As the 2025 football season approaches and players register across Australia after the record-breaking 1.9 million participants last year, Amy Schembri's new book is timely and invaluable.
Making It...Or Not—The Real Journey Told by Professional Players delves into professional footballers' challenges and triumphs, offering a raw and inspiring look into their careers. It's an essential read for young players dreaming of the big leagues and adults guiding them through the game's ups and downs.
Divided into critical stages of a football career—junior days, youth days, going pro, and life after football—the book reveals the realities about the journey to the top.
Amy, who is a lifelong football fan and ‘soccer mum’ to three sons, says the aim of the book is to inspire players to push through tough times and determine what success looks like for them.
“Whether reaching the pinnacle or facing unexpected detours, I want to remind young readers via the real-life examples in the book that success isn’t always a straight line, and that it's okay to find your own version of 'making it'—as some of the players I talked with have done.”
The players profiled in depth in the book are:
- Diogo Ferreira
- Emily Gielnik
- Chloe Logarzo
- Callum Nicholas
- Josh Risdon
- Melissa and Adriana Taranto.
Amy also talks with Lara Faga, a psychologist who specialises in working with elite athletes who advises young people and their parents.
Making It...Or Not is a valuable companion, providing insights and guidance to navigate the football journey.
It is available in paperback for $29.99 and $12.99 as an e-book from good bookstores, Amazon, other retail outlets, and direct from Fair Play Publishing.