Dr Ian Syson

Ian is a Senior Lecturer in Communication.

His main area of research interest is in the history of Australia’s football codes, particularly soccer. He is interested in the often fraught relationships between the codes and the rhetoric of these tensions as manifested in the media. He has written about the origins of the codes and the relationship between them and the AIF during WW1.

Ian also has an abiding interest in Australian literature especially in relation to left-wing politics. He edited Overland magazine for 6 years between 1997 and 2003 and in 1999 set up the Vulgar Press, a publishing house specialising in working class literature and politics.

Since focusing more on sport, he has become less interesting to the clowns and cultural vandals at the Herald Sun.

Publications

Syson, I, (2013). ‘The Chimera of Origins: Association Football in Australia before 1880', The International Journal of the History of Sport, 30:5: 453-468.

Syson, I, (25 April, 2013). ‘Anzac Sport Celebrates a Unity that didn’t Exist’ The Age

Syson, I, (25 July, 2011). ‘The Genesis of Soccer in Australia.’ The Conversation.

Syson, I, (9-10 July 2011). 'North Melbourne in Hobart’, Footy Record.

Syson, I, (2009). ‘Shadow of a Game: Locating Soccer in Australian Cultural Life’ Meanjin 68.4: 136-144.

Postgraduate research students and fellows

Dr Ian Syson is currently supervising:

• 5 postgraduate students.

Teaching responsibilities

Ian teaches units in:

• Literary Studies
• Professional Writing

Industry experience

• CEO of Vulgar Press, 1999-present
• Editor of Overland, 1997-2003 

Appearances in the media

Radio Interviews with:

• Trevor Grant on What's the score sport? 3CR (8 November 2013)
• Barry Nicholls on Drive South West in WA (29 April 2014)
• Francis Leach on Grandstand Breakfast ABC Radio (25 April 2014)
• ABC 774 (25 April 2014)
• 2SER (25 April 2014)
• Trevor Grant on What’s the Score Sport? Melbourne 3CR (11 November 2013).
• Francis Leach on Grandstand Breakfast ABC Radio (13 July 2013).
• National Indigenous Radio (3 June 2013).
• Trevor Grant on What’s the Score Sport? Melbourne 3CR (24 May 2013).
• Francis Leach on Grandstand Breakfast ABC Radio (12 May 2013).
• Red Symons on 774 Melbourne (10 May 2013).
• Francis Leach on Grandstand Breakfast ABC Radio (28 April 2013).
• Trevor Grant on What’s the Score Sport? Melbourne 3CR (19 April 2013).

Professional memberships

• National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)