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'There's Only One Jimmy Grimble' Was Released 18 Years Ago

'There's Only One Jimmy Grimble' Was Released 18 Years Ago

Undoubtedly one of the greatest football films ever made,.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

As far as football films go, 'There's Only One Jimmy Grimble' is right up there.

The 2000 film follows 15-year old Manchester schoolboy Jimmy (Lewis Mackenzie), a shy, unassuming youngster having a hard time with bullies.

He doesn't get on with his mum's new fella and he struggles to find the confidence to speak to his crush Sara, played by Samia Ghadie of Coronation Street fame.

But Jimmy's big escape is football, in particular Manchester City - who he watches every home game with his mother's ex boyfriend (Harry Ray Winstone).

The other pivotal male figure in his life, Eric Wirral, his teacher who runs his school football team - sees something in him but it will take something special for him to make the school football team as part of their mission to reach the Manchester Schools Cup final.

Image: IMDB
Image: IMDB

However, when an old woman gives him a pair of 'magic' boots that were once wore by a City legend, his fortunes change dramatically.

Jimmy transforms into a world beater with the ball at his feet and even outshines blue-eyed boy "Gorgeous" Gordon Burley - who has that typical pushy football father doing all he can for his son to make it. "Give it to Bloody Gordon!"

Without spoiling too much, Jimmy and the team end up playing the final at City's famous Maine Road ground - leading to him uttering a specific line after the game that City fans still can't get enough of even 18 years on.


While other football films get much more hype and attention, this one does not deserve to be slept on.

Yes it's a bit mad but it remains a brilliant rags to riches story - and one that is so relatable for anyone who has been involved in school football and all the drama that goes with it. The soundtrack is an absolute belter, too.

When SPORTbible ran a poll on the greatest football films created, Jimmy Grimble garnered 1456 votes and came in eighth position. 'GOAL' came on top, while GOAL 2 and Green Street made up the top three

Lovers of the film Mean Machine and Escape To Victory might be disappointed to learn that they fall into the bottom three alongside Fever Pitch.

Here are the results in full:

1) GOAL - 6136 votes
2) GOAL 2 - 5488 votes
3) Green Street - 2887 votes
4) The Damned United - 2912 votes
5) The Football Factory - 2080 votes
6) Bend It Like Beckham - 2014 votes
7) Mike Bassett - 1768 votes
8) Jimmy Grimble - 1456 votes
9) She's The Man - 1344 votes
10) Mean Machine - 1007 votes
11) Escape to Victory - 805 votes
12) Fever Pitch - 416 votes

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Football