CONFIDENTIAL attended an exclusive screening of BBC One's soon to air documentary, Class of 92: Out Of Their League, at First Street's HOME theatre on Wednesday 13 July.

When Gary mentions something, you normally end up doing it anyway...

The new three-part documentary follows ex-Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Phil and Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, the fabled ‘Class of 92’ (minus David Beckham), as they seek to improve the fortunes of non-league Salford City FC.

The ex-United stars each bought the club in March 2014, and following a turbulent first season in which manager Phil Power was sacked, eventually won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, taking the place of recently promoted FC United who jumped up into the National League North.

However, the BBC documentary highlights how not everyone at the club was pleased about the big name takeover - particularly after Peter Lim, Singapore billionaire and lifelong United fan, bought 50% of the club from the collective in September 2014 (Lim had previously tried to buy Liverpool in 2010 for £320m - an odd move for a Manchester Red).

Jim Birtwistle is a volunteer at the club, manning the turnstile for the past four years, and initially expressed concern that Salford would lose its amateurish atmosphere under the guidance of “die hard businessmen”. His fears are only compounded when news breaks of Peter Lim’s involvement and the club’s shirt colours are changed from red to orange. This controversial decision is derided by one fan as “Premiership arrogance”.

Fortunately, Birtwistle changes his tune when it becomes evident that Lim is not going to be hands on. Less conciliatory is Stuart ‘Ruddy’ Rudd, the assistant manager who is fired after making an illegal advance on a prospective player.

 

The semi-pro nature of Salford City F.C. provides a wealth of comic moments. Star striker Gareth Seddon gives an interview from the toilet, while Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville looks somewhat askance when he hears about the 'dodgy Sky box' in the bar.

The documentary follows the quintet’s involvement in all areas of the club; from making the tea at half-time to leading training and overseeing the building of a bar extension. It also highlights their desire to turn Salford City FC ‘into a new model for all football clubs - rooted in the community, discovering untapped talent, and turning local players into heroes’.

The Class of 92 are ambitious, aiming for Championship entry within fifteen years. Ryan Giggs, who attended the exclusive screening alonside Scholes and Butt, told the audience: “Our aspirations are to eventually be in the football league with a 25,000 seat stadium. We know it’s going to get more and more difficult.” He explained that Lim was chosen as the sixth stakeholder because the quintet “needed someone who we knew and could trust.”

The idea to buy Salford City F.C. was initially Gary Neville’s idea and as Paul Scholes states: “When Gary mentions something, you normally end up doing it anyway. You don’t get a choice in the matter”.

Class of 92: Out of their League emphasises the increased pressure and expectations that the new owners brought with them to Salford. Gareth Seddon described their presence as a 'kick up the arse'. "We'd look over at the dugout" said Seddon, "and we'd all be crapping our pants".

The first episode ends with Salford slipping down the table despite increased involvement from the quintet. We’re told it gets considerably worse before it gets better.

Class of 92: Of Their League will be shown on BBC One in early September.