Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:46 pm  

This Sporting Life...

A Film Classic ..despite it being 40+ years old, some of the best depiction of sport on film ..filmed at the Belle Vue n Thrum Hall..you can feel every hit and grimace at ever tackle .. powerful stuff

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:27 am  

Is this the film with Tony Banham in it? Or was that the film Sunday Bloody Sunday? That was another rugby
film i think. For those who dont know who Tony Banham was,he played for Keighley. He was built like a forward but played on the wing. 1970 early 80s. Put me right if i'm wrong.

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:39 am  

Nope Les , that was ' Another Bloody Sunday' ...the documentary following the fortunes of Doncaster in 1980 , who at the time had the longest losing streak in British Rugby League. Tony Banham was indeed a major character in the film ..pretty sure I'd read somewhere that he finished up being stabbed to death whilst working as a bouncer some years later. Last nights BBC4 offering was the 1963 film following the fortunes of the fictitious RL player 'Frank Machem' played by Richard Harris , with Rachel Roberts as 'Mrs Hammond' ,Machems long suffering and much troubled partner. I still turn away at the start of the film when the lead character is hit off the ball ,losing six teeth in the process...brutal. The original book was written by David Storey , a former pro player with Wakey,where much of the film was shot. Anyway back to 'Another Bloody Sunday' and if anyone has a couple of hours to spare , you can find the whole documentary on You Tube in 6 parts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjaTYQAuPFk&feature=related Defo worth a watch ....makes Cougar Park seem positively 'rugby league nirvana' in comparison ! Watch out for,a magnificent opening sequence to Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet (long before 'The Apprentice ' ever got hold of the tune ) , Some wonderful Half time team talks ,especially from Geoff Fletcher, The Huyton Stalwart and plenty of nostalgic shots of Tattersfield and other long gone RL grounds .

Nope Les , that was ' Another Bloody Sunday' ...the documentary following the fortunes of Doncaster in 1980 , who at the time had the longest losing streak in British Rugby League. Tony Banham was indeed a major character in the film ..pretty sure I'd read somewhere that he finished up being stabbed to death whilst working as a bouncer some years later. Last nights BBC4 offering was the 1963 film following the fortunes of the fictitious RL player 'Frank Machem' played by Richard Harris , with Rachel Roberts as 'Mrs Hammond' ,Machems long suffering and much troubled partner. I still turn away at the start of the film when the lead character is hit off the ball ,losing six teeth in the process...brutal. The original book was written by David Storey , a former pro player with Wakey,where much of the film was shot. Anyway back to 'Another Bloody Sunday' and if anyone has a couple of hours to spare , you can find the whole documentary on You Tube in 6 parts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjaTYQAuPFk&feature=related Defo worth a watch ....makes Cougar Park seem positively 'rugby league nirvana' in comparison ! Watch out for,a magnificent opening sequence to Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet (long before 'The Apprentice ' ever got hold of the tune ) , Some wonderful Half time team talks ,especially from Geoff Fletcher, The Huyton Stalwart and plenty of nostalgic shots of Tattersfield and other long gone RL grounds .

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:00 am  

Rach, its on tonight (tues). This is a run down of progs:(9pm) Eddie Waring,(10pm) The game that got away.
(10-30) Leeds v St Helens (1978) (12-00 m't) This Sporting Life starring Richard Harris. (1963).
All on BBC4.

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:31 am  

Cheers for that Les , looks like a nice cup of coco , and ownership of the TV remote for me tonight...

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:09 pm  

I just watched the Leeds vs Saints '78 game.

An absolute cracker.

A friend and colleague of mine is married to the daughter of Leeds great John Atkinson, who played in that game, and he just happened to be watching a recording at the same time as I was, texting various things about the game and how it's changed since.

The try Atkinson scores, Leeds' first, is one of the great Wembley tries, pure class.

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:20 pm  

Sign him up?!!

Re: Tonight , 10.10 pm BBC 4 : Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:18 pm  

Anyone see the Cougars on the beginning of the Eddie Waring Documentary..about a couple of mins action from the Dewsbury home game featuring Gav and Will . http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tnwkv/Eddie_Waring_Mr_Rugby_League

Anyone see the Cougars on the beginning of the Eddie Waring Documentary..about a couple of mins action from the Dewsbury home game featuring Gav and Will . http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tnwkv/Eddie_Waring_Mr_Rugby_League