My great-Grandad (David Thomas) played in the real match. Enjoyed watching this!

I was in this film back in 1981 as an extra.I can be seen near the beginning running in front of the coach over the railway lines.Got paid £27 from Tyne Tees television for 2 days work! Still got the chitty

They should make more films about the early days of football and how it all started in England...surely the origins of the greatest game on the planet would be of great interest.

I was watching 'The English Game', a new series on Netflix and Immediately thought of this. Delighted to find on here. This'll help with my self isolation. Back of the net.

Remember watching this brilliant and Dennis Waterman legend

Dean . Been looking for this film for over 32 yrs thanks phil your a diamond. A great british classic up their with kez

Was talking to my kids on the drive home from holiday and was passing Auckland and remembered this football story. They didn't have any idea so looked it up and then subsequently found this on KZfaq. Was it really 35 years ago when I saw this! Watched it straight through again. Loved it. Many thanks for sharing.

I remember watching this when it was first on TV. What a great story, even better that it's true! Thanks for the upload!

This is the best film I like it tell a story about a miners from west Auckland winning the sir Thomas lipton world Cup it like from rags to riches story a true story

My Mam and Dad came from Bishop Auckland originally and West Auckland is about 2 miles away, I have cousins who live there and when I was younger and visiting people would talk about the day West Auckland beat Juventus.

Was thinking about what dennis waterman was in when he passed away and found this gem remember watching this 30 years ago on tv ,now found out on dvd .rip dennis waterman thanks for the memories ,sweeny.minder etc.

Haven't seen this in years!! Quality line - "Shall I write to Sir Thomas, or send a pigeon!"

Went to west Auckland in the 90s we went into a working mans club and low and behold there was the the Thomas Lipton world club cup

Thank you for the upload. A great memory from my childhood also.

My grandfather was the goal keeper James Dickenson

A great trip down memory lane. I was reminded of this after reading an article about one of the players Jack Greenwell who went on to play for, & then manage, Barcelona. The first tournament appears to have been in 1909, not 1910 as the programme states. Also, the final score the next time they contested the trophy was a 6-1 win v Juve in 1911.

A great memory from my childhood. havnt seen this film in a long time. thanks for posting

You can get this on DVD from West Auckland football club. They sell it in the shop. Can post it as well. They did mine anyway. Top film

Great film and cast. Many years since I have seen this. Thanks for uploading.

Thanks for posting,I remember seeing this on TV about 30 years ago as a kid. Didn't realise at the time how terrible Waterman's Geordie accent was.

Phil, you're a king amongst men. I've been looking for this film for about 20 years now! Thanks!

Wonderful Story...

Woodhorn pit is the pitwheel you see in Ashington,Played some of the football on Peoples park Ashington

I love this movie saw it back in the 80s

No problem. Glad it's up there for people to enjoy. Men of Iron !!!!

Epic tale. The most unlikely line was when someone asked a player who didn't have ale and was acting posh, if he was "from Darlington"

Champion! Great to see the old Tyne Tees ident again too

Thanks Phil - Haven't seen this since it was first broadcast. Saw the pot in West club before it got nicked. Men of Iron!

I was talking to my Dad back in England this morning and he told me about this programme. Tried to find a copy for him on amazon - (23 quid for a VHS - who's still got one of them? Should have known KZfaq would come up trumps. Brilliant effort Phil P. I'm half hour in, what a great story. TyneTees should release this on DVD this year, the 150th anniversary of the FA who get a great ribbing in the first 20 minutes..deservedly so. Their attitude never changed for decades. Woolwich Arsenal haha

Classic ... with proper sliding tackles :)

Thanks for posting, Phil. I remember watching and loving this as a kid. Dennis Waterman apparently financed the film from his own pocket. I was born in Auckland and one day I'll make the pilgrimage to the Workingmen's Club and see the trophy (well, the copy anyway).

thanks for the upload saw this years ago great film

I was in this at 6.25 the kid in front running over the railway lines.Spent 2 freezing days as an extra I've still got the pay cheque from Tyne Tees television for £27 two days work,not bad for a 12yr old in 1981.Dennis Watermans accent is crap too...

Dennis Waterman funded this film by all accounts, £1.5 million. Fair play to him.

I remember watching this film when it came out, but when I was working at the Eldon brickworks in West Auckland in 1993 I made a point of having a drink at the working man’s club to toast the memory of those great men. Then I heard some C@nt stole the trophy ! So So sad !

Thanks for posting this Phil, haven't seen this since a repeat a few years after.

at last. cheers been looking for this for ages

wow ty for the upload amazing, remember it from the first showing

billy casper has improved as a player since he was a kid in kes.

First shown around the time of the 1982 World Cup

adore it adore it adore it

I enjoyed that

Brill, thank you.

This is brilliant, what a cast! But this is difficult to obtain on dvd!! Don't even know if it's had a proper release? It needs one now, some rubbish they do put on dvd, and this classic is almost unobtainable!! The sporting historical connection should alone make it available constantly, just scandalous!

There were a few bits that weren't quite true. The confusion with Woolwich Arsenal never happened. It was 1909 rather than 1910 and the first Final was against Winterthur of Switzerland rather than Juventus, but nevertheless, it was still great to see this for the first time since it first aired forty years ago. I never realised it at the time, but although the lead star was supposed to be the very famous Dennis Waterman, the real lead-role was played by the then unknown Tim Healy, who certainly went on to be a fine actor of his own accord.

Loved this when I was 3:59 younger. If they made it now, they'd have to have 2 players from Africa in mixed marriages, a muslim physio & the manager would have been gay.

The games and results not entirely historically correct, but they did win it twice and a great story.... Did play Juventus in the second edition final.

I have not seen this for years

top film amazing love it

Thanks for this

Aye, lap it up people . the forst real world cup came hyam to County Durham. Someone needs to remake this film like.

Great story. Dennis waterman should have done 15 years for that accent though

How wa the lads

"Waye-aye, wi' arl this larkin' arron, meks yer wunner whar-iss arl aboot!"

Anybody else think the incidental music 3.50 sounds like Kraftwerks Autobahn?

L,MAO ! It's Jim Carver from THE BILL !

Am I right in thinking the opening WAFC v Stockton game was filmed at Ashington's old Portland Park?

they made this then did the first kangaroos. both were brilliant.

The acting is so bad it's actually quite funny but i absolutely love the story and could watch it over and again

The cup was stolen from West Auckland club. I believe the cup was taken by someone from Scotland.I have my reason for saying this.

Dave legend Thomas's

keep the faith river thomas

it was stolen by someone from scotland, almost sure of it. how do i know this, well just ask me

a decent show but they gos many of the facts wrong which is rather annoying