Bostock's Cup (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews (23)

One of the funniest things I've ever seen

[Gubby-Allen · 9/10 · 29 November 2001]

Airplane apart, I don't think I've ever laughed at a film so much in all my life.

I love football like mad, but I tend to hate almost any song or film about football as they tend to be unrealistic. This wasn't.

I watched it once, it was over 2 years ago & it was brilliant. Everyone I know loved it. I remember the gay physio, the sloping pitch at about a 45 degree angle and 'Shoes' (a player so named because he once turned up for training in a new pair of shoes). Brilliant, that's what goes on in park football.

A definite 10/10. If anyone from the TV industry is reading this, considering all the crap you repeat on English tele, please have the sense to show this again (and the Muppets while you're at it). Also does anyone know if this was shown on BBC or ITV. I think it was ITV, so it's worth asking them if they plan to show it again. They should do.

Get your act together

[harry-105 · 9/10 · 7 May 2005]

Can't believe that Bostock's Cup isn't available on a proper video or DVD yet. I've only seen it once, on a dodgy copy taken off the TV and despite not being a footy fan (at all,) thought it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

The famous sloping pitch of wherever it was, the clueless coach driver ("Ponty-this, Ponty-that", "I'll take the next exit"), the pointless plot; it all added up to aching sides.

Being stuck in the US I'm desperate for some good British humour but not quite enough to spend the amount that the production company are asking for. C'mon, get it out on kosher DVD pronto.

Superb film

[bensherman · 9/10 · 10 June 2006]

I think this TV film was first aired the same week that Manchester Utd played in the Champions League Final (1999), they run a lot of football related items that week and this one was an absolute standout.

It played on all the clichés that are churned out every season during the FA Cup ie, plucky underdogs, lucky clothing/mascots, name on the cup etc and turned out to be brilliantly funny.

I'm surprised it has never been repeated prior to other big football occasions, even now with the world cup just getting underway.

A few previous posts from non-football fans have said they still love it, but a football fan will find it hilarious imho.

A great and underrated TV Movie

[BretteH · 10/10 · 8 June 2004]

I saw this back in 99 and I remember loving it. Still to this day I can remember parts of the movie in my head, like the slanted pitch. Unfortunately from 99 - now I could never remember the name of this until I was looking through the filmography of a friend of my uncles and came across this (he played Clive Kennard). Straight away after reading the description I knew what it was. After catching up I was shocked to find out that not only did it not make a release on video or DVD but still has yet to be repeated. This is a massive shame, I am begging you ITV at least repeat this superb TV Movie. Nick Hancock showed in this movie he could do more than just host a show with his character Mike Tonker. This is a movie that most football fans would love and even those who aren't too keen on the sport would be able to enjoy the comedic value of this. Yes this is a brief review but there is not much to say apart from this is an underrated movie, deserves to be repeated or released on video/DVD so ITV, myself and other fans of this movie beg you. PLEASE CONSIDER ONE OF THOSE!

!!! BUY THIS MOVIE FROM ITV DIRECT !!!

[dgc.kiwi · 10/10 · 15 July 2004]

As you can see I've submitted 2 comments about this show since 1991....and no, ITV have still not made it available for general release.

HOWEVER, I recently contacted ITV to see if there was any way of getting hold of a copy, and this was their reply.......

"Unfortunately there are no plans for this programme to be released on DVD/video. You can however, purchase copies from our Viewers Requests dept. Their email address is: [e-mail] ".

Hope you all now get the chance to enjoy this classic short comedy again.

I Got It!!

[desklid · 10/10 · 3 November 2004]

Having obtained a copy of Bostocks Cup I must confess It is not as funny as I originally thought!! IT IS BETTER!!!!! Charlie Williams ... eat your heart out. Match fixing???? Never! Sloping pitch at 45%? Ronnie and Reggie Kay? George Best? The Coach Driver who thinks Pontefract is in South Wales ( It's all Ponty this and Ponty that)Bertie Masson's (Tim Healey's)lucky Cup hat!! (not that he's into gimmicks) Sugar Plum Fairy????? Confused???? Watch it again. The innovative use of real footage with Bostock players was brilliant and the producer should be proud of giving us a MASTERPIECE. Come on ITV do the viewers and yourself a favour - show it again!!! Please>

Am I a bit cynical or.....

[darrincowen · 10/10 · 18 November 2005]

.... could it be that ITV wouldn't want to release this absolute classic because it would show up their current series of Mike Bassett for what it is? When discussing Mike Bassett with some work colleagues I mentioned Bostock's Cup as being a far superior offering and was surprised to find that I seem to be the only person in my entire office that has actually seen it. This can't be right for a film that has got to be the funniest thing I have ever seen.

Let's face it, ITV don't have the greatest recent record for producing comedy so you would think that they would jump at the chance of at least repeating something which is genuinely funny. Perhaps if it could be combined with a lucrative telephone competition of where we think the coach driver will go next then they might be interested.

Come on ITV, there are still some of us out there who would like to watch original, quality comedy/drama. Do the decent thing thing. Repeat it then get it out on DVD.

Funny or what!!

[desklid · 10/10 · 31 July 2004]

I am not a footie fan by any means but watched this with a friend as there wasn't anything else on the box at the time.(thank goodness). Not only did we laugh from start to finish but about a week later in the pub, when we started discussing it, we made a right spectacle of ourselves with uncontrollable laughter. Does that sloping pitch actually exist??? I have released my e-mail here so if anyone hears about it's future availability or a repeat on the telly please let me know. Definitely the funniest thing I've seen on television!!! King Leek was good too!! another Tim Healy classic

Bunch of pit yackers!

[robwhiteheaduk · 10/10 · 28 January 2009]

I can't add much to what has been said already, except I'm going to have to because of the 10 lines minimum policy.

I've actually got this on a VHS-to-DVD copy, but the quality is quite poor and I desperately need for it to be officially released.

I can just imagine what extras I would like to see (Tim Healy's character swearing his way through one of those 'Football Bloopers' type programmes would be great!). You can imagine it now, can't you? But of course, it looks like most people will have to carry on dreaming about a DVD release.

Surely to God there must be someone in the DVD releases department at ITV who also knows something about British culture, is web savvy and has enough about them to look at IMDb now and again? Oh, well.

What a pleasant surprise!

[robsonandgoody · 19 June 2003]

I've just joined the IMDB after a colleague mentioned that our TV film was mentioned and was thrilled to see the comments on BOSTOCK'S CUP. Thanks to everyone who has said such nice things about a piece that I assumed was long-forgotten. ITV have never indicated that they will repeat the film, though it's pretty timeless. You may be interested to know that a follow-up script was written, but ITV decided not to commission it. Also, some of the players did turn out for a charity game. They have played in the strip, but not the wigs! I seem to recall Nick Hancock scoring a late equaliser, the jammy git.

Cheers, Mark - Producer of BC

Better than watching Grimsby away.

[laishers · 10/10 · 4 January 2001]

This is a true gem of a TV film. Based on a completely untrue story, it follows the course of the down-and-out football league club through their course in the English FA cup, where mayhem ensues and the players all sport seventies styles. The ending is unexpected, the performances are great, and Nick Hancock shows that he CAN do something other than host sports shows. My only regret is that I didn't tape it.

Fantastic footie fun

[krisingrams · 10/10 · 11 April 2002]

This was a fantastically funny footie film. Why won't they show it again? Tim Healy was superb, as were all the players. Direction was inspired, and some of the gags were matchless. The sloping pitch had me on the floor. Show it again, ITV, so I can video it!!!

Hilarious, BUT........

[dgc.kiwi · 10/10 · 7 August 2001]

As a reviewer has already commented, this made for tv comedy is up there amongst the best football parodies ever. But....having failed to video it when it was first aired, I now find that it isn't around in any format. OK, so this has only polled 17 votes to date, but a 9+ average does seem to suggest something special. Basically, I suppose it's a case of tough luck if you missed it 'cos it's no longer available to view !! Aaaaaaaargh.

Staggering

[stan-130 · 26 March 2004]

It really is quite staggering that this gem has not been repeated or made available on video or DVD. You really do wonder about some of the people now in charge of television. Night after night we suffer hours of TV that is an insult to the intelligence yet this minor classic is ignored. Has someone lost the master tape?

I am one of the lucky ones who recorded it when it was shown on ITV. As secretary of UniBond League side Burscough Bostock's Cup causes a riot on our away coach trips every season as a new group of players get to see it for the first time. Some of the performances are priceless and the way it lampoons all the various stereotypes in football would make it even more popular today.

happily seen sadly missed....

[paul-ashton-3 · 10/10 · 7 December 2005]

I caught this filmshow about the most unlikely, success? ,from a lower league, football team. The plot is thick and roles out some great tenuous twists and turns. Intercut with shots and commentary from the 70's .I was taken aback by its shear footy fun.

A great cast includes the excellent Tim Healy as the crazed(drunk) manager , bumbling along hanging on to anything that will make his team win...? I keep remembering bits such as the stolen secret file that Don Revie( Super leeds united and england manager-loved by the fans hated by everyone else)has on Bostock United ( the underfelt men) which in its detailed report of their opposition, Bostock United, in this the FA Cup final, merely says "Sh-te".

Lots of other footy gags a long time before the fantastic feature length "Mike Basset - Football Manager" Starring Ricky Tomlinson.

Up there with the, Gung ho English beating Germans, at football. Well morally.Although the score lines says different , of "Escape to Victory" ( I still cheer when England score )

And the thankless eternal grind of following a really bad team in Micheal Palins "Golden Gordon" from "Ripping Yarns" series ( with Terry Jones)the team were called Bostonworth United ,in case your interested.

I've looked high and low for a copy of Bostock's Cup-even Nick Hancock's biography doesn't list it ( probably someone -not mr hancocks- error)

Play it again or sell me a copy- PLEASE....

I have it

[scott-bowers · 10/10 · 20 April 2006]

To anyone who is interested, I have managed to get this on DVD from Ebay (haven't received it yet - any day now).

I have been desperate to get this even if it is a VHS quality put on a DVD I don't mind. So to anyone interested get in touch with me and maybe I can help you out.

To be honest it's ridiculous that I've had to wait nearly 7 years to see this again but boy it will be worth it.

All my mates at work are desperate to see it too.

Anyway I'll post later regarding the quality.

Just do a search on Ebay if u want it guys. it's there to buy

The Underfelt Men

[robert_ftz · 10/10 · 4 December 2009]

I have it on VHS but its not a great copy as I have watched it 2 or 3 times per year since 1999. I am also in fear that 'her indoors' will throw it out in the annual VHS purge.

My brother and I (Late 30' still laugh at the carry on in this fantastic show.Tim Healys Lucky Cup Hat and telling the apprentice YOU Can DO NONE OF THAT (Shooting, passing etc) and he turns out to be Peter Beardsley.As a Leeds fan I have to laugh at the empty dossier on Bostock before the cup final (or did it say S**t ?)

The reason I came on line today was that my Bro wants it for Christmas so ITV please bring it out on DVD Come on The UnderFelt Men !!

Buy Direct from ITV

[dgc.kiwi · 10/10 · 28 July 2004]

.....whoops - looks like it's gonna cost you a whopping £198.00 to buy a copy (either DVD or Video format)from ITV direct.

Ouch.

Sorry about this, but IMDB won't let me submit this comment unless it has at least 10 lines, so...........

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Hilarious British gem

[phil_e_moss · 10/10 · 6 April 2018]

Excellent. Funny, enjoyable, even for non footy fans

Bostocks Cup - YouTube

[gaj-7 · 3 July 2007]

I am fortunate enough to have a copy. I have posted the hilarious sloping pitch scene on you tube. You can view it here. Opps! The system won't let me post a link but if you go to Youtube.com and do a search for Bostocks Cup, you will find the video there. Please feel free to make a comment and also rate it. Who knows if we get enough hits ITV will have to replay it. If you have a particular scene you would like to see just let me know and I will post it. Yes I am fluffing this comment up a bit as I have to get to 10 lines Enjoy and happy viewing. Still not enough so here's some more information. It was Ralph Little's first TV appearance. The ;sloping pitch was actually a grassy Hill in Yeardsley, which I think is somewhere near Heathrow Airport. I'll try posting again . See you!

Bostock's Cup DVD

[gooner9 · 9/10 · 26 May 2006]

I'm like the rest of the fans who love this comedy,i've been waiting for it on DVD. I've got it on VHS and got so fed up waiting for a release and worrying that my VHS copy would ruin i got the equipment to get it onto DVD. The picture and sound are excellent to my utter surprise. If anyone else want's a copy drop me a line at

[e-mail]

and for £7.00 i'll put it onto a DVD,print the DVD and get it in the post to you. £7.00 just covers my costs & recorded delivery etc with maybe a little over so i'm not after making money out of it,i'd just like the world to see this ignored gem of a comedy.I recently saw a copy of ebay got for over £26,amazing. How can they not release this classic. Email me for payment details like cheque or Paypal etc etc

STILL NOT RELEASED YET ???????????

[dgc.kiwi · 10/10 · 7 October 2003]

OK...time for a bit of a rant I think. It's been 2 flamin' years since I submitted my original comments praising this top-rated footy comedy.....and the damn thing still hasn't made it to video or DVD (or for that matter even been repeated on the telly !!) !!!!!

Does anyone out there know why not ? Has there been a BBC-style error whereby the original copy has been deleted/mislaid/wiped ??

Listen up you lot in charge of ITV - whack this on to DVD now !!! Do you even realise how funny this programme was ? It makes "Mike Bassett" look as bad as the current pants Spurs team.

Rant over. For the moment.

bostocks cup

[jmac0078 · 8 October 2006]

Bostocks cup was and has been the only football spoof that i found hilarious, it beats mike bassett or any other.

If it was advertised, repeated on television then sold on DVD it would make a fortune because it is one of those films you just have to show your mates, explaining the gags and the spoofs yourself just doesn't work, you have to watch it to laugh.

It would be a shame if it is never shown it was such a piece of genuine British comedy like the porridge or the only fools. i have sky TV and although it has many channels i wouldn't give most of them the time of day they show such rubbish!, get it back on the tele and get it selling!