User:Invertzoo/The Bromley Boys

The Bromley Boys is a 2018 British, coming-of-age, warm-hearted, comedy film. Based on an eponymous autographical book by author Dave Roberts, the story is set in the suburbs of London, in North Kent, during the 1960s and early 1970s. It recounts the adventures of teenager David Roberts, who becomes a fan of his local football club Bromley F.C., a club who at the time were, "the worst football team in Britain". The film primarily focusses on events that took place during the club's 1969/1970 season.

Plot summary
In the late 1960s, a young British teenager, David (Dave) Roberts (Steve M. Kelly), is living in his parents' house in Sevenoaks. He wishes to follow a football (soccer) team, but because of his father's strong disapproval, he is forced into secretly following his local club, Bromley FC, who at that time were losing every game they played. Nonetheless, David instantly becomes a devoted fan. He attends and analyses every match the team plays, and keeps a scrapbook of every press mention they get, no matter how negative. His favorite player is the team's star, center forward "Stoney", Alan Stonefield (Ross Anderson). David manages to meet, and become close friends, with three adult fans, who encourage him.

Dave also meets, and rapidly falls in love with, Ruby McQueen (Savannah Baker), the pretty teenage daughter of Charlie McQueen (Jamie Foreman), the tough and scary Chairman of the club.

Having sneaked in and read some ambiguous notes on player's files in the chairman's office, Dave thinks that the Chairman has received large cash offers from both Manchester United and Leeds Football Club and that the Chairman will sell Alan Stonefield away from the club, in order to pay off his extensive gambling debts, which have rendered the club bankrupt.

Dave manages to meet Stoney, who turns out to be very kind, and strikes up a friendship with his idol.

The supposed news of the offer to buy Stoney is leaked to the press, and the Chairman also now thinks he will be able to pay off his debts. He announces the good news at a party and also explains he can afford to send his daughter to university to become a doctor, her dream.

But Dave suddenly understands that he misinterpreted the notes he read: they were about offers to Ruby from Manchester University and Leeds University.

In order to save the club, Dave talks the Chairman into selling his expensive sports car, and betting all the cash on Bromley FC to win their final game of the season, at odds of 10 to 1. Dave also tells the Chairman that he must allow Dave to manage the team for this one game.

The first half of the game goes poorly, despite Dave's attempts to suggest a game plan. But Dave finally understands that his father was once a brilliant, young, national-level player, who was crippled in a soccer accident. Before the team goes out for the second half, Dave gives an impassioned speech, which Stoney supports, and which causes the team to play better than anyone would have thought possible. Stoney scores a difficult goal on a free kick, Bromley FC wins, and Dave is carried off the field in triumph.