Sunderland filmmakers make documentary about football club their next goal

A documentary team has a North East football team’s history lined up as their next filmmaking goal.
By Fiona Thompson
Published 20th Aug 2019, 11:45 BST

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Rob Kilburn Lewis Dodds, Isaac Johnson and Frank Sverha have previously created features including Two Monkeys, telling the stories of the Blue Monkey and New Monkey nightclubs in Sunderland, and another which focused on the North East parkour scene.

Working under the banner of Tyne and Weird once again, the group has joined forces with Dubai-based Moving Adverts to make Our Cup of Tea, which looks into the past and present of West Auckland FC.

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The Northern League side won the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy – considered as the precursor of the World Cup - in 1909, winning 2-0 against FC Winterthur, and then again in 1911 after beating Juventus 6-1.

A still taken from the film Our Cup of Tea, a film made by Tyne and Weird.A still taken from the film Our Cup of Tea, a film made by Tyne and Weird.
A still taken from the film Our Cup of Tea, a film made by Tyne and Weird.

In January 1994, the trophy was stolen from a workingmen’s club in the town, with the original still missing.

The award-winning team are working on a release date next month, with its release coming in the wake of their graduation from the University of Sunderland’s digital film production course - all with firsts.

They hope to show the 15-minute feature at film festivals and looking into putting it online.

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Rob, 25, from Seaburn, said: “The history of the club is quite important in terms of football, but outside of the North East, it’s probably not that well known.

Lewis Dodds, Isaac Johnson, Robert Kilburn and Frank Sverha pictured after they collected their RTS award for their work on the North East parkour scene.Lewis Dodds, Isaac Johnson, Robert Kilburn and Frank Sverha pictured after they collected their RTS award for their work on the North East parkour scene.
Lewis Dodds, Isaac Johnson, Robert Kilburn and Frank Sverha pictured after they collected their RTS award for their work on the North East parkour scene.

“There was the film, A Captain’s Tale, which had Dennis Waterman in it, but there’s been a lot of renovation going on and the documentary looks at its past and what’s going on now.

“The story was also told in a play, Alf Ramsey Knew My Father, but I just don’t think it’s a story known widely, not like it would be if it had been a team from the south.”

Rob has directed the film, Lewis has been in charge of the camera, Isaac has been charged with editing and Frank has been responsible for its sound.

The group have already been working on their next piece.

It is look into the region’s B-Boy and breakdancing scene with an appeal for anyone with footage or memories to get in touch via [email protected] or the team’s Facebook page.

Related topics:SunderlandNorth East