Have you ever watched a game of footy and wondered about what's actually going on? Or have you ever wished you could pull out some amazing sporting fact at the pub that will blow your friends away? Well, sporting tragic Tony Squires has come to your rescue with the ultimate book for every football fan.

Cracking the Footy Codes is an informative and often-humorous beginner’s guide to AFL, rugby league, rugby union and soccer, perfect for those looking to get the upper hand on their friends at trivia night, or to impress their partner with a new-found knowledge of football.

The idea behind the book came from Squires' desire to combine the two loves in his life - family and football.

“I have to somehow try to incorporate loved ones, family and friends into my football passion, and sometimes they don’t have a clue what I’m talking about," Squires said.

"Football as we know it is a love story, and I’m trying to get other people in on that love story. It wasn’t hard to write - the most difficult thing about writing it was that I was on my honeymoon.

“I was trying to find out which is the most romantic – my bride or the notion of describing what ‘orrrrrrrrr’ means when the crowd yells it out.

“I’ve just spent so much time in this area, so to actually put that stuff down that has been in my head for a long time into book form, it was just in fact a relief.”

A journalist for over 25 years, and having played, refereed, talked and cried about footy his entire life, Squires knows only too well the key to cracking the football code.

“For me I was brought up on rugby league but I have developed the passion for AFL through the Swans. I've spent the past ten years or more with people like Richard Colless, and sitting next to Ron Barassi, watching games of football and developing this amazing passion for the code which made it really easy to talk about.

"It’s actually about spirit of the game, an idea about what it feels like to be a fan - and that’s the important thing about fandom, it’s an emotional thing, it’s a reason to be upset for the entire week when your team loses.

“I guess the bottom line is I like watching blokes run stupidly fast into each other in whatever code it may be,” Squires joked.

Tony Squires' book, Cracking the Footy Codes is now available from AKA Publishing. Click here to purchase.