Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League

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Charting the creation and evolution of the Premier League from 1992 to 2000.

Once upon a time, football was just a game... From those who lived it, and those who made the beautiful game a billion pound business. The goals, the glamour, the glory.

Series 1

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David Beckham

Gary Neville

Martin Hardy

David James

Rita Cabral

Adam Hopkins

Peter Beard

David Nath

Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League: Series 1: Episode 3

Episode 3

BBC Two - Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League, Series 1, Episode 3

As the Premier League grows in stature, its players have to navigate their newfound fame.

By the mid 1990s, the Premier League is growing in stature and a new generation of players are learning to navigate their newfound celebrity status.

With a moment of audacious brilliance, David Beckham elevates himself into the national consciousness. His legendary 60-yard wonder goal from the half-way line against Wimbledon becomes the moment that changes his life.

In this episode we explore the rise of the celebrity footballer, symbolised by Beckham in the mid ‘90s. He’s part of a much-feted new breed of footballers who are starting to resemble rock stars more than sportsmen. When Beckham starts a relationship with ‘Posh Spice’ Victoria Adams, the pair are catapulted onto the pages of every gossip column.

But for every David Beckham there has to be a casualty who isn’t quite so fortunate.

Keith Gillespie was once dubbed ‘the new George Best’ and yet his journey through the 90s couldn’t be more divergent from that of David Beckham. The pair had been friends and were both members of United’s so-called Class of 92 who went on to form the backbone of their success through the next decade

After a whirlwind start at Manchester United, Gillespie was deemed surplus to requirements and off-loaded to title rivals Newcastle United. While there was no drop in his form, the loneliness of living in a strange town away from the Man United youth team players he’d grown up with, led Gillespie to seek solace in the local bookmakers.  In another era Gillespie may have been able to ask for help but his gambling habit went from bad to worse before he was inevitably “outed’ by a tabloid newspaper. 

On the pitch, Gillespie and Beckham each have their sights set on their first Premier League winners medal. The 1995/96 season concludes with a dramatic showdown – either Newcastle or Manchester United side will be crowned champions on the final day.

Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League: Series 1

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Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League

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