15.000 is a number that has relevance within some of Roy Hay’s published works as he explains in his piece.
Almanac Book Reviews: ‘The Eye of the Dragonfly,: My Life Seeing the World Through Sport’ – Tracey Lee Holmes
October 1, 2025 by 2 Comments
Sports journalist and commentator Tracey Holmes has published a book looking at life through her career in sports, ‘The Eye of the Dragonfly: My Life Seeing the World Through Sport’. Roy Hay reviews Tracey’s book.
Almanac Book Reviews: ‘The Coping Stone – The First English Soccer Tour of Australia 1925’ by Paul Nicholls
September 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
One hundred years ago the first English Soccer tour to Australia occurred. Paul Nicholls has written an account of that tour, ‘The Coping Stone – The First English Soccer Tour of Australia 1925’, and Roy Hay presents his review of the book.
Almanac Family History: James ‘Dun’ Hay – Captain of Celtic, Ayr United, Newcastle United and Scotland, and other stories
August 6, 2025 by 4 Comments
Members of Roy Hay’s family are remembered in three biographies including his grandfather Scottish soccer legend James Dun Hay and his incredible career.
What Are You Looking At?
July 30, 2025 by 1 Comment
A photograph in the newspaper prompts Roy Hay to recall a family link to the Szenchenyi Bridge in Budapest.
Almanac Football: Writing and rewriting football history
April 15, 2025 by 4 Comments
Roy Hay raises some interesting points regarding the ‘rewriting of football history’ to accommodate existing concerns rather than the actual circumstances that occured.
Almanac Footy History: ‘Kicking Against the Wind’
August 10, 2024 by 1 Comment
Roy Hay tells us about a new book, a history of the Portarlington Football Netball Club. Copies are available now.
Almanac Sport: Geelong’s Sports Museum opens in June
June 7, 2024 by 5 Comments
Roy Hay informs readers of the imminent opening of the Geelong Sports Museum in the newly reconstructed Kardinia Park stadium.
Almanac Book Review: ‘Line and Length – A History of the Geelong Cricket Club’
March 8, 2024 by 1 Comment
Roy Hay reviews a new book detailing the history of the Geelong Cricket Club
Almanac Soccer: Harry Souttar and the back-to-front Socceroos
March 6, 2024 by 3 Comments
It’s rare for a central-defender to feature among the goal-scorers but Australia’s Harry Souttar has a phenomenal record in recent times writes Roy Hay.
Almanac Book Review: ‘The One Indiscretion of His Life’ by Gideon Haigh
February 12, 2024 by 1 Comment
The inimitable Roy Hay has reviewed Gideon Haigh’s latest book which looks at the life and times of William ‘Barlow’ Carkeek.
Almanac Book Reviews: ‘Green and Golden Boots: Australia’s Overseas Golden Boot Winners’ – Jason Goldsmith
October 28, 2023 by 3 Comments
Roy Hay reviews the new soccer book by Jason Goldsmith, ‘Green and Golden Boots: Australia’s Overseas Golden Boot Winners’, a book that reflects upon Australian soccer players who were leading goal scorers for their overseas league.
Almanac Book Review: ‘Australian Soccer from the Beginning’ – Ted Simmons OAM
September 16, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Ted Simmons OAM has always been the go to person for those seeking historical information about Australian Soccer. This historical information he gathered over many decades is now recorded in his book, ”Australian Soccer from the Beginning’ which has been reviewed here by Roy Hay.
Almanac (World Cup) Soccer: Even the cat is watching the games
August 15, 2023 by 1 Comment
Like many households, Roy Hay’s family were firmly engrossed watching the Matildas win their exciting quarter-final match against France, and even the cat could not take its eyes off the game!
Almanac Book Review: ‘Football Fans: in their own write’ – David Picken
August 2, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Roy Hay reviews ‘Football Fans: in their own write’ by David Picken, a book about prominent football supporters discussing their allegiance to the game and specific football clubs, and according to Roy, the book is “a bloody good read”.
Almanac Book Review: Clogball
July 12, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Historian and writer Roy Hay reviews Adam Muyt’s new book, ‘Clogball’, the story of Dutch soccer in Australia. Sounds like an interesting read.
Almanac Book Review: ‘The Matilda Effect’ – Fiona Crawford
June 15, 2023 by 2 Comments
Roy Hay reviews the recently released soccer book ‘The Matilda Effect’ by Fiona Crawford. According to Roy, ‘this is a brilliant introduction to a history and analysis of the recent history of the women’s game in this country’.
Almanac Film: Olympic soccer juniors take on Europe
November 22, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Roy Hay reviews the wonderful film made by Janet Merewether about an overseas trip-of-a-lifetime experience for a group of 11-year-old football (soccer) players from the Sydney Olympic club.
Almanac Tribute: Vale Gillian Hibbins
October 26, 2022 by 1 Comment
Roy Hay pays tribute to his friend, historian and scholar, Gillian Hibbins, who died earlier this month.
Almanac Book Review: Partnership & Politics in a Divided Decade
October 8, 2022 by 2 Comments
Roy Hay was a young lecturer when he knocked around with Vince Cable who went on to have a distinguished career in British political life. He reviews Sir Vincent’s recently released book, which was co-written with his partner Rachel Smith.
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