(photo: Mirrorpix)
The footballing story of Sir Alex Ferguson has been told many times before, but this new and unique documentary is far more personal as it sees the famously taciturn Scot open up about his early life, his ambitions and frustrations as a player and how he created the template for the long-running success of Manchester United. Directed by his son Jason Ferguson, the film is intimate and insightful and at times moving.
The core of the film forefronts the power of memory as Sir Alex settles into a chair on-screen and answers a series of questions posed by Jason. He deals easily with questions about his early life and career, but when asked about Saturday 5 May 2018 he admits he can’t remember a thing…this was the day he collapsed at home, eventually waking in hospital having suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Throughout the film he talks about how the incident has therefore encouraged him actively to look back and recall moments from his past. Though the doic is pretty straightforward in structure, and is punctuated with a handful of interviews, it never relies on overused football footage of classic moments but is instead carried by Ferguson’s vivid recollections and views on family, leadership and mental toughness.
Ferguson admits to a harsh upbringing in Glasgow, brought up in the shadow of the Rangers football stadium, showing a genuine flair for football as a youngster but encouraged to learn a trade by his tough father. But talent shone through, and he went on to play for Queen’s Park, St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic before fulfilling a dream of finally playing for Rangers. On the footballing side of things didn’t work out with Rangers, but what made him a lot angrier was the abuse his Catholic wife received from fans. (Rangers is a Protestant club, while their arch rivals Celtic is staunchly Catholic.)
His eventual move into management saw him take over at Aberdeen (a club with no formal training ground, hence sessions were taken at the local beach) where he took a team that habitually performed poorly to top of the Scottish league and short-term mastery over the Glaswegian Celtic/Rangers duopoly, which made him very happy. As amazingly, Aberdeen went on to win the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1983.
Ferguson was appointed manager of Manchester United in 1986, and despite lean times in his early years worked hard at developing a young team that over his 26 years with the club would eventually win 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two UEFA Champions League titles. Former players he worked with – such as Gordon Strachan, Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona – offer frank insight about Ferguson’s working methods and his legendary ‘hairdryer’ treatment when they did things wrong, or when more was demanded of them.
But while he lucidly recounts his successes and failures, of most interest are personal recollections and moments of introspection from Ferguson himself. He admits regretting not spending enough time with his family, while at the same time it is clear that the demands of managing meant there were was no alternative. All this is set alongside discussion of his recovery from the brain haemorrhage and anticipation of going to his first home Manchester United match since the incident. But ultimately Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In is very much a film about the bond between a man and his family as well as a striking examination of leadership and mental strength.
UK, 2021, 109mins
Dir: Jason Ferguson
Production: DNA, Passion Pictures, Ventureland
Producers: Andrew Macdonald, John Battsek, Allon Reich, Paul Gardner, Jason Ferguson
Screenplay: Mark Monroe
Cinematography: Will Pugh
Editor: Gregor Lyon
Music: Andrew Phillips
With: Sir Alex Ferguson, Cathy Ferguson, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Gordon Strachan, Archie Knox
