Motor Cycle Football Motorcycle Football (1959)

Hurst Farm, Winchfield, Hampshire.

M/S of the people unloading a truck filled with motorcycles. They put the motorcycles on the side of the road. This is not a cross country rally, informs the voiceover, but a new and exciting sport - motorcycle football. Several shots of the players getting their motorcycles (and themselves) ready for the game.

This is a motorcycle football match between the Border Motor Club and the North Hants Club. M/S of line of players on motorbikes entering the field. M/S of a judge throwing coin. Two men from the opposite teams are at each side and a huge ball sits in the middle. C/U shot of the ball - it is at least twice the size of a football. Voiceover explains the rules and talks about the game's popularity and its origins.

Referee blows a whistle and the game starts. L/S of the people on motorcycles throwing the ball to each other. It looks really funny - players either kick the ball or use their front tires to get it moving. They drive considerably fast. Audience is standing around the field - people support their teams loudly. Some children can be seen in the audience. Goal looks the same as the football one but without the net. Rules are similar to football so it is fairly simple for the audience to follow the match. Several shots of the game are intercut with shots of the audience. Interesting shot of an elderly man with funny whiskers. Terrain gets muddier as the match progresses but the match goes on. Finally, the result: Border Motor Club wins 3 - 0.

Note: Some of the players seen in this film are: Jimmy James, Johnny Woollands, Den Brown, Ken Crumplin, John Sullivan. Referees are Walter Hall and Jack Brookman. Combined print for this story is missing.

FILM ID:91.09

A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. http://www.britishpathe.tv/

FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/