This Children’s Film Foundation production followed the kids of Barton United – a junior football team based in Barton-upon-Irwell, Eccles (Lancashire), who were trying to win the cup in their local football league.
Nasty councillor Mr Bates (David Lodge) didn’t like them, though, and wanted the team his son played for (Salford Road Villa) to win instead so he made life as difficult as he could for them. And so the team learned that their local home pitch was to be turned into a car park. Now they had nowhere to train or practice.
But Barton United were offered help by the local professional team – that just happened to be Manchester United – and the kids were invited to train at Old Trafford with the Man U first team and meet legendary manager Matt Busby.
The young team also received help from a group of local milkmen.
Shot on location in Manchester, Salford and Eccles, Cup Fever offers a glimpse of a time and an age of innocence long since lost when kids around Britain paid their bobs and tanners to watch the Saturday Cinema Club films at cinemas throughout the country.
This was the first feature film for both Olivia Hussey and Susan George (pictured).
Policeman
Bernard Cribbins
Mrs Davis
Sonia Graham
Bodger
Dermot Kelly
Mr Bates
David Lodge
Milkman
Johnnie Wade
Driver
Norman Rossington
Matt Busby
Himself
Denis Law
Himself
Bobby Charlton
Himself
Nobby Stiles
Himself
David Herd
Himself
Pat Dunne
Himself
Jack Crompton
Himself
George Best
Himself
John Connelly
Himself
Pat Crerand
Himself
Tony Dunne
Himself
Bill Foulkes
Himself
Shay Brennan
Himself
Bert Trautmann
Himself
Skipper Davis
Denis Gilmore
Rocket Bailey
Jim Morgan
Denis Fletcher
Raymond Davies
Twinkle Taylor
Jeffrey Sirr
Stan Matthews
Stephen Walters
Nodder Bailey
Glenn Slowther
Stopper Cook
Alan Harrison
Puncher Brown
Roger Kelly
Freddie Brown
Terence Kelley
Pete Simmons
Barrie Beardall
Jumbo Jarvis
Denis Tagell
Fatso Cooke
Gary Mason
Vicky Davis
Susan George
Jinny
Olivia Hussey
Hovis
Amanda Humby
Thumper
Pip Rolls
Big John
John Mills
Stonewall
Robert Merril
Wee Willie
Stephen Cox
Director
David Bracknell