Talking About ... Indigenous Football

Did you know the history of Aboriginal players in football goes back as far as the 19th century? Even though we can all name a few Indigenous players, and famous names such as Charles Perkins credits his ability to do a university degree was because he could play soccer, the game has not done enough to engage with our Indigenous communities.

Join us in a conversation with Professor John Maynard from the University of Newcastle as we learn about the Aboriginal sportsmen and women who forged the way for the current crop of talented players, learn about the history of Aboriginal involvement with the ‘world game’, and talk about how we can do better in getting more talented, Indigenous young people into football. 

John Maynard is a Worimi Aboriginal man from the Port Stephens region of NSW and Professor of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Newcastle.

He has held several major positions and served on numerous prominent organisations and committees including Deputy Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association, New South Wales History Council, Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council, Australian Research Council College of Experts, National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network and the NSW Fulbright Selection Committee.

John's publications have concentrated on the intersections of Aboriginal political and social history, and the history of Australian race relations.

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John is a passionate football fan and the author of several books on Aboriginal people and sport, including The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe.