A new film chronicling the story of one of Blackpool’s most famous days is current in the works.
The future documentary will focus on the Matthews Final, and a group of fans behind the triumph of that day – The Atomic Boys, as the Seasiders lifted the 1953 FA Cup following a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers.
Film production company Raised By Robots, together with producers Laurence Jones and David Beresford, have been working closely with the club for over a year about this story.
Discussing the project, he said: “It’s not the kind of story that I normally write, but as I looked at it more it’s so about people, passion and community. As a film writer the arc is there with the FA Cup final in 1953. Is it dramatic? Err- yeah. And then the producers came to me with the Atomic Boys aspect, it made it more interesting. “Blackpool is like Las Vegas, Disneyland and Ibiza all rolled into one. There was so much going on when I thought about it. It’s lazy in a way, I don’t have to do so much work. You know it’s intriguing when you think: ‘Why hasn’t anyone done this?’
“There’s two ways to do it. Tell it as a Stanley Matthews narrative, which would work, but you can also tell it as a story about the community, the supporters, and the people of Blackpool – which excited me as well. “The primary character is based on Syd Bevers, who was the one who established the Atomic Boys. He wanted to introduce colour into this world that still had scarcity and hardship post-war. He’s definitely someone that’s really charismatic and amusing, so he’s at the core of it.
“I wanted it to have heart, like in Billy Elliot or The Full Monty.” It’s not all about the enjoyment or the football. Although there is a lot of humor, many of the characters had recently served in the military.
“We took a tour of the Tower and the Winter Gardens, which helped us understand the size of Blackpool and the incredible entertainment that was available. It gives you a lot of characters to work with as a comedy writer. There is, in a sense, too much, and it must be reduced.
Schneider recently went to Blackpool’s 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town with producer Jones.
Simon Sadler, the proprietor of Seasiders, who has supported the idea, was contacted during that period.
“He is really interested, which has given us a real boost,” Schneider continued. “He has really supported and encouraged us.”
People tend to talk down Blackpool these days, therefore I want to illustrate its past and what it can still be. It is still worthwhile to celebrate that sense of community.
“With their playful side and their resistance to the gray, constrictive world they were in, the Atomic Boys sort of embodied Blackpool, which delighted the neutral. We’ve written some stuff about their meeting with Winston Churchill prior to the final, but we’re not sure what was said.The community and the football team were significantly different because of that sense of pleasure.
The project’s goal is to start pre-production in the second half of this year, subject to the complete production budget being increased. If all goes according to plan and a rapid turnaround is possible, the 2026 FA Cup final will be the target.
Blackpool and other locations in the North West will be used for filming, and it is hoped that the area will be able to contribute significantly.
For more:https://sportchannel.co.uk/2025/02/05/alan-partridge-a…-next-full-monty/
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