Murray Bird is a former AFL umpire who, by his own admission, is known for the Brownlow votes from one specific match in 1993. However, judging by the quality research of his book on the origins of Queensland football, he will soon be better known as an author.

His book “Athenians and Red Invincibles: the Origins of Queensland Football” is so heavy with stories that most footballers could use it to workout. Almost 400 pages packed with a decade of research and historic photographs, make this fascinating reading. If you’re even just a little interested in social history, sports, or a good read, then buy up now for Christmas because this book is definitely stocking-worthy.

It tracks the development of football in Queensland – and that’s football of all colonial flavours – from Queensland’s first match in 1866, through to the collapse of Australian Rules and domination by Rugby in 1890. Murray’s done so well because he clearly has a passion for the stuff.

Until now, who knew that the first footy of any type in Queensland was played in Queen’s Park, now known as Brisbane’s City Botanical Gardens. The game went for five hours over two weekends, and was declared a scoreless draw.

Then there was the match between the Queensland Police and the Brisbane Football Club two years later. Squaring up with the authorities seemed to take precedence. “Couples were seen in various parts of the field wrestling manfully and quite oblivious of the whereabouts of the ball.” That game finished when the ball went flat.

Murray corrects a number of historical errors. For example, the first football association in Australia was formed in Toowoomba in 1876 (Victoria and South Australia followed a year later). The first Rugby match in Queensland was played that same year (not six years later as the QRU previously thought).

For Australian Rules supporters, there’s anguish as the book builds to the inevitable decline in the northern colony of your favoured code. Maybe the sport’s administrators today should read Murray’s book to learn a thing or two.

If you have Queensland ancestry, you’ll probably even find a relative or two. My uncle’s grandfather Steve Welch was a multi-code star, who Murray named as vice-captain of the Team of the 19^th Century. For train enthusiasts, Welch’s father was the fireman aboard the first train in Queensland, and was celebrated this week in Queensland Rail’s 150^th anniversary festivities.

There’s value in “Athenians and Red Invincibles” for everyone.

Followers of History Out There receive a 20% discount off the purchase price of the book. Just email Murray on mbird@velocitysports.com.au and confirm that you’re a subscriber to get the discount.