Behind the Game

Bonita Mersiades chats to us on her experiences in football administration from the days of Soccer Australia to unwillingly being placed on the Australia 2018/2022 World Cup bid team. We discuss what led her to being sacked from the World Cup bid team and how she came to the decision to become a whistle-blower against certain accepted practices within the bidding process for the 2018 & 2022 FIFA World Cup.

David Oswell chats to us on the how the not for profit organisation Their Beautiful Game was founded. We learn about the challenges faced in establishing a not for profit and the risks associated in working in some of the poorer nations across the world. Finally we discuss why David continues to strive to bring about change through football and how you can contribute.

James Parkinson, producer of the football podcast ByAssociation chats to us on combining his love of podcasts and football. We delve into how James was drawn in by Melbourne Victory at the start of the A-League in 2005. We also discuss the idea behind ByAssociation and the joys and challenges of producing the podcast.

Anthony Siokos, founder of the Johnny Warren Community chats to us on his love for the game. We hear how an upbringing in the Shire region of Sydney cemented a love of the soccer legend Johnny Warren, and how that continues to play out today. We also discuss how numerous ‘old soccer’ supporters including Anthony’s father still do not feel engaged by ‘new football’.

Julie Dolan, one of the pioneers of the Women’s Game in Australia chats to us on her journey in football. We hear how a 16 year old Dolan became the first captain of the Australian Women’ National Team in 1979 against New Zealand. We also discuss the Pilot Women’s World Cup held in China 1988, which was also the last tour for Dolan before retirement. Finally we hear on her current role as Technical Director at the International Football School on the Central Coast and how the school functions within the education system.

Gary Van Egmond chats to us on coaching that championship Newcastle team and how they fell to the spoon the following year. We delve into why he choose to come back to the club for a second time under the new ownership of Nathan Tinkler. Van Egmond also discusses his new roles as academy director at the Emerging Jets and assistant coach for the Matildas.

Atti Abonyi the Hungarian Socceroo chats to us on his national career that spanned a decade and took in Australia’s first international tournament win in Vietnam at the height of the war, 3 World Cup campaigns and the 1974 World Cup in Germany. With 89 appearances for the national team with a return of 36 goals – Abonyi is one of the most potent strikers Australia has ever had.

Andrew Howe chats to us on the rabbit hole that is Australian football statistics. Recognised as one of the leading statisticians in Australia, Andrew was never even interested in football until his late teenage years, when the world of the National Soccer League came into his view. What started out as a personal project to find out more information on Australia Clubs and their history has lead Andrew to collect statistics on over 10,000 games in Australian football history.

Matt Thompson chats to us on his career crossing over from the Parramatta Power as a 17 year old in the National Soccer League into the A-League with Newcastle Jets. We discuss how Thompson played for the enjoyment of the game rather than an innate desire to be the best ever. Thompson tells us what is was like playing for the Socceroos 4 times during a controversial period under then national team coach Pim Verbeek. His time playing at Sydney FC with Del Piero gets a run as well!

Adam Peacock talks to us his career as a young sports reporter at Channel Seven and making a commentary debut at the Winter Olympics with the Ski Jumping. We then see how that transformed into being one of the faces of Australian Football broadcasting at Foxsports with the A-League. Adams finally chats on the process undertaken to produce his book ‘That Night – a decade on, the story of Australian Football’s greatest night’.

Eli Mengem chats to us on how a lad from Melbourne came to have the best job in the world with Copa90, the worlds biggest football Youtube channel. We talk on what it is really like to travel the world reporting on football stories.

Kate Cohen, award winning young writer and exceptional football analyst chats to us on how to break down the parts of a game. We also chat to Cohen on the development path of the A-League in the past 5 years. We hear from Kate on her joy of coaching, how that came about at a young age and is now her desired path to follow. 

Tatiyana Shaba chats to us on the life of a football loving Assyrian Refugee. When her family left Iraq 20 years ago they found a home in New Zealand. Tatiyana tells us why first and foremost she is a football lover and how that come to be in New Zealand. A move to Australia 10 years later, set Tatiyana on the path to supporting Western Sydney Wanderers.

Lawrie McKinna chats to us on growing up in Scotland and moving to Australia for the second time changed his life for good. We hear from Lawrie on the struggles the Central Coast Mariners went through in building the club, and where the club is now at after 10 years. We finally discuss how a footballer come manager lands himself the gig as a Council Mayor.

Joel Griffiths chats to us on his sacking last season from the club he loves Newcastle Jets. We also hear from Griffiths on missing out on the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads. Griffiths reminisces on his love of Newcastle and what it meant to win the 2008 Final with the Jets.

Ranell Hobson from the Academy of Sport Speed and Agility chats to us on sprinting in football. We discuss some of the issues surrounding poor technique of sprinting in football and how that can be corrected. Ranell tells us about her recent trip to some Premier League youth academies and what they are doing in regards to youth development.

We chat to Remo Nogarotto who is staunchly proud of his ‘old soccer’ heritage. Remo Nogarotto has witnessed the good and bad that the game has delivered. The former Chairman of Soccer Australia passed through Marconi Stallions and Northern Spirit on his rise to the top of Australian Soccer Administration. We chat to him about this rise, the highs and lows the game has delivered.

Stan Ackerley chat to us on being a member of this first Australian National team to enter World Cup Qualification in 1965. We talk on the challenges faced with the team heading into what was at that time the unknown quantity of Asian Football. Stan also talks to us playing football in a warzone when the Australian team won a tournament held in Vietnam in 1967 at the height of the war.

Shaun Mooney publisher of respected football journal Leopold Method chat to us on the book ‘A-League - The Inside Story of a Tumultuous First Decade’, he has co-authored with Australian Financial Press journalist John Stensholt. Shaun talks to us about some of the stories and colourful characters that can be found in the history of the A-League. We talk on the problems and benefits of the various business models that exist within the A-League. Shaun also discusses Leopold Method which aims to bring intelligent, insightful football analysis to Australian football.

Loukas Founten chats to us on the trials and tribulations in writing ‘A Decade United:10 years of Adelaide United Football Club’. We hear how Adelaide United were not too enthusiastic about being involved in the project. Loukas then tells us how he turned to crowdfunding to get the book over the finish line.