Tom's Sporting Life
An Illustrated history of Coleman Medalist and Carlton Footballer Tom Carroll
2022 Harry Hedger Award – Highly Commended
Richly illustrated and well put together it is a fascinating read and not just for football supporters.
Tom’s reflections on his time playing at the highest level, his views on opponents, his thoughts about training regimes and his modesty about his achievements are full of interest and contain thoughts not recorded elsewhere.. But the book also says lots about the history of the 1950s to 1980s.
It is part of the social history of Ganmain and in broader terms of the Riverina and country Australia in general.
order your copy
Running at 128 pages the book is a softcover and can be ordered above for $25AU with a credit card. Postage starts at $10AU for the first book.
To save on shipping costs, the book can also be picked up in the Albury-Wodonga, Ganmain, Yarrawonga or Shepparton areas.
Cash payments and direct deposit are also available, but you’ll have to contact us directly using the contact form here and we can send you the details.
You can also email us at books@mickcarroll.ca
contact us
What initially began as an archiving and restoration of Tom’s own scrapbooks and photos, soon turned into a three-year journey and the creation of this book.
TOM’S SPORTING LIFE combines hundreds of restored photos and newspaper clippings with Tom’s personal, hand-written memoirs.
Tom (no not the pro surfer!) first dabbled in cricket and basketball before finding his great successes in Australian Rules Football. This book details his adventures with the Carroll family boys at Ganmain, NSW, winning back-to-back Premierships before moving on to the city, Melbourne, to play in the VFL where he earned acclaim as a leading goal kicker with Carlton, including winning the 1961 Coleman medal. After three seasons Tom returned home to Ganmain to become a successful playing coach.
In addition to Tom’s history-making career with Carlton Football Club, this book is sprinkled with plenty of the era’s local history (Ganmain and region) including basketball, football premierships (including the 1964 nail-biter), the ‘Carroll’s versus the rest’ match, Ganmain Grong-Grong Matong under 19’s from the 1980s, plus an interview with Tom covering life in Melbourne and his recollections of the Carlton days.
After the first edition was so warmly received, we decided to expand the book and print a limited run of copies.
Running at 128 pages the book is a softcover and can be ordered here.
© 2023. Mick Carroll Publishing. All rights reserved.
This is a self-published book and is in no way associated with Carlton Football Club, the AFL or any other sporting associations.