Canadian Kent Walton returns to England after having failed to establish a professional football presence there. He rooms with George Merritt and his daughter Margaret Harrison and works in Merritt's garage while things develop.

Merritt has a chance to settle up a football club in his town. Someone has died and has left twenty-five thousand pounds to the team, if they can achieve the Third Division within three years. His nephew is the residuary; he figures that Walton can get them into the Third Division, so he has his girlfriend, Walton's wartime love, vamp him into London and the Arsenal.

The back-and-forth takes up the first half of the movie. The second half consists of the crucial match, and the shenanigans intended to keep Walton from playing. The game is narrated by regular F.A. Cup commentator Raymond Glendinning. The game as shown is decent, but to anyone not a soccer fan, it's dull, and to those who know the modern game, small beer compared to the most World Cup matches. For those who can be amused by soccer and a wholesome romantic comedy, it's a decent piece.

I'm surprised that nobody has reviewed this yet, as its presence on the list of "75 most sought-after films" suggests that it was eagerly awaited, and is now available on DVD in the UK. Sadly, the only existing print of the film seems to have lost several minutes, so dialogue is often hard to follow during the early scenes. As if that wasn't distracting enough, it hasn't aged particularly well, and the simplistic story-line (returning Canadian has to choose between small-town sweetheart/ non-league football, and London "hostess"/ the glamour of a career with Arsenal),and predictable plot developments are a reminder of how unsophisticated 50s British films could be, but there is still plenty to enjoy. Kent Walton as an actor without a wrestling ring in sight, Denis Compton proving that, for all his sporting prowess, his all-rounder status didn't stretch to movie-acting, and a career-stalling performance from Margaret Harrison as the romantic lead, who made her debut in this film and then took 2 smaller roles before calling it a day. The football sequences are quite skilfully composed, with a lot more excitement on the pitch than there is in the stands. Commentator Raymond Glendenning tries desperately to convey the impression that he's watching a real match as Oldchester United take on the mighty "Bearhampton". Who'll come out on top? Well, with their star striker (sorry, make that "centre forward") kidnapped at half time, it's going to be hard work for the underdogs...

The Who have an old song called Pictures Of Lily about a young guy who becomes obsessed with a long dead actress.

In the same way I have been tracking down old British films featuring Susan Shaw.

This film is now avilable on blu ray.

So I bought it and watched it.

I am glad I saw it but it is a historical curiosity with images of old style football grounds and fashions.

It is really not a rediscovered classic.