The year 2020 will see the launch of a new television show called The First Team which takes an irreverant glance at life inside the bubble of a top football club.
Netflix already dipped into the genre of football this year with the drama miniseries The English Game and the BBC has followed up just a few months later with something different.
With The First Team (not to be confused with the 2018 Juventus documentary) hitting screens, Goal brings you everything you need to know about the cast, what channel it is on and more.
Contents
- What is The First Team?
- Is there a trailer for The First Team?
- When is The First Team released?
- How can I watch The First Team?
- Which actors are in The First Team cast?
What is The First Team?
The First Team is a new six-part comedy TV series about an English football team which has sprung from the minds of The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley.
Focusing on the lives of young players Mattie, Jack and Benji, the show follows the trio as they contend with the manifold issues on and off the field that are associated with modern-day football.
So, expect plenty of social media scrapes, idle chat during video game sessions and, of course some unusual encounters with their Italian manager Cesare and eccentric team owner Mark Crane.
"First and foremost, it’s a comedy. So there are jokes. I promise you. They may be funny," quipped Beesley. "Hopefully the viewers will find characters they can relate to living in a completely un-relatable situation.
"It’s a chance to peek behind the curtain and see how privileged life can be inside the bubble of elite professional football. And there are brilliant, hilarious performances from the cast, some familiar faces and some breakthrough new talent."
The First Team is being executive produced by the Emmy award-winning Tom Werner (That 70s Show) - who is also the Liverpool chairman - and Carol Leddy (Derry Girls, The Inbetweeners), with Sam Pinnell (Motherland, Flowers) producing.
One of the overriding themes of the show, according to Beesley, is the "fault lines, where masculinity and insecurity collide".
"Even the bubble of professional football isn’t immune to societal changes and young footballers breaking into the game today have generally got very different attitudes to previous generations," he said.
"Also, the vast sums of money at stake for the elite players has shepherded in a more mature, professional ethic across the sport.
"The spotlight has never been as intense with social media and a planet full of budding iPhone paparazzi desperate to retweet your every misstep.
"And like any workplace setting, the dressing room spans generations, making it an intimidating place for a 17-year-old fresh from the academy having to rub shoulders with seasoned pros. Older, alpha males, facing the prospect of their careers ending, who see the younger generations as a visual countdown on their own dwindling relevance."
Is there a trailer for The First Team?
The First Team trailer can be watched in the video below.
When is The First Team released?
The First Team will hit screens in the United Kingdom on Thursday May 28, 2020. The first episode will be broadcast at 9:30pm BST (4:30pm ET) on BBC Two.
How can I watch The First Team?
The First Team can be watched on TV on BBC Two, with the first two episodes being broadcast at the end of May.
All episodes will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer, which can be viewed online using a computer as well as via the app on iOS and Android devices.
You can access the show online here and the app is available to download on Apple App Store or Google Play. However, it should be noted that access to the BBC iPlayer is restricted to UK residents only.
Which actors are in The First Team cast?
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Will Arnett | Chairman Mark Crane |
| Chris Geere | Chris Booth |
| Jake Short | Mattie Sullivan |
| Shaquille Ali-Yebuah | Benji Achebe |
| Jack McMullen | Jack Turner |
| Theo Barklem Biggs | Petey Brooks |
| Tamla Kari | Olivia Talbot |
| Vadhir Derbez | Carlos Velez |
| Phil Wang | Brian |
| Neil Fitzmaurice | Darren |
The First Team cast includes a number of high profile actors, including Will Arnett (Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman), Chris Geere (Modern Family) and Jack McMullen, who recently starred in Ford v Ferrari.
Tamla Kari, who worked with Morris and Beesley on The Inbetweeners, is also involved, as is Neil Fitzmaurice, who starred as Jeff in the Channel 4 hit comedy series Peep Show.
"I was so happy to be working with them again. I felt very grateful to them for trusting me with the role," said Kari.
"After I got over my initial nerves on my first few days of filming, it just felt great to be back on set with them. They’re so supportive and I felt really comfortable and confident.
"I was a bit like a rabbit in the headlights when we filmed The Inbetweeners Movie but this time, I was able to take everything in and really appreciate it all."