Tickets began to have qualms even in the instant that passed between the headbutt starting and the headbutt landing...

Ian 'Tickets' Thompson, former football star and current playboy, is a media darling. Arrogant, womanising, deeply offensive; he's the star of TV's top-rating football show 'Leather and Lace'. Billy Nock is still playing football, even though his best days are well and truly behind him. Married to the beautiful and talented Olivia - lotto host extraordinaire - and committed to his team, his friends and his family, Billy's the genuine article. Unfortunately, on the ground he's a has-been, and on TV he's a never-was. His football show, Pill Talk is unfunny, unoriginal and unwatched.

But fame is fickle, and sooner or later, the good guys are due for a win. Tickets has gone beyond the pale in one of his regular tussles with the public. And Billy has the footage. With big reputations and even bigger money on the line, this is much more than a game. This is celebrity, and these people will resort to anything - lies, betrayal, double-crosses and maybe even murder - to stay on top.

'This is a rollicking and fast-paced read that stands alone in terms of originality and wit.'
Herald Sun - Claire Sutherland - Full Review

'Players sparkles from beginning to end with exhilarating freshness and inventiveness.'
The Age Review - Ian Syson - Full Review
(if you are not registered with the age website, you can read the review here)

Feature story about the book launch
The Age - Greg Baum - Story
(if you are not registered with the age website, you can view the story here)

Video piece about the launch
The Age Online - Video

"Tony Wilson's scurrilous and consistently hilarious first novel.." more
Sydney Morning Herald - Full Review

"The novel has an innocent love of the great Australian tall tale that resembles Williamson's The Club."
The Age 'The Sporting Read' - Full Review

"It is not pushing the envelope to say that Players stacks up well against Ben Elton’s satire, and that’s high praise. "
Inside Sport - Full Review

This book’s greatest asset – other than its laugh out loud jokes – is that it is almost plausible.
Limelight Magazine - Full Review

'Wilson's characters and plot show that everything is about politics, and professional football is just another commodity in the shrinking Australian media landscape.'
The Courier Mail - Full Review

Tony Wilson’s first novel explores the world of sports media and it’s not a million miles away from football TV shows and personalities like Melbourne’s Eddie McGuire.
The Reader - Full Review

"Players is well written by Tony Wilson, of ABC Television's Race Around the World fame. He is funny and has a good ear for the vernacular."
The Advertiser - Full Review

'Blackly funny. Very readable'.
FHM Book of the Month

"Tony Wilson's cracker of a novel is without doubt the most accurate study of the sports ego ever embarked upon. The result is a frightening collision of stupidity and success. I couldn't put it down."
Rampaging Roy Slaven

"Wilson lines them up from point blank range and fires - at television celebrity and those who cloak themselves in it. It's very funny."
Tim Lane

"Very funny. We're lucky it's just fiction and people in TV aren't really like this."
Dave Hughes

Interview on 774 Melbourne conversation hour, click here

Interview on ABC Queensland converation hour, click here

Interview with on Mrs Fits blog - click here
(if the interview has been nudged off the page, view it here)

When the pen proves mightier - By Brigid Delaney, click here

Buy Players online from

Dymocks

Text Publishing

Booktopia

Readings

Shearers Bookshop

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