Football club helps create new Sky show

A Sussex football club has helped to create a new television series set to be shown on Sky next week.
David Earl (left) with Burgess Hill Town FC media manager Dave Bradbury (middle) and Joe Wilkinson (right).David Earl (left) with Burgess Hill Town FC media manager Dave Bradbury (middle) and Joe Wilkinson (right).
David Earl (left) with Burgess Hill Town FC media manager Dave Bradbury (middle) and Joe Wilkinson (right).

Burgess Hill Town FC has been working with comedians Joe Wilkinson, from the BAFTA award winning Him and Her, and David Earl, who starred in Ricky Gervais’ comedy Derek, to create a new comedy programme set in the bar of a non-league football club.

Rovers, produced by Jellylegs Productions, will be shown on the national broadcaster’s main channel and focuses on the fans and staff of fictional club Redbridge Rovers FC, who support their local club through thick and thin.

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Dave Bradbury, media manager at Burgess Hill Town FC, said the comedy duo came down to the club towards the end of 2015 season, the year they won the title, to find out more about non-league football.

He said: “They came down to watch a game and I got chatting to them. They liked the set up and came to four or five more games.

“They were very complementary of the football club and I think they enjoyed it.”

Dave said Joe and David would give him a ring when they had questions about the club and in particular to find out comical stories about the bar.

“The majority of it is set around the bar,” he said.

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“It is not to do with the players, it is to do with the fans and the bar.”

He added he told the pair a few stories from the club and there may be some characters on the show people recognise.

Dave said the comparisons to Burgess Hill however, ended there as the show was based on a struggling club and not the title winners the comedy duo had come to watch.

“It was good fun. I can’t take the credit as I didn’t write it but it is some more positive coverage for the football club.

“Hopefully it will be a big hit.”

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The show, which also stars Sue Johnston from The Royle Family, is scheduled to be broadcast on Sky 1 on Tuesday May 24.

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