The Footy Almanac has become a sporting institution. John Harms, the editor, may scoff at that notion, but it is the most unique sport website in Australia, if not for the subject matter, then for the submitters.
Stories found on The Footy Almanac are written for the people by the people who matter most – the fans.
Last year's almanac
Anyone can submit a story. The Footy Almanac publishes stories from children, seniors, women, men and hacks like me.
The website’s strength is in the contributors, who become Almanacers. Some are professional writers but for the most part, they are fans who love sport.
The stories are not straight news stories or predictable fodder for newspapers and other websites. The focus is bigger than that. The stories are often written from the heart. The writers immerse us inside and outside the game.
Reading stories on The Footy Almanac reminds us of the influence of family and friends. We do not suffer football alone. Those we endure footy with become the feature of some stories. Some writers discuss their lives, and we learn about a war veteran uncle who lived alone for years in rural Victoria with a house full of cats and no power.
There was the man working on a remote island who, thanks to equipment failure, was able to get to Adelaide in time for a party and a football game.
If you’ve ever wondered about the masochistic nature of Richmond, Melbourne and Western Bulldog fans, those supporters offer analysis of their psyche, their loyalty and why they turn up each week.
There are dedicated supporters living overseas who wake up at 2.30am on Saturday morning to watch a game live-streamed into their laptop. Distance is not an issue, missing footy is.
We are taken into the pub before and after the game. We sit in the outer, in the rain, or on someone’s deck. We are taken fireside in rural pubs and try to find the sun in Hobart and Canberra.
There are converts, from league to AFL, from loving one club to switching allegiance to the expansion clubs.
There was Declan Fay classic about last year’s preliminary final between Hawthorn and Geelong. Fay happened to be sitting in front of Jeff Kennett. Central themes to that story were the number of times Fay appeared on television and the hats both men wore, which were identical.
One regular, Litza, is just about the funniest writer I’ve read. He is a Carlton fan, and the Blues are becoming the new Richmond, so a good sense of sarcasm is necessary. Litza has it. I once threatened to quit writing after reading one of Litza’s stories, and no one tried to stop me.
Many stories are filled with emotion, slices of life we are all familiar with, birth, death, marriage, relationships and kids. Footy is another slice of life but remains significant. It wouldn’t be written about otherwise.
By reading The Footy Almanac, we feel the hate of the opposition, the mournful toll of injury and rage-filled frustration of defeat.
There is aggravation, tension, elation, disappointment and smug satisfaction. Best of all, there is truth in the writing. The stories are written from passion, not to meet a deadline.
Those who contribute a match report can write whatever they want. Contributors do not have to be at the game. Each match report contains key elements, the scores, the best players, turning points and votes for the Malarkey Award, which is The Footy Almanac’s equivalent of the Brownlow and Most Valuable Player awards.
Each match report is published at season’s end in a book made available to the general public.
A few days ago, I finished the 2013 Footy Almanac. Yesterday I started reading the 2012 Footy Almanac.
There is no other publication like it. It is a complete season review, every game, including finals, the words of passionate people, written for passionate people. It is entertaining, funny, humiliating and sad.
If you see an Almanac on sale, have a look. You will like it. You might read a story written by someone you know. It might inspire you. You might start writing.
To write or not to write isn’t the only question. If you don’t want to write, how about reading? Check out the website here www.footyalmanac.com.au
Finally, have you ever tried writing haiku? Ever tried saying haiku without it sounding like a sneeze and someone saying bless you? Haiku Bob, via The Footy Almanac has taught me how to write haiku.
The only problem is I write really bad haiku. At risk of upsetting experts like Haiku Bob, check out my effort below. I’m not sure the words are in the right place…
Footy almanac
All games good bad important
Whole season record
