Yesterday's Hero


Yesterday's Hero is a 1979 British drama film directed by Neil Leifer and starring Ian McShane, Suzanne Somers, Adam Faith, Paul Nicholas and Cary Elwes. It also features Glynis Barber and Emma Samms in their early performances. The screenplay was written by novelist Jackie Collins, but was an original work and not based on one of her books. Although it has echoes of the life of the former player George Best, the film is not biographical.

Plot

Rod Turner, a former star footballer now an alcoholic and playing in a minor league, is persuaded to attempt a comeback to the professional game with "the Saints", owned by a wealthy pop star who, when young, had idolized Turner. When a striker gets injured, Turner is signed by the Third Division team and helps to get them to a Cup Final, where they play "Leicester Forest". But can he stop drinking and make it to the final? Scenes of the Cup Final include footage from the 1979 Football League Cup Final between Southampton and Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium. Maidenhead FC was used for much of the football scenes, also Ipswich Town for the FA Cup semi-final.

Cast