Another Sunday and Sweet F.A.
A Sunday league referee seeks fairness in a violent match.
Another Sunday and Sweet F.A. is a television play by Jack Rosenthal, directed by Michael Apted for Granada Television. It first aired on 9 January 1972 in the ITV Sunday Night Theatre strand. The play is notable for featuring Anne Kirkbride, whose performance led to her casting as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street, and for winning the TV Critics' Circle Best Play of the Year Award.
Quick Facts
- Series
- ITV Sunday Night Theatre
- Director
- Michael Apted
- Writer
- Jack Rosenthal
- Airdate
- 9 January 1972
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Eric Armistead, a Sunday league football referee, believes life is an Immorality Play where fairness is unknown, so he officiates to try to change the world. He referees a match between Parker Street Depot XI and Co-Op Albion XI, but the game turns ugly and violent. Driven to exasperation by the players, he ends the match by heading the ball into the net for the winning goal.
Critical reaction
At broadcast, Chris Dunkley in The Times called it not a bad play that failed to live up to its promise, though he praised David Swift's performance in an unusual part. Later appraisals have been more favourable: Peter Sharkey in 2005 called it possibly the greatest dramatic portrayal of football on screen, noting details like players with cigarettes and a goalkeeper arguing with his girlfriend. The BFI website says the accumulation of detail exudes authenticity, while Leslie Halliwell called it an amusing north-country comedy. It is held in high esteem by specialist sports writers, with Frank Keating calling it a classic and Peter Seddon including it in a list of ten classic football dramas.
More in Television Shows Produced by Granada Television
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