Miracle at Moor Lane - A story of our time
Arriving at Moor Lane last Monday morning following a request for as many Ammies supporters to be present as possible, I could hardly have envisaged the sort of day that lay ahead.
The assumption was that a BBC unit would arrive and film a short documentary about Salford City Football Club. Little did I and the impressive turn out of various committee members, supporters, family members and children all expect to be at Moor Lane for over four hours, and to be cast in a sub-titles black and white film called Miracle at Moor Lane.
With end of film cameo roles being played by Rhodri Giggs as Sir Rhodri of Giggs, and Darren Quick as Lord Darren of Quick, it was left to the rest of the Salford City fans to get into their parts by donning various ghoul, Frankenstein, werewolf and other assorted monster masks and headwear. The kids were all instructed to take part and every one of them looked magnificent in ghoulish make up and a variety of costumes that would have done Michael Jackson's Thriller proud.
The story of the film centres around the 'Soul' of football, who starts off by holding aloft the World Cup on the Moor Lane pitch to signify a shining beacon of light in the tarnished world of football – once the people's game.
Having been hounded around the country by the embodiments of football greed such as foreign debt, high ticket prices, greedy and cheating players and managers, the Soul seeks sanctuary at Salford City FC. However, the danger is not over as the big clubs send their legions of monsters to threaten the nobility and pureness of the grassroots game.
The 'Soul' looks longingly from the terraces as a ghostly creature appears behind her. `He's behind you' shout the Ammies faithful in one voice as she runs out of the stand and towards the centre circle with a variety of hellish creatures in pursuit. Soul falls to the ground only for Sir Rhodri and Lord Darren to appear as if by magic and lift her aloft to the heavens. She in turn lifts up the golden World Cup which sends the monsters fleeing for cover as the Ammies fans in the stand applaud the rescue of football's soul by a local club and its local people.
I've got to say that everybody present really got into the spirit of things and the atmosphere generated made for a very enjoyable day. Goodness knows what anyone passing Moor Lane who didn't know what was going on would have thought about it! Next stop Cannes. Or should I say the Lowry Theatre on Sunday 14th November.
Words by Richard Kedzior
Miracle At Moor Lane
BBC Salford Shorts
6pm The Lowry Sunday 14th November. Free.
To reserve a ticket call The Lowry on 0843 208 6000
To see how Salford City got on in the real world this week click here!
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