Synopsis

In 1909 a team of raggy-trousered miners from West Auckland in County Durham - most of whom had never left their home town - are mistakenly invited to represent England in the first-ever world football competition in Turin.Selling their possessions to pay for the trip they find themselves away from their home and families and out of their depth, culturally, financially and sportingly. Despite this the underdogs roll up their sleeves and take on the world, winning the trophy. They went to Italy as miners and came back heroes.

Our Review:

Alison Carr - 11 May 2010

Howay the lads …

I can sum up my knowledge of football with these simple words, spoken just before I took my seat at the Theatre Royal last night ... "Who is Alf Ramsey?". I briefly thought he had run the grocers in Coronation Street, but that was Alf Roberts.

I know now, that Mr Ramsey - sorry, Sir Ramsey - managed England when they won the World Cup in 1966.

And that nearly 60 years earlier, an amateur team from County Durham had triumphed at the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy football competition, or to give it its catchier title 'The First World Cup'.

The competition was...

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Latest User Review

aden - 21 July 2010:

alf ramsey is my mums dad mums dads brother so if am corect alf is my great great great uncle !...

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