Almanac Books: Is sports publishing in Australia in a death spiral?
Is sports publishing in Australia in a death spiral?
It’s a question that fills me with disappointment and nostalgia for the days when sports books were considered part of our literary landscape and held a prominent place in bookstores. Yes, it’s true they once did, and it wasn’t that long ago.
Imagine if sports book publishing were a person today, a priest would be giving them the last rites. By this, I mean sales rather than the number and quality of sports books produced.
One of Australia’s top writers and publishers of sports literature, Geoff Armstrong, told the ABC in February 2025,
“People aren’t buying sports books anymore. They used to be a Christmas gift, but that’s no longer the case. I don’t think people are reading sports books. The industry is in a state of despair.”
If that isn’t a damning assessment coming from someone close to the inner sanctum, I don’t know what is.
The first book I read was Tigers Among the Lions written by Ian Chappell, about Australia’s 1972 tour of England, which was a treasured Christmas gift. Despite its worn appearance, I still treasure my hardcover copy. My friends have similar stories to tell.
Mainstream publishers still produce sports books, though in smaller numbers, often highlighting well-known athletes, where marketing usually outweighs editing or fact-checking. There’s also a growing trend to feature ‘lists of moments’ and ‘collected writings’, which are fine but not exactly groundbreaking.
Many sports books are published by boutique or self-publishers with limited, pricey print runs. Blink and you’ll miss them. Unless you actively look for them, you may never know they exist. On distribution, mainstream publishers dominate shelf space, and you’re just as likely to find books from overseas as from Australia in local stores. The sports book sections have now shrunk to a shelf or two—at best.
Men, the traditional audience for sports histories, are reading less than before. Information is now often accessed online in smaller pieces. And after all, there’s a saturation of entertainment around us. Respect for history within sporting clubs and associations, where books would typically have a ready-made audience, has declined.
Then there’s YouTube. You can find nearly any sporting highlight you’re after in this television age. Why bother reading about it when you can relive those golden moments of your youth with just one click of a button?
Reading takes time and focus. Traits that appear to be scarcer.
As Armstrong has also noted, the absence of sports book awards clearly demonstrates how undervalued and underappreciated the genre is.
So, where are the sporting histories that broaden our understanding of the bigger picture? Perhaps they are being considered but not written.
From a writer’s view, sometimes it’s a matter of ‘I won’t bother writing about it because no one would publish it.’ Let’s face it, writing a book isn’t something that’s finished overnight. It can take years and thousands of hours to research and complete a book. For others lucky enough to find a publisher or self-publish, getting books into stores also remains a challenge, and even then, only small numbers of copies are taken in.
Still, these stories have great potential to deepen our understanding of sport and its role in society, and we shouldn’t overlook them. Furthermore, if these stories aren’t shared, they’ll be lost forever.
We need quality storytelling invested in by mainstream publishers that offer deeper insight than just the sum of its parts. Otherwise, we risk losing an important part of Australia’s culture.
Australian sports publishing might be fading, but hopefully it can make a comeback.
Barry Nicholls’ latest book, Playing to Win: Australia and the 1972 Ashes, was published by Wakefield Press.
You can read more from Barry Nicholls Here
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I much rather hold a physical book, than something online.
Thanks Barry, you’ve neatly summarised much of the reality of today’s sports book publishing industry.
The one aspect I’d be curious to know more of is in the publishing / sales of sports e-books. Is this area popular/ growing, etc?
Also, the popularity of sports podcasting and documentaries may be playing a role in shifting sports audiences away from reading.
Thanks, RB – I prefer the physical book, but occasionally I buy one on Kindle. This week for example I bought one of each (Redtails in the Sunset and Cricket Champions).
Thanks Adam that’s a good point re podcasts and docos which add to the options of entertainment. I’d add audio books which I consider reading. Podcasts generally leave me cold, there are so many and a lot have little production, informative or entertainment value ( that’s probably an old radio person’s view there).
I love sports documentaries and have quality couch time watching Netflix etc.
I don’t think that E-books have ever taken off to the extent that publishers hoped.
I suppose the point I’m trying to make is that we’re losing something and I’m not certain exactly what it is but it’s something significant . I think mainstream publishers are too often dictated to by the marketing department instead of by the editors. I also get it that publishing is a mug’s game but there was a time when quality trumped everything. Some publishers still do this, namely Wakefield, Fremantle Press and Upswell
(and I’m sure there are others too).
But then again maybe I’m just an old fellah shouting into the breeze!
Another problem I think is a lack of reviewing of books in newspapers. When was the last time a sports book was reviewed in the Australian – the national broadsheet or for that matter the ABR?
Bazz no doubt whatsoever- sports books don’t move re the same volume as they used to at bookstores.
As a author sales wise it’s thru direct approach to individuals and guest speaking gigs – admit don’t have a solution- thank you
Very true Book. It’s a hard slog, the writing and then trying to promote. Rewarding in itself but it would be good to see major publishers more invested
.
Thanks Barry for this thought promoting article. As someone whose genre is sports history I am gobsmacked by the lack of interest from generations X,Y &Z. One of my recent books “Heart & Soul – A history of the Lang Lang Football Club 1900-2022” sold well but we made a note of who purchased the work. We found only 12 of the 2024 team (58 players on the list) purchased same. I love sports history and breaking even would be like beating Usain Bolt’s 100 metre dash. The only sports books that obviously make money are those “written” by AFL players the moment they finish with the Sherrin. Heaven forbid! They have a mindless audience of club members who will buy the book no matter that it (the book) contains anything of substance. There are still some fine sports authors around and many of them get frustrated with the below par jargon that comes out nowadays from “lazy” writers.
Thanks Citrus Bob for your reflection. I think the horse may have bolted re younger readers although I’m hoping there will be a correction. I have been buoyed of late by my youngest son Harry’s renewed interest in reading. He’s 17 and realised the benefits and joys of being immersed in a book. The fascination with technology that provides instant gratification eventually leads to nothing of substance. This realisation might eventually reverse the fortunes of sports book publishers. Boys and men in particular I fear are missing out.
A Cats tragic, I was given two footy books in 2024. One epitomized Citrus Bob’s lament above, the other was a refreshing exception.
Tom Hawkins’ “autobiography”, ghosted by a writer who shares a name with a former WI fast bowler, was a waste of time. Patrick Dangerfield called it with a grin – and beware that grin – “an hour of my life I won’t get back”. Talented boy from privileged background mucks around then makes good.
On the other hand, Zach Tuohy’s memoir is a cracker. Still a light read, but in the best way. We get a sense of the essential Irishness of his boyhood, which Catherine Murphy understands and renders into conversational prose in their shared accent. Perhaps the second half is still just another life-of-footy story, but it’s lifted above the ruck by its happy humanity.
For me, sports books still resonate. Have you read Angel Fernandez’ book on the Sturt Football Club called THE OLD DOUBLE BLUES – Celebrating the men of Sturt?
It is a real journey into the author’s passion for his football club. He has great images as well in the book. I purchased it years ago, and just started re-reading it after Sturt’s victory this year. Wow! Such a great book. Great interviews too.
There are many books I love, books really resonate if you allow them in, whilst more modern mediums such as podcasts, websites etc are more fleeting in terms of their impact on you.