Another Saturday Night and Sweet FA

Another Saturday and Sweet F.A.

1972 - United Kingdom

What we're about to witness is called a football match. Not the beginning of World War Three. Not the destruction of the human race. A football match!" 

Every weekend, long-suffering referee Mr. Armistead wades into the melee to try to teach two sets of testosterone-fuelled maniacs the value of restraint, justice and fair play. Why does he persist in this near-futile endeavour? Is it because he has a dangerously masochistic streak? Or is it because Mr Armistead genuinely believes that he can use his peaceful philosophy of life to tame the wilder excesses of the players of Co-op Albion and, on this occasion, the Parker Street Depot? 

Another Sunday and Sweet FA, originally transmitted in 1972 as part of Granada's celebrated Sunday Night Theatre anthology, was written by multiple BAFTA winner Jack Rosenthal - one of Britain's most consistently successful television dramatists - and directed by the internationally renowned Michael Apted (7Up). Taking a ref's-eye view of the life-or-death drama of match day, Another Sunday and Sweet FA is laden with Rosenthal's characteristically insightful humour and features excellent performances from a cast that includes David Swift, David Bradley and Coronation Street stars Fred Feast and Anne Kirkbride

Published on November 28th, 2018. Review Network DVD reproduced with permission.

Read Next...

Dumb Martian

Earthman Duncan Weaver on a solo tour of duty on one of Jupiter's moons buys a Martian woman as a companion. He mistreats her, assuming her to be just a "dumb Martian." He learns, to his cost, that she has more intelligence than he gives her credit for.

Also tagged Single Drama

The War Game

A Chinese invasion of South Vietnam triggers a new world war between East and West. In the town of Rochester, Kent, the anticipation of a nuclear attack leads to mass evacuations. This one-off drama proved to be so controversial that the BBC, who made it, refused to broadcast it for 20 years.

Also tagged Single Drama

Crown Court TV series

Courtroom drama in which the jury, who were made up of members of the public, would decide the verdict.

Also released in 1972

All Summer Long

Willie has tried to make his father aware of the danger to their house from flood water, but Dad thinks that Willie's fears are excessive. Willie decides to spend all summer long building a wall to keep out the river, but his efforts are in vain.

Also tagged Single Drama

Colditz

War drama about the infamous German POW camp and the prisoner's attempts to escape it.

Also released in 1972

Arthur of the Britons

This excellent children's television series was a muddy & realistic version of the King Arthur legend.

Also released in 1972

Already It's Tomorrow

After a road accident, an attractive girl recovers consciousness in a strange room. With her is a young man she has never seen before.

Also tagged Single Drama

The Offshore Island

Post-apocalyptic drama - one of the first TV plays on a politically sensitive topic, about the survivors of a nuclear attack on the British isles.

Also tagged Single Drama