The main character of new The Bromley Boys film has praised the author who inspired the project.
Brenock O’Connor, who plays Dave Roberts in the comedy, was at the Wembley Stadium premiere on Thursday (May 24).
Dave Roberts wrote The Bromley Boys in 2008 – a true story about his teenage-self falling in love with the “worst football team in the country” as England enjoyed World Cup glory in 1966.
Photo - Dave Roberts
Despite some humiliating thrashings, Dave went to as many Bromley FC games as possible - even once sneaking out of his boarding school for a midweek game, which did not end well.
O’Connor, who played Olly in Game of Thrones, told News Shopper he read the book in preparation for the role.
He said: “The book is amazing. I expected to be bored because I am not a football fan. It is a godsend to play the character because the book is a 300-page bible for everything you need to know about what Dave was like.
“He has every little detail written down.”
Dave was a teenager who only really fitted in when he was at Hayes Lane watching Bromley FC.
He would buy two matchday programmes, the first to pack away neatly and keep fresh and the other to scribble down events of the game.
All these years later he used the notes to help write his book about football, community and love.
“It was a dream come true having Dave there giving me advice,” O’Connor commented. “To have someone say 'I didn’t do it like that' or 'I was a bit more shy' is great.
“There is nothing more important as an actor as authenticity. You don’t want to look like you’re acting. So if you have someone there who actually did it is great.
“He was inspiring.”
The young actor, who was at his first ever film premiere, acknowledged the appeal of non-league football after watching his local club Worthing FC play as he prepared for set.
He said: “The first thing that went through my mind was ‘oh my god’ because one of the kids in my year in school was playing for Worthing.
“You expect to only get the feeling on the bigger scale but it is still there in non-league football. I’m not a fan but it was mesmerising.”
The Bromley Boys will be screened at Hayes Lane on Sunday (May 27) and tickets are available here http://www.bromleyfc.tv/site/the-bromley-boys-is-coming-to-hayes-lane/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here