How a Director’s Love of the Speccy Turned into a Film About a Chinese Football Team

The recent premiere of Angela How’s short film Carn the Chinese! at the Melbourne International Film Festival shed light on a lesser-known chapter in Australian football’s history: the Young Chinese League, a social football side formed by Chinese Australians during the White Australia Policy era. The story of the YCL serves as a poignant reminder that the sport’s history is far more complex than its Eurocentric narrative.

The team was formed in the 1930s and defied expectations placed upon them by their community and society at large. They arranged matches against prominent companies like Ford and Holden, often playing on makeshift pitches in Albert Park and beyond. Their determination to succeed despite the odds is a testament to the power of resilience and adaptability.

Angela How’s film focuses on the YCL, raising questions about what it means to be Australian. The team members embodied quintessentially Aussie values like larrikinism and a love of sport, highlighting football’s role as a unifying force that bridges cultural divides. However, this narrative also underscores the tension between Australia’s multicultural present and its often troubled past.

Individuals like Peter Louey, who came to Australia at 12 and led the YCL, serve as powerful reminders of the importance of overcoming adversity through sport. His story – one of facing racist remarks and finding acceptance through football – highlights the complex issues of racism and inclusion that Australian society has long struggled with.

The release of Carn the Chinese! comes at a timely moment, as Australia grapples with its own identity crisis. The country’s history is replete with moments of triumph and tragedy, but few stories are as poignant as that of the YCL. By shedding light on this forgotten chapter in Australian football’s history, How’s film serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and learning from our past.

The story of the YCL forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about Australia’s multicultural past. The team’s resilience in the face of adversity is a powerful rebuke to those who would seek to erase or gloss over the complexities of Australian history. By sharing their story, the members of the YCL remind us that true national identity is built upon a rich and diverse range of experiences.

The film also raises questions about what happens next. How’s work serves as a reminder that there are still many stories yet to be told about Australian football’s history. What other untold chapters await discovery? And how will we ensure that these stories continue to shape our understanding of this nation, its people, and its values? As the spotlight shines on the YCL, it is clear that there is much more work to be done in uncovering the unseen threads of Australian football’s history.