{"product_id":"9781925203462","title":"A-League: The Inside Story of the Tumultuous First Decade","description":"In November 2004, shopping centre billionaire Frank Lowy walked into a packed media conference and announced the creation of a new professional football league. Armed with $15 million of government funds, Lowy was about to wake the sleeping giant of Australian sport. The A-League kicked off in 2005.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Over the competition’s first decade it has seen more than its fair share of drama, on and off the field. International superstars have come to play, eccentric billionaires have bought and sold franchises, and clubs have folded after haemorrhaging millions of dollars. Yet the football has been passionate and captivating, and attendances and television audiences have grown as Australians have embraced the game as never before. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Relying on unprecedented access to key figures in the code, John Stensholt and Shaun Mooney reveal the true story behind the A-League’s first ten years: the egos, the power plays and the rows between some of Australia’s richest men as they try to make the world game Australia’s favourite sport.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘Money, power, ego and ambition. Throw in the odd football match and you have the story of the A-League – from forgotten game to unforgettable glory.’—Francis Leach, ABC \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. A wonderful and riveting insight into the first decade of the A-League.’—Ray Gatt, the \u003ci\u003eAustralian\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘There’s enough in this for a 20-year period, such has been the last decade in Australian club football. Entertaining, informative, this covers it all – the good, the bad, the ugly.’—Adam Peacock, Fox Sports \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Shaun Mooney is the publisher of football journal Leopold Method, and has contributed to the \u003ci\u003eGuardian Australia\u003c\/i\u003e. Previously, Shaun wrote articles on retail and small business marketing, which were syndicated across six countries. He has also co-authored two business books. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e John Stensholt is an award-winning journalist for the \u003ci\u003eAustralian Financial Review\u003c\/i\u003e, and edits the \u003ci\u003eBRW Rich\u003c\/i\u003e list. His work has also appeared in the \u003ci\u003eAge\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eSydney Morning Herald\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eFinancial Review\u003c\/i\u003e Magazine.","brand":"Schwartz Publishing Pty. Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47132013527280,"sku":"9781925203462","price":21.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781925203462_p0.jpg?v=1763634084","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781925203462","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}