retired_JCH

Hi folks,

Nothing to do with FM (is that allowed on here?)but as I am floating around this forum I thought I would look to use some of the extensive knowledge that is available here.

I'm currently co-writing a TV play and one of our characters is a former footballer who has slipped out of the professional game and is now playing non league football (sort of Ryman Premier level).

We have a couple of plot points and I wondered if these were accurate.

1. The character gets £70 a game and is paid this cash in hand.

2. When a new manager comes in he releases 3 players - they are paid no compensation or given notice, simply told they aren't going to play so are free to find another club.

3. A new manager brings in 5 players from his last club who were from a very low non league tier (below Ryman league) he brings these in despite the club having little or no funds - so we guess he didn't have to pay a transfer fee for them.

4. The Ryman league clubs chairman is NOT rich. He drives a BMW which suggests he has more money than the other people involved in the club but this is mostly for show and he can't really afford it.

I know I'm basically asking people here to do my research but could anyone tell me if any of these things would never happen in real life. Especially point 1.

Many Thanks

Andy

angelina16

Since when are tv shows realistic, can't you just wing it?

What the name of the show, got one already?
Who are the actors?
What channel is this going to be on?
It's a comedy yes?!

roxanne

1. Not sure about the cash in hand element of this, i'm assuming these clubs wouldn't want to do anything illegal so this money would need to be declared for tax reasons.

2. Depends on there contracts (if they have one), I'm guessing most amature contracts would allow this.

3. As long as they haven't had to travel far I don't see why not. Most players wont travel great distances to play at this level.

4. I think this seems reasonable, although there is no reason he couldn't be a rich lotto millionaire or something.

Might be worth asking in the LLM forum, they tend to be quite knowledgeable about this stuff.

leanwitit

Maybe one of team reasearchers for a smaller club could help, have a look in the data issues forum and contact some of the reasearchers for the 'smaller clubs'

Personally I would write to a few local clubs to you as perhaps there would be a few chairman who could offer you a 30 minute chat

angelina16

Ah, but that would be the obvious way to go about it

leanwitit

Ah, but that would be the obvious way to go about it </BLOCKQUOTE>

Of corse..and a tour of clubs facilities, attendance at a few matches...now that REALLY would be research

retired_JCH

Humber - we are at the very early stages, basically had a synopsis accepted by a production company who have given us a very small amount of money to write the first two episodes. The production company will then either make a pilot or try and co produce it with a larger company. This particular company sold the BBC a football related drama about 7 years ago which Nick Berry was attached to but never got made, so if you do see this on TV it will not be for a couple of years but the majority of projects never even make it that far. More a drama than a comedy I’m afraid, but channel four are working on a comedy about a Sunday league team so look out for that.

Dappen- very helpful thank you. I will head to the LLM now.

Mr Pompey – again thanks for your advice. We do have some meetings in place but I’m trying to prevent having to pick things apart in two weeks time what we are involving in the story now.

Many Thanks guys

retired_kbeth

1. £70 seems a bit much for most non-league teams, as the players usually only get £30-£50 (depending on the level). Then again, if he was a former professional player he micht get paid £70 anyway.

2. If a player is on a semi-pro conract, you would need to give them notice. As they get paid per game, I'm not sure if they'd get any compensation. Amatuer players can be released like that though.

3. It's very rare for teams below the Blue Square North/South leagues to pay a fee for a player, so bringing them for free is realistic.

4. I doubt any lower league clubs are rich and the clubs usually need to go about making extra money.