About this publication The Truth Book of Soccer was first published in 1974 by News Media Ownership Ltd, the publisher of the weekly newspaper NZ Truth. Written and edited by football writer Josh Easby, who was 19, the 72–page publication was printed on newsprint with a glossy colour cover. Dave Barker, who photographed football for NZ Truth on a freelance basis, provided every image in the publication. The publisher printed 10,000 copies which were distributed nationally with a retail price of $1. The publication was timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the launch of the Rothmans–sponspored national league. NZ Truth was notable for its coverage of football, with its eight–page or 12–page sports liftouts often featuring two or more pages of
football coverage, despite the domination of rugby as the national sport. The newspaper’s sports editor, Hedley Mortlock, told Easby that he wanted to give soccer plenty of space because “soccer people are always falling out with each other and we get lots of great stories.” After the Truth Book of Soccer was published, it prompted Moa Publications to publish two editions of the DB Soccer Annual (with Easby and Barker providing the content). Forty years later, NZ Truth is no more, having folded after many attempts to revive its sagging circulation. Easby was still writing about football, including editing Cambridge FC’s matchday magazine, while Barker is retired and living in Orewa.
MORE FREE PUBLICATIONS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL
Friends of Football is an independent supporter group committed to building and preserving the heritage of the world’s favourite game in New Zealand. Learn more at www.friendsoffootballnz.com
Download the free Official Magazine of Friends of Football from: http://issuu.com/hurricanepress
PRESERVING NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL’S HERITAGE
Keeping our sport’s stories alive This publication has been re–published in a digital format as part of test project by Friends of Football to evaluate the potential for a wide–ranging, long–term project to build an archive of the sport’s history. The independent supporter group is looking at ways to preserve the sport’s history in a way that can serve future generations. This may involve digitising print publications (everything from match programmes and books, to meeting minutes and scrapbooks), as well as preserving photogaphs and moving images. In 2015, Friends of Football began an evaluation of its heritage project, using sample content such as this publication to better understand issues about the technology, skills and labour required. To learn how the project is progressing, visit www. friendsoffootballnz.com. In the meantime, if you wish to help in any way with the project please contact Friends of Football.
Friends of Football PO Box 9076 Newmarket Auckland 1149 www.friendsoffootballnz.com