Former Leeds midfielder John McGovern is eagerly awaiting the release of the film version of "The Damned United".

John McGovern reckons he cannot wait for the film version of the Damned United to be released.

The blockbuster, costing £10m is due to hit the silver-screen next year. Based on the David Pease novel, the controversial book has angered many ex-United players and members of Mr Clough's family, including his widow Barbara.

Johnny Giles also took exception to how he was portrayed in the book and it is understood the screen-version will be amended to reflect the Irishman's disapprovaland he will be written-out entirely following court action against the book's publishers Faber.

A semi-fictious account of Clough's reign at Leeds in 1974 has however been generally well-received by United fans, including yours truly who could not put the book down when it arrived from Amazon last October! I must admit to skipping through the Derby bits when I first read it.  

McGovern was a Clough signing, arriving from Derby for £75,000 - however he made just four appearances for Leeds, before linking up with Clough again at Notts Forest in February 1975 - where he went on to become a European Cup winner.

Mr McGovern was in Leeds earlier this week, at a coaching meeting involving the Leeds-based Brazilian soccer-schools. He told the YEP:  "I'm looking forward to the film.

"I was fortunate enough to be asked down on to the set and ended up meeting myself, or the actor playing me anyway.

"They were filming a match situation and I told him to get a tackle in, which was probably what Clough would have said!"

Produced by BBC Films, Left Bank Pictures and Screen Yorkshire, a glittering array of talented actors have been chosen to play the leading roles in our eagerly awaited journey back to the 1970's.

Michael Sheen will take the part of Clough, he won plaudits for his roles as Tony Blair in The Deal and The Queen - starring 62-year-old Bikini temptress Helen Mirren.

Sadly Helen has not been confirmed as part of the cast. It is understood that Timothy Spall, best known to me as Brummie bore Barry in Auf Wiedershen Pet will play Peter Taylor. Irish actor Colm Meaney will have the unenviable task of bringing the great Don Revie back to life.

Jim Broadbent (Bridget Jones' Diary and The Street etc, including that wonderful episode when he launches into a foul-mouthed anti-Man U rant) will play Sam Longston, the Derby chairman.

And in May, it was confirmed that Stephen Graham will play Billy Bremner. Scouser Stephen is probably best known for his role as vile, NF skinhead Combo in "This is England", you will probably know him from "Gangs of New York" and "Snatch".

Of being honoured to play Billy, he told The Sun: "I’m made up about it. I’ve got the wig to look like Billy. I’m doing football training too. He was a proper legend.”

Think he will need more than a "syrup of figs" to realistically re-create the brilliance of "ten stones of barbed wire" - but good luck to him anyway!

Photo: Action Images

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