Harry's Heroes
| Harry's Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Full English (series 1) Euro Having a Laugh (series 2) |
| Genre | Sports documentary |
| Starring | Harry Redknapp John Barnes Luke Worthington David Seaman Matt Le Tissier Paul Merson Neil Ruddock Robbie Fowler Rob Lee Ray Parlour Mark Wright Chris Waddle Mark Chamberlain Lee Hendrie Steve Howey Michael Owen Teddy Sheringham Jamie Thompson Vinnie Jones |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 18 March 2019 – 20 May 2020 |
Harry's Heroes is an English documentary television programme produced by Fremantle for ITV. The first series Harry's Heroes: The Full English aired in March 2019. Series 2, entitled Harry's Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh aired in May 2020.
It featured former football manager Harry Redknapp attempting get a squad of former England international footballers back fit and healthy for one last game, vs a Germany Legends team. Redknapp was joined by an injured John Barnes, who acted as his assistant manager, and by sports scientist Luke Worthington, who analysed the players' weights and fitness throughout the course of filming the show.
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 3 | 23 March 2019 | 7 April 2019 | |
| 2 | 3 | 29 April 2020 | 20 May 2020 | |
Series 1
[edit]Episode 1
[edit]Episode 1 aired on 18 March 2019. Harry Redknapp meets up with his squad of players, who aren't expecting what is to come. The squad got weighed and had their bodies analysed, before they played their first game against Ridgeway Rovers Youth Football Club, losing 2-1, with the game ending early to prevent injuries. Whilst the majority of players begin working to become fitter and slimmer, Neil Ruddock goes on a cruise holiday. David Seaman takes Robbie Fowler and Paul Merson fishing, where Merson reveals his struggles with drugs, alcohol and gambling.[1] Back on the training field, the squad are put through a bleep test. Mark Wright and Ray Parlour meet a golf course, before luring John Barnes into joining the squad's dieting regime, despite not being able to play. The squad meet up again, first in a gym for some strength and endurance training, and later in a recording studio to re-record World in Motion. They played their second game vs Crystal Palace Ladies, winning 1-0.
Episode 2
[edit]Episode 2 aired on 19 March 2019. The majority of the squad jetted off to Spain for a training camp, in which Robbie Fowler missed a training session due to a hangover. Meanwhile in England, Paul Merson revealed he had fallen back into a gambling addiction, and met up with Drewe Broughton, a former footballer who had suffered with addictions himself.[2] The squad regather in England, where Merson again speaks with Seaman and Fowler about his struggles, before a number of the squad go for a session of cryotherapy, a new science used by today's modern footballers. Neil Ruddock meets up with former footballer and heart attack survivor David Ginola to talk about his health, before going for a personal check-up with a doctor, where he learns he is at a high risk of heart problems. The full squad regather to be suited up and weighed for the last time ahead of their third game, vs a Germany Legends team. Pre-match, the team were shown well-wishing videos sent in by Peter Shilton and Paul Gascoigne wishing them well, before winning the game itself 4-2.
Series 2
[edit]Cast
[edit]The Full English (Season 1)
[edit]England Team
[edit]| No. | Name | Pos. | Age | Former Club(s)[a] | England Caps | England Goals | England Era | Football Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Squad | ||||||||
| 1 | David Seaman | GK | 19 September 1963 (aged 55) |  Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal |
75 | 0 | 1988–2002 | 1982–2004 |
| 2 | Rob Lee | MF | 1 February 1966 (aged 53) | Newcastle United |
21 | 2 | 1994–1998 | 1983–2006 |
| 3 | Lee Sharpe | MF | 27 May 1971 (aged 47) | Manchester United |
8 | 0 | 1991–1993 | 1987–2004 |
| 4 | Ray Parlour | MF | 7 March 1973 (aged 46) | Arsenal |
10 | 0 | 1999–2000 | 1992–2007 |
| 5 | Neil Ruddock | DF | 9 May 1968 (aged 50) | Liverpool |
1 | 0 | 1994 | 1985–2003 |
| 6 | Mark Wright | DF | 1 August 1963 (aged 55) | Southampton,Derby County,Liverpool |
45 | 1 | 1984–1996 | 1980–1998 |
| 7 | Matt Le Tissier | MF | 14 October 1968 (aged 50) | Southampton |
8 | 0 | 1994–1997 | 1986–2003 |
| 8 | Chris Waddle | MF | 14 December 1960 (aged 58) | Newcastle United,Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille |
62 | 6 | 1985–1991 | 1978–2002 |
| 9 | Robbie Fowler | FW | 9 April 1975 (aged 43) | Liverpool,Leeds United |
26 | 7 | 1996–2002 | 1993–2012 |
| 10 | Paul Merson | MF | 20 March 1968 (aged 50) | Arsenal,Middlesbrough,Aston Villa |
21 | 3 | 1991–1998 | 1985–2006 |
| 11 | Mark Chamberlain | MF | 19 November 1961 (aged 57) | Stoke City |
8 | 1 | 1982–1984 | 1978–1998 |
| Guest Substitutes | ||||||||
| 12 | Steve Howey | DF | 26 October 1971 (aged 47) | Newcastle United |
4 | 0 | 1994–1996 | 1989–2010 |
| 14 | Andy Gray | MF | 22 February 1964 (aged 55) | Crystal Palace |
1 | 0 | 1991 | 1980–1998 |
| 15 | Alan Kennedy | DF | 31 August 1954 (aged 64) | Liverpool |
2 | 0 | 1984 | 1972–1994 |
| 16 | Michael Thomas | MF | 24 August 1967 (aged 51) | Arsenal |
2 | 0 | 1988–1989 | 1984–2001 |
| 17 | Lee Hendrie | MF | 18 May 1977 (aged 41) | Aston Villa |
1 | 0 | 1998 | 1994–2019 |
| 18 | Paul Walsh | FW | 1 October 1962 (aged 56) | Liverpool |
5 | 1 | 1983–1984 | 1979–1996 |
- Players' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 1 (18 March 2019).
Coaching Staff
[edit]| Role. | Name | Age | Notable Former Club(s) | England Caps | England Goals | England Era | Football Career | Management Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Harry Redknapp | 2 March 1947 (aged 72) | West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur |
0 | 0 | N/A | 1965–1982 | 1983–2017 |
| Assistant Manager | John Barnes | 7 November 1963 (aged 55) | Liverpool |
79 | 11 | 1983–1995 | 1980–1999 | 1999–2009 |
| Fitness Coach | Luke Worthington | TBC | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
- Coaches' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 1 (18 March 2019).
Euro Having a Laugh (Season 2)
[edit]England Team
[edit]| No. | Name | Pos. | Age | Former Club(s)[b] | England Caps | England Goals | England Era | Football Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Squad | ||||||||
| David Seaman | GK | 19 September 1963 (aged 56) | Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal |
75 | 0 | 1994–1998 | 1983–2006 | |
| Rob Lee | MF | 1 February 1966 (aged 54) | Newcastle United |
21 | 2 | 1994–1998 | 1983–2006 | |
| Lee Sharpe | MF | 27 May 1971 (aged 48) | Manchester United |
8 | 0 | 1991–1993 | 1987–2004 | |
| Ray Parlour | MF | 7 March 1973 (aged 47) | Arsenal |
10 | 0 | 1999–2000 | 1992–2007 | |
| Neil Ruddock | DF | 9 May 1968 (aged 51) | Liverpool |
1 | 0 | 1994 | 1985–2003 | |
| Mark Wright | DF | 1 August 1963 (aged 56) | Southampton Derby County Liverpool |
45 | 1 | 1984–1996 | 1980–1998 | |
| Matt Le Tissier | MF | 14 October 1968 (aged 51) | Southampton |
8 | 0 | 1994–1997 | 1986–2003 | |
| Lee Hendrie | MF | 18 May 1977 (aged 42) | Aston Villa |
1 | 0 | 1998 | 1994–2019 | |
| Paul Merson | MF | 20 March 1968 (aged 52) | Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa |
21 | 3 | 1991–1998 | 1985–2006 | |
| Mark Chamberlain | MF | 19 November 1961 (aged 58) | Stoke City |
8 | 1 | 1982–1984 | 1978–1998 | |
| Substitutes/Guest Players | ||||||||
| Dave Beasant | GK | 20 March 1959 (aged 61) | Newcastle United |
2 | 0 | 1989 | 1978–2008 | |
| Steve Howey | DF | 26 October 1971 (aged 48) | Newcastle United |
4 | 0 | 1994–1996 | 1989–2010 | |
| Alan Kennedy | DF | 31 August 1954 (aged 65) | Liverpool |
2 | 0 | 1984 | 1972–1994 | |
| Andy Gray | MF | 31 August 1964 (aged 55) | Crystal Palace |
1 | 0 | 1991 | 1980–1998 | |
| Michael Gray | MF | 31 August 1974 (aged 45) | Sunderland |
3 | 0 | 1999 | 1992–2010 | |
 Vinnie Jones |
MF | 5 January 1965 (aged 55) | Wimbledon |
91 | 0 1 | 1994–19971 | 1984–1999 | |
| Michael Thomas | MF | 24 August 1967 (aged 52) | Arsenal |
2 | 0 | 1988–1989 | 1984–2001 | |
| Trevor Steven | MF | 21 September 1963 (aged 56) | Everton, Rangers,Marseille |
36 | 4 | 1985–1992 | 1980–1997 | |
| Jamie Thompson | MF | N/A | None | 02 | 02 | N/A | N/A | |
| Paul Walsh | FW | 1 October 1962 (aged 57) | Liverpool |
5 | 1 | 1983–1984 | 1979–1996 | |
| Teddy Sheringham | FW | 2 April 1966 (aged 54) | Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United |
51 | 11 | 1993–2002 | 1983–2008 | |
| Kevin Phillips | FW | 25 July 1973 (aged 46) | Sunderland |
8 | 0 | 1999–2002 | 1991–2014 | |
| Darius Vassell | FW | 13 June 1980 (aged 39) | Aston Villa |
22 | 6 | 2002–2004 | 1998–2012 | |
| Michael Owen | FW | 14 December 1979 (aged 40) | Liverpool Real Madrid Newcastle United |
89 | 40 | 1998–2008 | 1996–2013 | |
- Players' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 2 (29 April 2020).
^ Vinnie Jones caps, goals and time spent in national team denotes to his appearances for Wales and not England. Jones was born in England but represented Wales at International level, despite this he appeared as a guest for the England legends in Season Two.
^ Jamie Thompson is not a footballer, and was the teams physiotherapist who was forced to play due to injuries to some of the players.
Coaching Staff
[edit]| Role. | Name | Age | Notable Former Club(s) | England Caps | England Goals | England Era | Football Career | Management Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Harry Redknapp | 2 March 1947 (aged 73) | West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur |
0 | 0 | N/A | 1965–1982 | 1983–2017 |
| Assistant Manager | John Barnes | 7 November 1963 (aged 56) | Liverpool |
79 | 11 | 1983–1995 | 1980–1999 | 1999–2009 |
| Fitness Coach | Luke Worthington | TBC | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Physiotherapist | Jamie Thompson | TBC | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
- Coaches' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 2 (29 April 2020).
- Ruddock participated in the first two episodes but did not play owing to a heart condition. Jamie Thompson, the team's physio, played in the match against San Marino.
Games
[edit]Series One (2019)
[edit]The two episodes showed highlights of three games played by Harry's Heroes, winning two and losing one.
| England Legends | 1–2 | Ridgeway Rovers Youth F.C. |
|---|---|---|
Robbie Fowler  |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| England Legends | 1–0 | Crystal Palace L.F.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Merson |
Report |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| England Legends | 4–2 |  Germany Legends |
|---|---|---|
| Robbie Fowler 32', 58' Rob Lee 68'Paul Merson 90' |
Report | Maurizio Gaudino 46' (pen.) Dariusz Wosz 48' |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series Two (2020)
[edit]| FC Metz veterans | 3-1 | England Legends |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Merson |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 San Marino | 3-5 | England Legends |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Hendrie Andy Gray Michael Gray |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany Legends | 0-1 | England Legends |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Hendrie |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reception
[edit]The show received generally positive reaction, with many praising the air time given towards players talking about their mental and physical health, notably Paul Merson.[6][7]
The Daily Telegraph published a 3/5 star review, calling the issues touched on by the programme "rather heartwarming."[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Carson, Sarah (19 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: the Full English: this sensitive programme was about far more than football". MSN. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ "Ex-striker helping players through mental struggles". BBC Sport. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ Bond, Kimberley (19 March 2019). "Who is taking part in Harry's Heroes: The Full English?". The Radio Times. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ Archer, Katie (19 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: The Full English – Who are the football legends taking part?". BT TV News. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ "Harry's Heroes". IMDB. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Parker, Sam (21 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: a moving reminder that middle-aged men are in denial about their health". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ Moore, Joe (20 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: Harry Redknapp praises ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson for opening up over gambling addiction on hit TV show". talkSPORT. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ Hogan, Michael (18 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: The Full English, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
Notes
[edit]- 2019 British television series debuts
- 2020 British television series endings
- 2010s British sports television series
- 2020s British sports television series
- British English-language television shows
- Football mass media in the United Kingdom
- ITV Sport
- ITV (TV network) original programming
- Television series by Fremantle (company)