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A new feature-length documentary about Nottingham Forest football players Viv Anderson, Garry Birtles and Tony Woodcock is set for release in June. Telling the incredible, largely unknown behind-the-scenes story of the three Forest footballers, John Warrington’s Local Heroes charts their tale as they triumph in the face of adversity.
This compelling film, which will fittingly have its world premiere in Nottingham on May 25, 2023, charts the lives and careers of the three Nottingham Forest football players during a time of major political and social upheaval and cultural change in the UK. Despite the odds being against them, they played a vital role in Forest’s European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
The talented players defied the odds to rise to the top of professional football to become true sporting legends. Anderson, for example, made history as
the first black footballer to play for England. He would later be awarded an MBE in 2000 before being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2004 following stints at Forest, Manchester United, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday.
Birtles, a carpet fitter by trade, went on to represent England and
also played for Manchester United while Woodcock had time at both Arsenal in England and Cologne in Germany. This rousing documentary offers a window into British modern history through the eyes and stories of these unlikely heroes.
Sharing their fascinating journey, the trio recount their rise to fame and the obstacles they faced along the way, and how, during a time of economic difficulty, they persevered and prevailed. Local Heroes explores football’s political and cultural transformation over the years and draws parallels between life as a footballer in the 1970s to life in the footballing world now.
A must-see film for football fans, Local Heroes provides a captivating and moving glimpse into the lives of these determined individuals and sheds light on an inspiring, rarely heard story from the history of the beautiful game.
Local Heroes is on digital, DVD and Blu-ray June 5, 2023.
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