“DENIS LAW’S IN T’WASH”
Denis Law played and starred in many memorable matches over a long and distinguished career, but he missed out on a starring role in the greatest game in British cinema history because he was “in the wash” that week.
When the gaggle of teenagers in ill-fitting kits lined up to be picked for teams at the start of a PE lesson in Kes, none of the players had the remotest idea they were about to make footballing history, not least as every player was making their (cinematic) debut.
Filmed over three or four wet days – no one involved can remember exactly how long it took – on the playing fields of Barnsley’s St Helen’s County Secondary School in the summer of 1968, most of the players on show were ordinary pupils.
For them, this was almost a normal PE lesson. There were no Hollywood stars in Kes. The lead, Billy Casper, was played by the unknown 14-year-old David Bradley, cast from another local school. On the pitch and in the changing rooms, Billy is victimised by self-important, sadistic PE teacher Mr Sugden, played by the equally unknown Brian Glover.
Based on the Barry Hines novel and directed by Ken Loach, is a bittersweet portrait of working-class struggle. It follows knock-kneed runt Billy, bullied by almost everybody in his life, who finds hope nurturing a kestrel and teaching himself falconry.
