Cast: Nicky Bell, Liam Boyle, Stephen Graham
Director: Pat Holden
Screenwriter: Kevin Sampson

Ah, the football hooligan film. No matter how many times it gets its head kicked in by film critics and their size-twelves, it just won’t lie down. But in a 12-month period where audiences have already been served up Cass, The Firm and the risible Green Street 2 (No, seriously. Straight to DVD, mind.), is there room for yet another tale of Saturday afternoon aggro?

Adapted for the screen by Kevin Sampson, from his novel of the same name, Awaydays is set in 1970s Liverpool and follows teenage outsider Paul Carty and his efforts to seek acceptance from local gang, ‘The Pack’. He gets his opportunity after befriending Elvis, an achingly cool arty type who recognises Carty as a kindred spirit, and the two are soon happily knocking people senseless up and down the country.

Despite this oh-so-familiar premise, Awaydays differs quite dramatically from it’s footy violence stablemates, in that both Elvis and Carty come across as thoroughly nice lads, chasing after girls and blagging their way into gigs (watch out for a cameo from Mersey band The Rascals). A refreshing change then from the usual monosyllabic sarf-London chancers, but one that confuses why either of them would ever be  involved with The Pack, a gang of violent thugs marshalled by psychotic ex-squaddie John Godden. (Stephen Graham, gleefully doing his deranged psycho routine).

The themes of gaining acceptance and coming-of-age are well worn theme in this kind of film. But even allowing for that, it seems inexplicable why Elvis, an effeminate, sensitive lad with quasi-intellectual leanings, would ever have been accepted by Godden and co in the first place. Carty meanwhile is the product of a decent family, with a solid job and a decent education. While it makes sense that he might want to kick of these middle-class shackles, his sudden transformation from shy loner to foaming at the mouth hooligan feels forced.

There are other elements that fail to ring true, with The Pack itself a bit of an oddity. Half its members don’t look old enough to shave, let alone knock somebody out. It’s like watching Bugsy Goes To The Terraces in places, and when the crew of junior-hooligans proceed to knock seven shades out of a gang of bearded, tattooed hulks, it frankly looks ridiculous.

Having said that, there’s plenty that the film does get right, with the attention to detail lavished on the soundtrack and wardrobe creating a tangible sense of time and place. The fashion in particular is spot on, and the sense of style comes across as equally integral to ‘Casual Culture’ as the violence.

The two young leads are also impressive, and their burgeoning friendship is genuinely touching at times. Liam Boyle turns in a particularly winning performance, despite being hamstrung by a script that verges on the melodramatic. You’ll be sick and tired of the phrase ‘where will it all end?’, long before the end actually arrives.

Awaydays has all the makings of a decent coming-of-age drama , but the hooligan backdrop just feels a bit tired. There’s much more going on here than in most of the raft of cockney punch-ups on the market, but sadly, there are still too many things they have in common.

Awaydays is out now on DVD and Blu-ray via Optimum Home Releasing

By George Wales