The English Game

Sprint finish!

It's all right.

We can stop now.

It'll give them a chance to catch us up.

Perhaps we should arrange a duel.

Settle our differences.

I'm glad you find it so amusing.

I was hoping we could put our disagreement behind us.

Well, that very much depends, Arthur.

You see, the, er...

The FA board has come to a decision.

What's this about?

What decision?

Is it about Blackburn?

Where was I when this decision was taken?

Moira can rake that out and light it every morning.

It's not old, and it cooks well.

That's one of the reasons I took this house.

Thank you, son.

Thank you.

We got three bedrooms up there!

All to ourselves!

-Jimmy! -All right, lass?

Mrs. Suter, you're looking lovely as ever.

Give over, you scallywag.

Ah, your ma looks so young, I still confuse you both.

You were always a good boy, Jimmy.

Mwah!

Morning, Fergus.

Uh, Ma, this is...

this is Miss Almond.

Martha.

Jimmy told me you were moving in today,

so I thought I'd bring you some flowers, brighten the place up.

Thank you. That's-- that's very kind.

Ma's not going to stop asking after you.

Good.

And you're going to tell me all about them.

Are we a couple, Miss Almond?

If you'll have me, Mr. Suter.

Fergus!

The bastards!

- Sorry, Martha. -Give over, Tommy.

They've kicked us out the Cup. They kicked Blackburn out.

What?

The FA! They've banned us from the final!

I know it'll be hard, but try to stay calm tonight.

I'll be the very model of composure.

Wilson's found a rather nice Margaux for us to enjoy.

Oh, what a treat.

Thank you.

You've both been very generous to the foundation.

We're completely convinced by the cause.

Of course we are.

Well, I suppose we'd better talk about it.

Very well.

Do you want to start?

Perhaps you'd like to explain to me why you held a meeting

when you knew I couldn't attend.

Arthur, I understand you may be upset

that we came to the decision without you.

-I'm not upset. -Oh?

I'm confused as to why men I admire so much would do something so underhand,

why you would make a decision as important as this behind my back.

How many years have you known me? Fifteen?

Sixteen? We were-- We were at school together, for goodness sake.

And yet you betrayed me.

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

I beg your pardon.

I knew this was a mistake.

We have to prevent a repeat of the barbaric episode

I witnessed in Blackburn.

Come on, this is not about the riot and you know it.

Yes, it is.

Suter was paid by Darwen, and then he left to play for Blackburn.

We all know why he left, and we all saw the results.

Fighting in the stands! Thuggery!

If we don't do something about it, the game,

our game,

that we know and love, will be lost forever.

You sound like a child who takes his ball away

because he is scared of losing.

-You're supposed to be his friend. -And he's supposed to be mine.

How can you expect me to agree with you

when in my heart I know what you are doing is wrong?

You will kill the game.

This is ridiculous. We should go.

I'm staying.

Francis, stay.

Please.

-Blackburn will have the opportunity to appeal our decision,

but the rules are what they are.

If they've fallen foul of them, they must be punished accordingly.

Are you coming, my dear?

Thanks for coming.

Congratulations, sir.

Chairman of the Lancashire FA? That's a title to be proud of.

Yeah, well, let's hope I can do something useful with it, eh? Come on.

The Old Etonians are simply using the hold they have over the FA

to keep the Cup for themselves.

Monkey, you know these people.

Have we any hope of changing their minds?

They're not acting out of spite.

They truly believe that what they're doing

is for the good of the game.

How can excluding people from playing be good?

Maybe they hope it'll discourage violence at any future matches.

We broke no rules.

We did break the rules.

We did.

I have been paid to play football.

First by Mr. Walsh, and then by Mr. Cartwright.

We were kicked out over the riot.

They've got no proof we paid anyone.

If you wish to appeal against the FA's judgment,

I am more than willing to help,

but if you wish to lie, I shall have no part of it.

Is there any way of convincing them

they made the wrong decision?

If you can get Kinnaird on side,

maybe there's a chance.

He might be sympathetic.

He's the key to all this.

I could speak to him.

Direct.

Player to player.

We've spoken before. I think he's a decent man.

It's worth a try.

I'll suggest we meet for dinner to discuss it.

And if it doesn't work?

Well, then we'll need to think of something else.

Single-breasted with a matching waistcoat,

and, yeah...

this is the one. Hmm?

Yes.

You sure this is really necessary?

These men are expecting some scruffy little tyke

they can just dismiss the moment you walk in that room.

-I want to show 'em something different. -It's just cloth.

Mm. And it shouldn't matter, but it does.

Ooh.

Oh. Courage, Fergus.

You must suffer to be beautiful.

Where are they?

"The... dog... ran...

home."

And that's it for today.

Keep up with your practice,

and remember, words alone are not enough.

They must be matched with deeds.

They seem very attentive.

Ah, they're eager to be doing something positive with their lives,

thanks in no small part to you, Mrs. Cartwright.

It's the Kinnairds who deserve the praise.

There's a gentleman here to see you.

Yes, sir?

Bloody Nora, Fergus!

Have you pinched someone's clothes?

I'm off to London,

and I need to make a good impression, apparently.

Gave me a stick and everything.

It's a cane.

-I feel like a prize pudding. -Why are you going to London?

To fight the FA's decision to kick us out the Cup.

Probably be a waste of time.

You told me that change happens through talking,

and you were right.

Stand up to 'em.

Make them listen.

And if that means getting dressed up like the high cockalorum, then so be it.

I'm so proud of you, Fergus.

Mr. Suter, would you help me up these steps?

I never thought I'd see the day you ordered a lemonade, Tommy.

Under strict instruction, in case we get back in the final.

No beer, no trouble.

Oh, on the house.

I might hate that you play for Blackburn,

but I hate them southerners hell of a lot more.

Pint of ale,

and whiskey

to chase her down.

My lad'll pay when he gets here.

Aye, you can drink it when he does.

Oh, you've heard of Fergie Suter?

Aye, he's a big man round these parts, they tell me.

He'll pay.

-Your Fergie's da? -Aye.

Here.

What are youse all looking at?

-Can a man no have a drink? -Alf, we got one here.

I've got this, Rosie.

Hey, big man.

You sit yourself down...

before I put you down.

Right?

Fine work, Jimmy.

You're a quick learner.

You're a good teacher.

Don't thank me, thank Doris. She put the idea into my head.

-Tommy, you looking for me? -I'm looking for Jimmy.