How Accurate Is 'The English Game' on Netflix?

The latest historical drama on Netflix in a miniseries exploring the class divide during the early years of association football and the FA Cup in England.
The series claims to be based on true events, but in this video, HITC Sevens examines the fact and fiction surrounding the likes of Blackburn, the Old Etonians, Arthur Kinnaird, and Fergus Suter, and what really happened in the early years of the FA Cup.

[@iandeeley9033]

I watched it on Netflix and despite the inaccuracies it is a really good series!

[@Toffees1878]

The actor who played Fergus Suter looks like Leighton Baines.

[@chelsealazer3710]

The actor who played jimmy love looks like a exact copy of harry maguire

[@HiguyMMA]

i watch a little of the first episode and i thought that was him lmao

[@chelsealazer3710]

@@HiguyMMA still think this is harry Maguire's lost twin

[@AlexTommo]

The actor who played Arthur Kinead looks like Chris Evans

[@michealflaithbheartaigh4139]

I've always said Baines reminds me of a first world war British soldier....I'm also sure I've played footy with him as a kid , as I grew in Kirkby and used to live facing a family called Baines who had a cousin with a weird first name ...but thats all I can remember

[@dminalba]

When I lived in Blackburn in 2006 I lived across the road from a pub called "The Hole I'th Wall" the pub was on the site of Blackburn Olympic's football ground

[@yusufkassim8236]

2009-10 Football Conference Teams: Where Are They Now?

[@user-jo1bs9hl5x]

Good idea Fleetwood town were playing in the conference with Jamie vardy and 10 years later Fleetwood are in the play offs of league 1 and Jamie vardy has a premier league title

[@notleco7147]

Luton were in the conference then.They're now in the championship

[@user-jo1bs9hl5x]

@@notleco7147 Luton are shit mate

[@bradleynorris1081]

Ay Kay 😂

[@claretandbluearmy8014]

Ay Kay he’s not a Luton fan dickhead

[@williambroome9140]

Why does it matter. It is not supposed to be entirely factual it's not a documentary. Also it is bloody brilliant

[@kanalforsaker4169]

I mean i got annoyed because the GKs were shit

[@merilum]

i mean, is not that great really

[@williambroome9140]

@@merilum i mean it is

[@williambroome9140]

@@kanalforsaker4169 yeah i can agree with that

[@celebritygenealogy8138]

Hes not saying its a bad series hes just pointing out the misinformation

[@joshuawilson1463]

Another Netflix drama dropped yesterday, Sunderland ‘til I die Season 2, It was an incredible April fools trick

[@ozerbabagil2224]

Joshua Wilson thank you for information I had finished the first season and waiting for the second season now I can watch it

[@joshuawilson1463]

@@ozerbabagil2224 No problem, enjoy quarentine!

[@ozerbabagil2224]

Joshua Wilson thank you same goes for you take care

[@SinnohGreen]

Even when I watch inaccurate depictions like in Das Wunder Von Bern, I just like the Football bits.

[@chrissalmon3222]

Lewis does a bit of shiny hunting Same. I skipped every scene involving the old Etonian guys wife.

[@SinnohGreen]

Chris Salmon that’s not Das Wunder Von Bern so I have no clue what you’re on about.

[@SirHaywood]

Tragic what happened to Jimmy Love, quality player.

[@bfcclarets4694]

Grant Frasier you seen him play?

[@mypenisisunbelievablytinyb4765]

@@bfcclarets4694 i time traveled back to 1880 to watch him play. pretty class.

[@jimmytimmy3680]

@@mypenisisunbelievablytinyb4765 Me too. He is phenomenal. Messi has nothing on him.

[@sandynimmo1451]

G.O.A.T.

[@merilum]

Day 7 asking Alfie for the All Time Antartica XI.

[@solchatz5871]

Penguin Polar bear seal seal penguin Whale Husky scientists Whale Dolphin Iceberg

[@solchatz5871]

They have beat the artic X1 and Santa's X1

[@birkett_6584]

ANNOYING PERSON WHO HAS A CRAZY ice berg was a proper player to be fair world class

[@solchatz5871]

@@birkett_6584 yh do you remember when he ruined the titanic in a tackle

[@birkett_6584]

ANNOYING PERSON WHO HAS A CRAZY beauty of a tackle don’t know how he got a red for that got the ball

[@no92108]

I could watch you talk about old football for hours. After the series I looked up EVERYTHING about football from the beginning, mainly to find a new RTG team to use in FIFA 😅 such a fascinating time!

[@OzanUtku]

How about doing a video on why teams like Blackburn Olympic, and other old teams that were successful a long time ago, fell off or cease to be?

[@therealMeastro]

Barry Chuckle money thats why

[@frankooga]

Have you seen what happened to Portsmouth, they fell off baddd

[@roychowdhurysoumya7983]

Olympic couldn't compete with Rovers. Blackburn is small town with relatively small catchment area. Rovers by winning the FA cup 3 times in a row (1884-85-86) were by far the most popular club in the town. Finances dictated that Olympic had to shut shop while Rovers marched on to be champions of England!

[@NOs3216]

@@frankooga lol, you compare portsmouth to olympic? Poertsmouth are a rich team in league 1, blackburn olympic dont exist anymore...

[@marioskapetanakis]

@@NOs3216 then why doesn't we recreate that lost giant?

[@sunnyskies4628]

The previews on Netflix got me to watch it. I’m not really a fan of football but, by golly I LOVED IT ENOUGH to find your channel. Jolly good I would say.

[@harveybolland3197]

Last 10 uzbekistani 4th division top scorers- where are they now?

[@alwallace4538]

That was one of the best episodes you've done. You are a better man than I. I've stopped premium packages from cable and unsubscribed KZbin channels for less egregious historical inaccuracies. When you said he wasn't a football fan, the sloppiness made sense. Why not hire someone who cares?

[@saintroddy]

I enjoyed the miniseries, but it could've been far better had they made at least double the episodes, so it could be both better-paced and more historically accurate.

[@ChrisAddis]

Fun fact, I clean windows in Blackpool, accordinging to Wikipedia, Fergus Suter lived out his final days not far from my home in Blackpool and died at number 8 Seafield Rd.....a house that I used to clean the windows on.

[@aaronc5653]

Video idea: Flops that went on to be good

[@diariodibordoafootballvlog5515]

7:34 the third guy from the left-hand side is doing the “circle” with his fingers HAHAHAH

[@andrewschwam1952]

Aaahahaha damn good eye.

[@philiphugoofficial]

Sometime during the second episode I was like "This show isn't really about football, is it?"

[@ozerbabagil2224]

Has finished this miniseries in three days I enjoyed a lot and hope that second season comes

[@aelfricofcedde363]

Another relatively minor inaccuracy is that Darwen actually held the Old Etonians to two draws before losing a third game, and that rather than sneeringly trying to use the rules and relative expense of the trip for working class Lancastrians members of the Old Etonian team actually contributed to the Darwen teams expenses. at least for the third game. Regarding Kinnaird and professionalism I have read the great football writer Geoffrey Green say that Kinnaird deplored professionalism but was prepared to accept it to retain the FA's control (as portrayed in the series) though unfortunately he does not give his source.

[@emiliosoto5912]

I personally loved The English Game series because I am a true football fan since age 9. Makes us realized the importance of the " BEAUTIFUL GAME " .

[@hamzabakkali8338]

Maguire lad was playing long before we know

[@theserhoratio]

Convenient cuz I literally just finished this like 3 hours ago

[@kenort3690]

HJ7 same bro

[@olayinkaamara385]

You called yourself an amateur historian, come on you're much more than that particularly when it comes to you're own historical football knowledge. I actually used to think I had a rather good historical knowledge of the game until I came across you back in 2017.

[@alwallace4538]

I was thinking he should've been at least a consultant

[@chrisheartscape2472]

I have a sneaking suspicion he could be taking money for advertising. Maybe at some point, professionalism within the youtube game will be accepted...

[@connormckenzie7052]

Chris Heartscape Why would we surrender our website to the working class!!!

[@merilum]

first time ever i enjoyed watching Alfie talk about football in the 1800s

[@markjn967]

In the series, Old Etonians beat Darwen 6-2 in a replay after drawing 5-5. This was actually the third game as they also drew 2-2 in an initial replay.

[@jamesfitzpatrick6100]

Thanks for the very useful overview. Frustrating for a football historian obviously to watch inaccuracies, but that's what tv/films can do ( eg 'Michael Collins' with Liam Neeson, and many more). For the lay person though the show was interesting and very watchable.

[@gushino99]

Can’t wait to watch this especially being from Darwen

[@connormckenzie7052]

-From Darwen -Supports Blackburn Rovers “You were supposed to destroy the Sith, not join them!”

[@gushino99]

Connor McKenzie AFC Darwen are shite though 😂 not gonna support them am I

[@danielgardecki1046]

*The English Game* (2020) mainly filmed in *Bradford* the world's first *UNESCO City of Film.* *The FA Cup* (1911-2014 trophy) made by *Fattorini's of Bradford* in the UK's fourth *City of Culture.*

[@PNETriffid]

Goalposts were in use in this period, it was crossbars that came along a touch later.

[@carnalea2424]

I'm not really sure it matters much that there were football inaccuracies, since this series isn't just about football. The social situation at the time is a very important part as well.

[@StamfordBridge]

Thanks for the heads up about this series, and thanks for spoiler warning. Now on my to-watch list.

[@liamlezama-johnson6639]

Can you do a review on Goal! And Goal!2 good video mate keep it up

[@samlonghi3224]

i watched the entire series after seeing the spoiler alert lol

[@santinomamone2674]

Watched it Alfie !!!! My mate looks like the Scott’s man fregason !!!!

[@marklloyd9584]

Could you make a historical video about the football stars of this time; and Preston and villa please please so interesting

[@falnop6047]

can you make a video on the journey from formation to top flight for a club.

[@ChristianSReitz]

They should do more seasons but with other historical stories

[@gauravpatnaik7011]

Do a video on the 7 Most complete National Teams

[@joseraulcapablanca8564]

An excellent video sir. I hate to disagree with an expert, but I thought one of the worst errors was the complaints of professionalism directed against Darren, when they played against the Etonians there was no rule against. The rule was introduced after that game to protect the old boys. You really love your football history.

[@lockie2149]

Big chess fan I see

[@tinasherusike7458]

You did a video on a Yorkshire XI. I would love to see a video/s on the greatest Yorkshire XI that includes past players as well as 1 for lancashire XI and Merseyside XI. In fact you can also include a west midlands XI and east midlands XI. The north of England has been the driving force of english football. Rugby Union lost the north and therefore have been mediocre for eternity so it would be awesome for a video that pays tribute to the north.

[@the12thdoctor63]

There was actually at least 3 teams in Blackburn at that time. Blackburn Rovers F.C, Blackburn Olympic F.C and Blackburn Park Road F.C

[@mikedup5399]

I never expected this series to be entirely true/factual. It was still well done and very much worth watching. 8/10

[@olayinkaamara385]

Seven greatest forward lines you've never heard of in football history e.g. Hibernian's forward five line of the late 1940s and early 1950s which won three Scottish league titles or the Argentina forward five line of the mid 1950s nicknamed the Angels with dirty faces of Corbatta, Maschio, Angelillo, Sivori and Cruz which comfortably won the 1957 Copa America with Argentina.

[@hasansacranie9015]

Ah just watched this, and this is brilliant

[@rhyswilliams4737]

Knowing this has kind of ruined the series for me. I watched it for an insight into the origins of football but it seems like that’s not the case. That being said, I guess the series still symbolises the way football become a game for the working class rather than being exclusive to those in power which in that sense is accurate.

[@michealflaithbheartaigh4139]

6.45 ... Classic Victorian transportation in the background

[@Mlaargaar]

Absolutely superb series. The football scenes were brilliantly put together!

[@ramelbandaranayake4277]

Thanks bro luv u

[@ProfessorUFC]

Great show!

[@pjmathison9787]

Wasn’t the biggest fan of the show but I watched it start to finish because boy do I miss football

[@MetalRocksMe.]

They made the man who played Fergie look a lot like the real Fergie. Pretty uncanny 😯.

[@marcushjort2587]

Just finished the last episode and i thought it was very good

[@mrwitter4]

New suggestion Your club longest serving player

[@flxlr6951]

Anyone else getting annoyed by the shitty goalkeeping in the series? Apart from that, it was a great watch and I would recommend the series to everyone.

[@gabrielgarcia7554]

Being a good keeper wasn’t invented yet hahaha

[@michaeldalton9826]

Truly shitty defending too. Both individual and team.

[@nathan225]

Flxlr they literally never caught the ball throughout the entire series. The ball would either hit the post or go in.

[@flxlr6951]

Nathan 22 So true haha... At some point I was wondering why they even bothered putting someone between the sticks

[@WarEaglePlaysHD]

I mean, it only showed goals or near goals. There were surely saves they didn’t show or the scores would be high, lol.

[@jackgetty1022]

7 best player managers of all time, the criteria for this would to just look at the time when they were a player manager

[@paulinethomas5688]

There are many books on the subject , if you can read of course.

[@denisp8432]

I would want a documentary on Fergies first few season with Man utd

[@robsta643]

Nice vid. I was wondering whether any of it was in the slightest true.

[@tinasherusike7458]

Im a rugby league man and a football man and thoroughly enjoyed this show. It got me wondering since rugby got caught up in the same situation as football where the northerners decided that they would break away from the southern controlled RFU and thus gave us the game of rugby league. Do you think that if the northerners had done the same thing in football as they threatened do you think that could have potentially created another football code?

[@charliebarnett3999]

7 most famous player chants

[@thomasiden6865]

I’m sorry but millwalls miilllllll has got to be one

[@itsyaboy2272]

Didn’t expect to see Donovan from the inbetweeners on the posh team

[@TheKalaxis]

The actor who plays Arthur Kinnaird looks like Gareth Southgate

[@dmac4048]

I did enjoy it but really annoyed me merging the Blackburn teams and that Sutter lifted the cup against Old Etonians just to satisfy the audience. To be fair I didn't know the other facts but now I do it annoys me more.

[@andracoz]

A brilliant wonderful series.

[@anthonyumaru2730]

Please can you make a video on 7 Liverpool players 10 yrs ago, WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

[@ryanath1118]

Ahhhh the beautiful game

[@RedLorryYellowLorry_]

Just finished the series. It was brilliant until I decided to watch this video...

[@joemcelroy7202]

So was there a riot between Darwen and either Blackburn Olympic or Rovers?

[@ryanormerod4470]

Yes pal for years

[@HITCSevens]

I don't believe there was a riot at a game between Darwen and either Olympic or Rovers, Joe. I think that was just more creative license.

[@ryanormerod4470]

@@HITCSevens not that specific game but violence was in issue between the clubs.

[@andrewlivesey2777]

Yes many times.

[@Kingcea12]

How would you do the series if you had written it mister HITC? Could make a good video

[@archstanton6102]

I have not seen the show but based on this, wouldn't it have not been easier to do a video on what they got right?

[@stephencooper7459]

History buffs does movies don't know if they did this but they do a great job of right and wrong channels based on it . Worth a look 👍

[@aliabbasnaqvi347]

0:03 hey that requires talent

[@ellb-w5076]

Hi, If able to, please create a 23 man squad for GB players excluding English Players, thank you :-)

[@bernardocanelas3833]

Please talk about 5 violins of sporting co

[@mukundmanian4180]

Haven't seen the series yet, is it worth watching during quarantine??

[@Ranamon9132]

Mukund Manian honestly, fuck yes. Good shit.

[@flxlr6951]

I had great fun watching it

[@andrewlivesey2777]

Yes watch it, and enjoy it, see the birth of the first great football club in the world, Blackburn Rovers, a club like no other, all other clubs wanted to be like them, sadly another great Rovers side were denied by the first great war in 1914. What a legacy.

[@victoriawillis-liverpoolyo2037]

I really enjoyed it

[@furrismurda]

pretty good content, and I would like to see more but I can't quite follow because the narrator's voice is too repetitively monotone.

[@ampjacob6370]

It’s a really good series I think I’m only up to ep 5

[@mxrk6495]

I just finished watching i Was happy for fergie

[@sylviamdallos2202]

I loved it!

[@1969cmp]

I loved the series.

[@liamzanna]

I personally quite liked the series. Obviously the scenes in which they actually play the game are... well they suck and they could have surely made 2 more episodes, usually in series like these they drag the plot out to make more episodes, well here they did the opposite.

[@davidjsouth231]

I don’t really care about inaccuracies. Just glad more programming about football ⚽️, or soccer in the US

[@augustina4tosiniamchannel562]

It's really good Fergus is a baller

[@TheGiantKillers]

The English game was very lazily done imho. There was a decent story that could have been told without having to dilute so much of the facts. Yes, by all means, you have to create a 'character' for Kinnaird and Suter and I get that. Also starting episode one with the famous Darwen vs Old Etonians game is promising too but had Fellows taken a little time to properly review his subject matter, he would surely have seen how a good story could have been written revolving around a rivalry between Blackburn Rovers and Olympic and their race to be the first to knock the Old boys of their perch. All that was required would have been to take one of the Olympic players, build a character around him, indeed make him Fergie Suter's love rival too to add some spice to the story and you have a half-decent Football based drama. Kinnaird remains as depicted, appreciating that sooner or later his colours must fall to these northerners. But to which one? Suter, the Scottish professional or {insert Olympic player here} the local lad and cotton worker? Portray Suter as the flash harry blow in getting well paid to play while our Olympic player is our more down to earth amateur hero. Both, of course, are madly in love with and seeking the affections of the same girl who is hopelessly torn between them. All seems lost on both counts as Suter not only gets to the cup final in '82 but also seemingly has won the fair maiden only to drown his cup final losing sorrows with a lady of the night in London. Something one of his teammates is quick to blab about back in Blackburn. Our fair maid runs for comfort to our more down to earth, and unpaid local hero who becomes more determined than ever for Olympic to win the cup. Kinnaird meanwhile delights in having seen off Suter for another year but repeatedly tells his public school mates that their days are numbered. This of course then happens when Olympic win the cup in '83. Upon doing so, at the climax of our show, our hero has beaten Suter to the cup, and the girl but in a parting shot is brought into a form of momentary kinship with Kinnaird as they sit, for no apparent reason in the stands o the now empty Oval, as is the want of sporting dramas. This, of course, is the postscript punchline where Kinnaired waxes lyrical that he is now a dinosaur and must reinvent himself as an administrator rather than a player of the game. Our hero then seals the kinship moment by advising Kinnaird that they're both dinosaurs and that it's the professional Suters of the world who must inherit the earth. Of course, our hero doesn't care because, no matter what, he got the cup first and gets to keep the girl.

[@Crowned-Qwesi]

Very interesting perspective. This will sure stretch the story beyond what we saw.

[@d.b9046]

K

[@rowanboyling5723]

What about Sunderland till I die

[@thomasiden6865]

Gaming Guy pure fiction that one wouldn’t even bother

[@pauldrummond755]

Were looking at dramas not comedies

[@marklillington3647]

the best soccer series ever

[@lukedaly7592]

thanks watched this today class

[@MA-rf6bd]

Few inaccuracies but other than that pretty decent

[@kenort3690]

Mohammed Ahmed yeah sure bar the facts on most people have no info so they were made up?

[@hughreed621]

I enjoyed this series despite the inaccuracies - the series title is really annoying though - it should have been called 'The British Game' because it was also extensively developed in Scotland -its as if they acknowledge that by featuring the Scottish players -Ive made my own doc about early football in Scotland kzbin.info/www/bejne/povYn3WHpteZhtk

[@SpencerCarter2301]

At 7:15 theres a guy doing the circle game

[@SpencerCarter2301]

@Insert Name Here yea it's funny how people think it signals white supremacy,and no the car didn't get in the background if it did I didn't realise

[@YusifM411]

@@SpencerCarter2301what does it signal Illuminati or?

[@lukewyeth6535]

Martha in it is my cousin

[@Knifeys]

mental how they depict taking money as wrong based on loyaties and its still true alot of the themes are still here in this day - the first or second episode where the posh wife says calmy "this game brings out the worst in you" I cracked up, its pretty damn well done for a cheap'ish netfix serise on the starters on football lol.. did I just type that? - I dont usually rate a(ny) netflix serise - and the 2nd and 3rd episodes are slow - but it does pay off at least - over all its a strong 7/10 even if its not factual.

[@ytgc-royalewarex5190]

I wanna see Wanderers FC

[@adityakishore3171]

This shit is amazing Any1 recommending Sunderland till I die??

[@denizakogul]

There were obviously goal posts and referees at that time 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@hurricane2358]

Sunderland till i die

[@ryanath1118]

Aston villa relagated 11 where are they now

[@tkb4026]

Go on Wikipedia an search up the players urself u lazy fuck

[@ryanath1118]

@@tkb4026 I did not ask for your opinion

[@flxlr6951]

TKB a bit butthurt?

[@marknewbold2583]

Playing for them now

[@Rallarberg]

I'd rather recommend Sunlun 'til I Die, as I'm more of a comedy guy than a drama guy.