The Story of
A Man
A Town
A Team
And a Dream!

LEGEND – The birth of a Football Musical – John Woudberg

As far as we know, this was the first ever full-length musical about football. Taking over a year to research, write and produce, 'LEGEND' tells the story of one of the game's all-time greats Sir Tom Finney and the fans upon whom he had such an unbelievable impact.

'LEGEND' is so much more than a musical about football. It is the story of Preston itself and the dreams of ordinary people played out on the Deepdale pitch – every other Saturday. It is also the story of the ‘under-dog' - Finney was though too small to make it – and of how passion and commitment can overcome even the greatest obstacles to our dreams.

'LEGEND' was inspired by my childhood love-affair with football – particularly Preston North End, which began at the age of ten – the Cup Final side of the 1960's. My heroes were ‘Dougre Holden' ‘Alan Kelly' and the rest but we had all heard of the great ‘Tom Finney' – Indeed, Finney's plumbing firm was just up the road from where I lived and as a boy I'd gotten his autograph on a couple of occasions. Finney's former clubmates ‘Joe Walton' and ‘Tommy Thompson' both had shops in the same area – I even went to primary school with Tommy Thompson's daughters. Such was the small world of football, in those days! In 'LEGEND' I wanted to convey all the sights, sounds, smells, hopes and fears (I was once nearly crushed to death in a third cup-tie with Bolton) I had experienced as a boy and the magic-spell the game had on me.

In a sense 'LEGEND' is also a metaphor for our theatre company and the obstacles we had to overcome – like Finney – to follow our dreams. "Diamonds come in small packages" says Alf - Finney's father. "From small beginning come great things" is the very last line of the play. With only a cast of five, transmuting into forty characters – including a train! – 'LEGEND' spans the heady days from the ‘Old Invincibles' to Finney's retirement in 1960.

A year in the making, 'LEGEND' ran to packed houses at The Charter Theatre and rave reviews – for only one week in September 1996 (such are the vagaries of theatre production). However, 'LEGEND' remains a testament to our company's talent, drive and commitment to our craft. (Like Finney's)

Who knows? One day ‘Finney' in the form of 'LEGEND' may play again!...

COMMENTS

 ‘It's a Winner!' – Evening Post

‘Brilliant! What a story' PNE Fan

‘Play's a Blinder' PNE Monthly