' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever about '
Wed Sep 30, 2015 1:38 pm
A Cardiff City fan from Merthyr makes the 'best footie film ever' about Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest
30 SEP 2015
BY NATHAN BEVAN
Bluebirds fan Jonny Owen put his footballing allegiances aside to make what critics are calling the 'greatest football film ever made'
Brian Clough is the subject of Jonny Owen's new film
It's been dubbed 'the greatest football film ever made' and is about Brian Clough's glory years at Nottingham Forest football club.
But, despite the wizardry on the pitch and the larger the life presence on the manager's bench, the most striking thing about I Believe In Miracles is the fact that it's been made by an ardent Cardiff City fan from Merthyr.
Related: Svengali: Why music's biggest names delivered for Jonny Owen's movie soundtrack
The much acclaimed documentary is the labour of love from actor and director Jonny Owen who, fresh from his huge success with music biz comedy Svengali, now turns his attention to his lifelong obsession with football.
Charting the phenomenal rise of Nottingham Forest, the film portrays their journey from mid-table Division Two club to First Division title holders (as well as European Cup victors twice-over) under the outspoken tenure of 'Old Big 'Ead' himself, who'd been keen to make a fresh start after a brief and tumultuous 44 days at the helm of Leeds United.
Watch: The trailer for I Believe In Miracles
Made with the the support of Clough's family - something crucially lacking from The Damned United, the 2009 Michael Sheen film about the Middlesbrough-born maverick - it sees Owen pull off the extraordinary feat of bringing together all of the 1979 European Cup winning team for interviews.
"It took a few months," says 44-year-old Owen, whose work has been heralded as 'the greatest football film ever made' by the likes of The Guardian.
"They are scattered far afield geographically so it wasn't easy, but once they knew I knew my football it was fine.
"They were all great too, genuinely. You can see it in the film.
"These are lads who are used to talking to people and who lived amongst their fans. There were no multi-millionares shut away in exclusive gated communities back then."
But, as a Bluebird from the Valleys, what drew him to the project?
"I remember Forest used to be the only team who could beat Liverpool, who were brilliant in those days," he says.
Related: Svengali turns from cult internet series to the big hit of Edinburgh Festival
"I used to go and see Merthyr and Cardiff play, both of whom were in a different universe, but so many kids in my class loved Liverpool.
"They were the side to follow and, let's face it, Cardiff were never going to get to play them, let along beat them.
"So when Forest did, us non-Liverpool supporters went mad. I still remember that vividly.
"Besides, who doesn't love Cloughy?"
And, as you can see from the trailer and the film's title (which is named after the Jackson Sisters' '76 disco classic) music-mad Owen couldn't resist raiding his extensive record collection once again to score his latest effort.
"Well, I'm a stickler for style and music, so it had to have a feel that was right.
"I don't know why but funk and disco seemed to suit that Forest team - probably because it was all shiny Adidas tops, long hair and moustaches back then.
"So I went for an almost '70s style of cutting it and graphics. I even graded the film to give it an 'old', retro feel - that almost Californian sunshine sheen everything used to have."
And, while the both critics and fans alike have taken well to the finished product, what does Owen's other-half - This Is England actress Vicky McClure, a rabid Notts County supporter - make of it?
Svengali film stars Jonny Owen and Vicky McClure, pictured at St. Davids Hotel and Spa
"She was fine - I even stuck a County goal in there to keep her happy, " he laughs.
"I also found footage of Cardiff playing Forest too, which HTV had told me no longer existed.
"I knew that wasn't the case because, years ago I'd worked at the channel and had seen it with my own eyes.
"In the end I told them where to look and, when they came back on the phone, they went, 'Blimey, you're right Jon, it is there'."
I Believe In Miracles gets its world premiere at Nottingham Forest's city ground on Sunday October 11, before being screened in both Cardiff and Merthyr on October 12
30 SEP 2015
BY NATHAN BEVAN
Bluebirds fan Jonny Owen put his footballing allegiances aside to make what critics are calling the 'greatest football film ever made'
Brian Clough is the subject of Jonny Owen's new film
It's been dubbed 'the greatest football film ever made' and is about Brian Clough's glory years at Nottingham Forest football club.
But, despite the wizardry on the pitch and the larger the life presence on the manager's bench, the most striking thing about I Believe In Miracles is the fact that it's been made by an ardent Cardiff City fan from Merthyr.
Related: Svengali: Why music's biggest names delivered for Jonny Owen's movie soundtrack
The much acclaimed documentary is the labour of love from actor and director Jonny Owen who, fresh from his huge success with music biz comedy Svengali, now turns his attention to his lifelong obsession with football.
Charting the phenomenal rise of Nottingham Forest, the film portrays their journey from mid-table Division Two club to First Division title holders (as well as European Cup victors twice-over) under the outspoken tenure of 'Old Big 'Ead' himself, who'd been keen to make a fresh start after a brief and tumultuous 44 days at the helm of Leeds United.
Watch: The trailer for I Believe In Miracles
Made with the the support of Clough's family - something crucially lacking from The Damned United, the 2009 Michael Sheen film about the Middlesbrough-born maverick - it sees Owen pull off the extraordinary feat of bringing together all of the 1979 European Cup winning team for interviews.
"It took a few months," says 44-year-old Owen, whose work has been heralded as 'the greatest football film ever made' by the likes of The Guardian.
"They are scattered far afield geographically so it wasn't easy, but once they knew I knew my football it was fine.
"They were all great too, genuinely. You can see it in the film.
"These are lads who are used to talking to people and who lived amongst their fans. There were no multi-millionares shut away in exclusive gated communities back then."
But, as a Bluebird from the Valleys, what drew him to the project?
"I remember Forest used to be the only team who could beat Liverpool, who were brilliant in those days," he says.
Related: Svengali turns from cult internet series to the big hit of Edinburgh Festival
"I used to go and see Merthyr and Cardiff play, both of whom were in a different universe, but so many kids in my class loved Liverpool.
"They were the side to follow and, let's face it, Cardiff were never going to get to play them, let along beat them.
"So when Forest did, us non-Liverpool supporters went mad. I still remember that vividly.
"Besides, who doesn't love Cloughy?"
And, as you can see from the trailer and the film's title (which is named after the Jackson Sisters' '76 disco classic) music-mad Owen couldn't resist raiding his extensive record collection once again to score his latest effort.
"Well, I'm a stickler for style and music, so it had to have a feel that was right.
"I don't know why but funk and disco seemed to suit that Forest team - probably because it was all shiny Adidas tops, long hair and moustaches back then.
"So I went for an almost '70s style of cutting it and graphics. I even graded the film to give it an 'old', retro feel - that almost Californian sunshine sheen everything used to have."
And, while the both critics and fans alike have taken well to the finished product, what does Owen's other-half - This Is England actress Vicky McClure, a rabid Notts County supporter - make of it?
Svengali film stars Jonny Owen and Vicky McClure, pictured at St. Davids Hotel and Spa
"She was fine - I even stuck a County goal in there to keep her happy, " he laughs.
"I also found footage of Cardiff playing Forest too, which HTV had told me no longer existed.
"I knew that wasn't the case because, years ago I'd worked at the channel and had seen it with my own eyes.
"In the end I told them where to look and, when they came back on the phone, they went, 'Blimey, you're right Jon, it is there'."
I Believe In Miracles gets its world premiere at Nottingham Forest's city ground on Sunday October 11, before being screened in both Cardiff and Merthyr on October 12
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:46 pm
this sounds well worth a look. The man has to rank up there amongst the best managers of all time, or as he once said 'I wouldn't say I am best but I in the top one' or something like that lol 
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 4:15 pm
Really looking forward to watching this. There has been no manager like Clough, he was a definite one off. England would have won the 82 World Cup with him as manager, they messed up big time by appointing Ron Greenwood, who was the Roy Hodgson of that era.
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 4:34 pm
Ray Bishop wrote:Really looking forward to watching this. There has been no manager like Clough, he was a definite one off. England would have won the 82 World Cup with him as manager, they messed up big time by appointing Ron Greenwood, who was the Roy Hodgson of that era.
The FA wouldn't have Clough because we all know he was too outspoken.
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:47 pm
any links to the trailer?
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:49 pm
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:20 pm
Rydogsccfc wrote:Ray Bishop wrote:Really looking forward to watching this. There has been no manager like Clough, he was a definite one off. England would have won the 82 World Cup with him as manager, they messed up big time by appointing Ron Greenwood, who was the Roy Hodgson of that era.
The FA wouldn't have Clough because we all know he was too outspoken.
Wales tried and nearly got him !!
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:50 pm
theclaw wrote:Rydogsccfc wrote:Ray Bishop wrote:Really looking forward to watching this. There has been no manager like Clough, he was a definite one off. England would have won the 82 World Cup with him as manager, they messed up big time by appointing Ron Greenwood, who was the Roy Hodgson of that era.
The FA wouldn't have Clough because we all know he was too outspoken.
Wales tried and nearly got him !!
I never knew that why didn't it happen?
Re: ' A Cardiff City fan makes the best footie film ever abo
Thu Oct 01, 2015 5:25 am
Rydogsccfc wrote:theclaw wrote:Rydogsccfc wrote:Ray Bishop wrote:Really looking forward to watching this. There has been no manager like Clough, he was a definite one off. England would have won the 82 World Cup with him as manager, they messed up big time by appointing Ron Greenwood, who was the Roy Hodgson of that era.
The FA wouldn't have Clough because we all know he was too outspoken.
Wales tried and nearly got him !!
I never knew that why didn't it happen?
I believe the position at the time with Wales would have been a part time one, a situation Forest were not happy to accommodate.