guest – Football Superstars in Australia, Lucas Gillard and Jason Goldsmith, in Over-rated and overpaid? Or Great for the Game?.

Saturday night at 6pm Fixing Football will be a frank and no-holds-barred after-hours session with legends of the game including: Adrian Alston, Andy Bernal, Elissia Carnavas, Gary Cole, Frank Farina, Craig Foster, Jim Fraser, Heather Garriock, George Harris, John Kosmina and Kimon Taliadoros.

This will be followed by a quirky homage to Hard Quiz, headed up by the inimitable founders of The Ladies League.

One of the five Sunday sessions will see former Socceroo, coach, administrator and thought leader, Gary Cole; former Sports Editor, and author Vicky Krayem; and Emeritus Professor of Indigenous History, John Maynard, delve into what football history can tell us about change in football.

Football Writers Festival

March 26-27, Jamberoo Pub Full program and tickets ($15) at www.footballwritersfestival.com.au

More info and tickets about the Saturday Breakfast event ($35 or free for Women in Football members), go here: https://www.footballwritersfestival.com.au/post/it-s-now-or-never-breakfast-with-heather-garriock