Celestial Footy
by Patrick Skene
Since the Miners versus Market Gardeners 'Celestial football match' on the Victorian goldfields in 1892, Chinese-Australians have embraced Australian Rules football and been among its most enthusiastic followers.
In Celestial Footy, Patrick Skene chronicles the participation and passion of Chinese-heritage immigrants and their descendants in Australia's beloved national game. Celebrating the pioneers, such as Wally Koochew and Les Kew Ming, to the modern-day champions Les Fong, Ling Jong and Darcy Vescio, the book draws on independent interviews and archival researched conducted by the author to shine a spotlight on the broad range of characters who have excelled in Australian Rules football and passed on their love of the game through the generations.
More than a sports book, Celestial Footy is a unique, timely and important addition to Australia's sporting history, as well as that of the broader Chinese-Australian narrative of assimilation, struggle, identity and community. It reveals a hidden chapter in Australia's archives with significant contemporary relevance, and tells the powerful story of the Chinese-Australian men and women who overcame obstacles and adversity to play the game they loved.
Paperback
Brand New
Author Biography
Patrick Skene was born and raised in Sydney and writes stories on the intersection of sport, history and culture. His work has appeared in The Guardian Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Australian Financial Review and The Age. He previously hosted a radio program on Aboriginal sports history on the National Indigenous Radio Service and a boxing program on SEN Radio. Patrick is also the co-founder of Cultural Pulse, a multicultural content marketing agency. Patrick's first book, 'The Big O - The Life and Times of Olsen Filipaina, Pacific Revolution Pioneer', was released in 2020 by Upstart Press. Celestial Footy is his second book
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