English football journalist, author and publisher, James Corbett, is the second international speaker added to the line-up for the 2020 Football Writers’ Festival to be held in Jamberoo next May.

 

James Corbett is a correspondent for offthepitch.com and the founder and principal of deCoubertin Books. His books include Faith of our Families: Everton: An Oral History and his bestselling collaboration with Neville Southall, The Binman Chronicles.

 

Born and bred in Liverpool, James is a devoted lifelong Everton supporter. He founded and edited the Gwladys Sings The Blues Everton fanzine at the age of 15, and has written for national and international sports publications since the mid-1990s.

 

After studying at the London School of Economics, he was Contributing Editor of the Observer Sport Monthly and later European Correspondent of World Football Insider, where he was the only journalist in the world who covered all nine bids involved in the 2018/2022 World Cup for the entire bidding process. His work has appeared in many publications and he also contributes to the BBC World Service.

 

James’ work on the ‘FIFA family’ has earned him an award from The Society of Authors, while his investigative work on the former FIFA vice president Jack Warner later appeared as part of a  US Department of Justice indictment against the Trinidadian.

 

He divides his time between his home in Ireland and home city of Liverpool.

 

James joins another international guest, journalist, podcaster and diversity consultant, Shireen Ahmed of Canada, as well as local writers, journalists, broadcasters and authors sharing their views on the ‘game of opinions’.

 

Locals include former veteran journalist with The Australian, Ray Gatt, Professor John Maynard, author of The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe, and Chairman of FFA, Chris Nikou.

 

Also being introduced to the 2020 Festival is an Emerging Writers’ Program giving aspiring football writers under 30 the opportunity to be published in a special edition Festival Anthology and for two young writers to travel to the Festival to present on their long-form essay.

 

The 2020 Football Writers’ Festival is an initiative of Fair Play Publishing, with support from the Johnny Warren Football Foundation and Football Victoria.

 

It will be held on 23-24 May 2020 at the home of the Johnny Warren Football Museum, the Jamberoo Pub. Tickets are just $15 for two days, $10 for one day and are available exclusively at footballwritersfestival.com.au.