I'm ready for my close-up now Mr Hooper! 

A personal account about the unlikely event of being a film extra at Saltergate for a full-length feature film by CFSS vice-chairman Pete Whiteley.  This is Pete's story and there is still time for you to be one as well by calling 07977 988 635 - 11.00am to 6.00pm or from then for the evening session until 11.00pm.

I have had my brush with film fame albeit as an unpaid volunteer.  On Friday I joined 150 others at Wembley, the Baseball Ground, Carrow Road and Bloomfield Road all without leaving the confines on Saltergate.  I also shared a screen with award winning actors, and at least one who has been in Doctor Who!

This was the set for The Damned United, the film based on David Peace's book about Brian Clough's 44 days at Leeds.  The film is being made by the production company that produced The Queen.  There is currently a crew of more than one-hundred based around the Recreation Ground for two weeks of filming.

Having been contacted by Bob Farrell in a series of text messages I turned up at the Annunciation Church near the ground at 7am.  About a third present had been pre-selected from their audition photos as perfect seventies throw-backs, these were featured background artists.  They were taken inside to be given hair extensions, national health glasses and tank-tops.  In truth a wide selection of individuals were given shirts, jumpers, jackets and coats to suggest we were in 1974, the rest of us were just vetted to make sure there was nothing too anachronistic.

A little before 9am we were sat on Compton Street among four hundred blow up dummies representing Wembley Stadium.  We then watched, and reacted to, the sending off of Bremner and Keegan about twenty times.  We also saw "Phil Boersma" score for Liverpool after about fifteen attempts and we behaved as Leeds fans would.  The players were a mixture of actors and non-league footballers depending on whether they had to act as part of the rest of the film.

The dummies were removed and we were bunched together as the cameras were focussed on us.  While the players went through their moves again we played our parts reacting to each incident.  My best shot was undoubtedly scarf tied to wrist as I gave Ian Callaghan the two fingers as he celebrated the goal.  Unfortunately screaming abuse twenty times is not good for you voice.  Luckily there were unlimited supplies of bottled water; you just had to keep them out of shot.

We then moved to the Centre Stand with cameras behind us to sing the National Anthem a dozen times while facing the Leeds and Liverpool players who had been joined by Bill Shankly and Clough played by Michael Sheen.  This was part of the same 1974 Wembley Charity Shield.  Those three scenes took us up to a very late lunch provided from a fast food van on Compton Street.

In the afternoon we were transported back to the winter of 1968 and saw Clough as the Derby manager with Timothy Spall playing Peter Taylor.  For these shots we had a plethora of flat-caps, overcoats and plain scarves.  This was mainly close ups of the Derby bench as the team won match after match.  Maurice Roeves joined Sheen and Spall playing Jimmy Gordon and the management team leaped out of the dug-out over and over again as we reacted beside them.

The Compton Wing Stand held the Derby dug outs but we also went on the Kop to represent Norwich fans (much throwing of caps on the ground).  We finished on the Compton Terraces doubling for Blackpool.  In front of us each time a film crew of forty headed by Emmy award winning director Tom Hooper.

The day finished at almost 8pm with some of the new stars determined to come back for two further days of filming.  Three-hundred people and thirteen hours probably produced about three minutes of the film.  I found it a fascinating if long day and await the call to Cannes for the premier next spring.  Unfortunately the call might not come as I was told that I am better suited to Hollingwood than Hollywood.

Filming continues tomorrow (Tuesday 3 June) and anyone interested in being part of the crowd should call Bob on 07977 988 635 - from 11.00am until 6.00pm or from then for the evening session until 11.00pm.

Peter Whiteley

Vice Chairman CFSS and

Occasional Film Extra.