Joe Gorman’s book The Death and Life of Australian Soccer includes many examples of Andrew Dettre’s unique prose that combined sharp wit, poetry and humour, such as this summation of the local game:

“This sad tribal compound in which soccer exists accommodates genuine zealots, verified madmen, innocent idealists, mercenary opportunists, egomaniacs, loud-mouth dilettantes, pro and anti-ethnics, a few conmen and a fairly large number of amazed bystanders.”

Gorman told FourFourTwo that he included Andrew Dettre as a main character in the book because his story personifies Australian football.

“His writing is incredibly relevant to the  journey of the game and where it is today,” he said.

Source: Mark Boric

“He had numerous ideas - the most important being summer soccer which he pushed relentlessly against the wishes of his fellow journalists, and administrators of the day.

“He also ventured into the question of Australian multiculturalism better than any other writer I’ve ever read. Such as this quote in chapter three where he says:

'Migrants are perfectly entitled to form whatever association or union they want, be that a church choir, welfare agency, scout group, or soccer team. The trouble lies elsewhere, Australians (born here) are perfectly entitled to ignore these. And they do.'

“That quote sums up the entire multicultural paradox of Australian soccer and he is an incredible person for people to re-read his work now.”

Steven Dettre said he was pleased that his contribution to Australian football was acknowledged so heavily in Gorman’s book.

“The whole family was very proud,” he said. “It was gratifying to see some recognition for all the work that dad has done in football but all the work in sport.

“We are just immensely proud of him, we are very humbled and gratified that Joe put so much effort into it. He really analysed where football has sat in Australian sporting culture.”