In this third extract from ‘Touchstone’ Murray Bird and Richard Griffiths, ‘The Marvellous Cup’ looks at the world of racing in Australia in 1890, and in particular the Melbourne Cup.
Almanac Literary: – ‘The Marvellous Cup’: a story told in ‘Touchstone’, a biography of Samuel Griffiths.
January 6, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Almanac Literary: ‘The Bribe’ – a story told in ‘Touchstone’, a biography of Samuel Griffiths.
January 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
In this second extract from ‘Touchstone’ Murray Bird and Richard Griffiths show that Samuel Griffiths was a man of great integrity.
Almanac Cricket: Thirsty English Test Cricketers, a story told in ‘Touchstone’, a biography of Samuel Griffiths.
December 9, 2025 by 4 Comments
The story of the marvellous Samuel Griffiths – adventurer, entrepreneur, racetrack philosopher, raconteur and truth-seeker is told in ‘Touchstone’. The biography, by Richard Griffiths (his great grandson) and Murray Bird, has had such a terrific response it’s been reprinted and is available now. In this piece, we include an extract which involves a cricket match, a bet, a champagne dinner and some unlikely ring-ins. What were two English Test cricketers doing on the eve of the MCG Test in the 1894-95 series? [Classic – JTH]
Almanac (Irish) Life: My day at Páirc MacUílín, Ballycastle
November 7, 2025 by 20 Comments
Murray Bird recently had a couple of weeks in Ireland. He was so taken and moved by the people, their sport and their music, their friendliness and their likability, that he just had to get his thoughts on the page. This is an Almanac classic. It’s travel, observation and understated commentary. It’s wholehearted participation and engagement. Please, pour yourself a Guinness or a whisky, and immerse yourself in a superb account of a hurling game and what happened along the way in getting there. This is the story of a grand people and their rich history and culture.
Almanac Memoir: Half a century at the Gabba
October 23, 2020 by 10 Comments
Murray Bird offers a panoramic memoir of Gabba days of yore. [Reckon 500 is conservative Muz – JTH]
Almanac Rugby League: ‘Rugby league – the greatest game of all’
September 24, 2020 by 5 Comments
Murray Bird may be better known in Almanac circles for his Australian football pedigree but he has long-term roots in rugby league as well. A few years ago, he took in a Queensland Cup match to test out the code’s claim to be ‘the greatest game of all’.
“More of the Kangaroo” – An excerpt: Darling Downs, pacesetters of the 19th century
March 28, 2019 by Leave a Comment
An excerpt from “More of the Kangaroo” relating to some of the history of footy in the Darling Downs region.
Jack Cavanagh – The Gentleman of Gold Coast Football
May 21, 2018 by 7 Comments
With the recent passing of Jack Cavanagh, footy in Queensland has lost a legendary figure. Murray Bird shares part of his story, including a famous grand final.
QWAFL Grand Final – Coorparoo Kings v Yeronga South Brisbane Devils: Ten Lions stars line up in the big one
August 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
It’s Grand Final day (Aug 27) in women’s footy in Queensland. This preview is from Murray Bird who will provide live stats on the game – you can find out how to access them here.
Can we now stop the whingeing?
September 26, 2016 by 13 Comments
Murray Bird responds to an observable Vic-centric state of footy affairs, offering comment on all the states and their competitions, and the running of the AFL (which he points out is the AUSTRALIA FL). Where does all the whingeing come from? [This should generate some interesting discussion – Ed]
Almanac Footy History: Footage of the great grudge match of 1950
June 29, 2016 by 1 Comment
This is one story from the history of Australian football in Queensland. Murray Bird and his team are finalising the history with a view to publish the book in this the sesquicentennial year. More information to come. And more footage to come as well. [Brilliant – JTH]
Almanac Classic (Footy Poetry): The Year the ‘Roos First Wunner
December 10, 2015 by 1 Comment
This, my friends, is one of the contributions of the year. Murray Bird and he QAFF group have discovered this epic poem which tells the story of the Brisbane D Grade Grand Final in 1946. [A snapshot of a moment in time, this is a dead-set classic – JTH]
Almanac Rugby League – “Rugby League: the greatest game of all”
September 3, 2015 by 11 Comments
Murray Bird returned to Langlands Park for some enjoyable late season Queensland Cup Rugby League action. A lot had changed since he was last there in the 1970s, but not the drinking (or smoking) preferences of the locals.
Book Launch June 18: Athenians and Red Invincibles: The Origins of Queensland Football
June 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Murray Bird’s book Athenians and Red Invincibles: The Origins of Queensland Football will be launched in Melbourne on Thursday.
Footy History: Frank Ivory
June 4, 2015 by 5 Comments
Frank Ivory was Australia’s best Indigenous footballer in any code in the late nineteenth century. And he was a Queenslander, as Murray Bird explains in this extract from his book Athenians and Red Invincibles: The Origins of football in Queensland (to be launched on June 18 at 6pm at the Royal Melbourne Hotel.
Introducing Interchanger; Player Management Made Easy
March 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Almanacker Murray Bird and his team have developed INTERCHANGER; Player management technology that is currently being used by 10 AFL clubs is now available for your club or sports group. Read more…
PNG in International Cup Grand Final
August 20, 2014 by 5 Comments
Out (visa problems) is something you don’t usually see when the teams are announced on a Thursday Night. Murray Bird keeps us up to date with the PNG Mosquitoes’ sometime rocky path into the Grand Final of the 2014 International Cup.
Muz returns to see the Lions less mighty
May 28, 2012 by 8 Comments
It is 25 years since my last journey to a Melbourne stadium to watch a Brisbane team in a home and away game. A late Saturday night text invite from a mate in Bris Vegas had me rearranging my Sunday to go to the footy. Brad is originally from Townsville, a Kangaroos sponsor, and he [Read more]
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