Yesterday’s Hero

On a dreary day, a parcels train passes behind roof tops near the football stadium where Rod Turner is playing for Windsor. Looking over the roofs of buildings on Bell Street towards the Great Western Main Line just east of Maidenhead station in Berkshire.

With sincere thanks to the Media Manager of Maidenhead United FC for allowing Phil Richards access to the television gantry to take these shots and to Phil himself for his death defying feat (photo provided) to achieve them. We really appreciate your dedication Phil. As can be seen, the house in Bell Street has recently developed the roof space so that the pitch has changed. (RL)

The camera moves across Bell Street towards York Road Stadium.

Phil was guided here by the chimney at the rear of the property and the roof of the West stand. (RL)

A sparse crowd watch the former star striker struggling on the pitch. The Bell Street end of York Road Stadium in Maidenhead.

The match was over by the time Antony Blair managed to get into the ground.

With the minor league match over, the teams walk from the muddied pitch. Maidenhead United's stadium also features in ’The Card’ and ‘The Fire Fighters’.

Phil advises that the TV gantry is about the same height as the original stand so the view across the pitch to the south stand is much the same. I just had to squeeze in the tiny evidence of scaffolding at the bottom, literally in support of Phil. (RL)

Rod Turner (Ian McShane) signs his autograph for a young Fan. York Road Stadium in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Andrew Price provides this comparison . . . it’s match day and Maidenhead United are warming up prior to their match against FC Halifax Town.

The following day, coach Mac Gill (Matthew Long) makes his way to the social club where he finds Rod. The junction of Wellington Road with How’s Road in Uxbridge, Greater London identified by Antony Blair (AB). The corner can also be seen in 'The Impersonator' released 18 years earlier.

. . . . who also provides this view.

Rod makes his way to the Reade Home for Boys.

The once great striker crosses to the Boys who have been waiting for him.

Rod drives the young lads to the recreation ground. This is facing south from outside number 24 Fray's Waye, Uxbridge in Greater London. (AB)

Different fence, same road.

Rod parks the Transit and everyone gets out. Fray's Waye to the west of Rockingham Recreation Ground. (AB)

Alterations are apparent but the trunk of the tree is unchanging.

Rod urges Marek (Paul J. Medford) to join in with the others. Rockingham Recreation Ground in Uxbridge. (AB)

Rockingham Recreation Ground with Rabbs Mill House in the left distance.

Catching the thrown ball, Rod organises the Boys into teams. Facing south-east from Rockingham Recreation Ground towards Austin Waye with Rabbs Mill House in the right background. (AB)

Mill house still stands to the right.

In need of a striker, chairman of the Saints football club, pop star Clint Simon, considers Rod as a replacement for an injured player. Windsor & Eton Football Club’s ground at Stag Meadow in Windsor, Berkshire.

Just the one tree survives in Paul Enticknap's comparison shot.

From the stand, Clint and his coach Jake Marsh watch Rod play. Stag Meadow on the edge of Windsor Great Park.

After the game Clint Simon (Paul Nicholas) signs autographs. The stand at Stag Meadow.

The stand as it appears now by Paul Enticknap.

Mac tells Rod that Clint Simon is here with Jake and a couple of the Saints' Directors. Stag Meadow on St. Leonard’s Road in Windsor, Berkshire.

Paul Enticknap captured a similar view.

At the airstrip, Cloudy Martin (Suzanne Somers) gets out of Clint's Rolls Royce and the two wait for Rod before flying to Paris for a recording session.

After returning from Paris, Clint and Rod arrive at the Saints training ground. Looking from the Pavilion at Hillingdon Sports Ground on Gatting Way, Uxbridge in Greater London.

The pair walk onto the pitch where they find Jake. Hillingdon Sports Ground in Uxbridge.

Clint leaves Road with Jake Marsh (Adam Faith) who immediately puts the out of shape player to work. Hillingdon Sports Ground on Gatting Way, Uxbridge.

With several sessions of training under his belt before the FA Cup semi-final, Rod continues to take Boys out from the home, Located by Antony Blair, this is facing west from Rockingham Recreation Ground with Fray’s Waye in the background.

The row of houses resides behind the trees.

Marek asks Rod if he can come and see the Saints in the final at Wembley. Looking north-east from Rockingham Recreation Ground. (AB)

A different background now with How's Road and the site of the Ivy Leaf club behind the trees.

The Saints play against Hamilton United in the FA Cup semi-final. Portman Road Stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk with Churchman’s cigarette factory on the background.

In the first half Rod plays well, scoring a goal, and third division Saints go on to win 2-0. The website freston.net advises that filming took place at Portman Road on 31st March 1979, before that afternoon's game between Ipswich Town and Manchester City.

As they leave the stadium, Jake tells Clint that he's putting Rod on suspension after catching him drinking at half time.

Rod and Cloudy walk towards his flat after spending the night together following the celebrations. Looking west on How's Close in Uxbridge. (AB)

Still very recognisable.

After his girlfriend Susan walks out when he appears with Cloudy, Road runs after her. Facing south on How’s Road with construction taking place in the background. (AB)

Taken from a similar viewpoint with the background building completed.

When he can't see Susan on the street, Rod continues on to the club where he finds Mac. On Wellington Road outside the original Ivy Leaf Club House with How’s Road to the right. (AB)

The wooden building has given way to bricks and mortar . . . well, mostly.

Having had a few drinks, Rod waits outside Cloudy's house.

The two argue before Cloudy goes inside leaving Rod on the pavement.

Realising that he's disappointing his friends and family, Rod sits drinking a pint of milk on the wall outside his flat after throwing out all his booze. Outside number 3 How’s Close, Uxbridge. (AB)

Little has changed over the intervening years.

Rod begins training seriously. This is the since dismantled footbridge over Trumper Way in Uxbridge with houses on How's Close on the right. (AB)

A similar view from ground level.

The sequence follows Rod as he continues running. The footbridge over Trumper Way with How's Close on the left. (AB)

Taken from road level again as AB explains that the footbridge was removed some time ago.

Antony Blair advises that the footbridge lands on Chapel Street where long demolished properties stand to the bottom and the helical ramp to Grainge’s Car Park can be seen in the left background. A scene for ‘Genevieve’ was filmed on the same street.

Facing west from New Windsor Road in Uxbridge, over Rockingham Bridge crossing Frays River towards Rockingham Road. (AB)

Looking the same way today.

Still suspended Rod returns to the club to exercise in addition to running in his own time. Looking across the River Thames as it flows between Eton and Windsor with Windsor Castle beyond Jennings Buildings on the far bank and the Thames Hotel on River Street to the right.

Steve Randall provides this the view across the river today.

The athletic sequence continues accompanied by Clint and Cloudy singing 'That's Not What We Came Here For'. Following an appeal on Twitter, this location is identified by Andrew Urry, Tim Rolls and Valky as Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge stadium on Fulham Road in SW6.

Howard Morgan made a return pilgrimage to the Chelsea ground having spent many hours there years ago. He kindly thought of us during that visit and provided this shot from the SE corner of the ground of the NW corner for this and the following capture. (RL)

Rick Glanvill recognised the floodlight base at north-west corner of Chelsea's home ground. Other views of Stamford Bridge stadium feature in 'The Optimists of Nine Elms', 'The Arsenal Stadium Mystery' and 'Nuns on the Run'.

Howard similarly covering this capture for us. (RL)

High Street in Windsor with the Guildhall to the top left and the corner of Peascod Street to the right.

Windsor’s High Street can be seen in many other productions including ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’, ‘The Last Page’, ‘Allez France!’, ‘Carry On, Again Doctor’ and ‘The Cherry Picker’.

Steve Randall replaces the soldiers with a bus!

Thames Street in Windsor, Berkshire with the walls of Windsor Castle to the top right. This street can also be seen in numerous other films such as ‘Penny Gold’, ‘Carry On Loving’ and ‘The Mudlark’.

Thames Street looking much the same in Steve Randall's shot.

While Clint and Cloudy tour Europe, Rod gets into shape after Jake agrees that he will appear as a substitute for the final. The Long Walk in Windsor, Berkshire, which is also seen in ‘The Mudlark’, ‘Theatre of Blood’, ‘Carry On Henry’, 'Purab Aur Paschim' and ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’.

Identified by Howard Morgan as Chelsea FC stadium at Stamford Bridge which is confirmed by Jim Hamilton. (RL)

Howard's comparison shot reveals a very much changed stadium. (RL)

Looking north towards The Lynch from Rockingham Parade across Frays River in Uxbridge, Greater London. (AB)

The background buildings survive.

Dusk begins to fall at the end of hard day.

Rod crosses the road towards a Newsagents. Despite the darkness of the grainy capture, Antony Blair found numbers 25 to 29 New Windsor Street in Uxbridge.

Antony provides this better view of the terrace now.

The day of the FA Cup final sees crowds of spectators arriving at Wembley to watch Leicester Forest play against The Saints. Looking north along Olympic Way in Wembley, Greater London.

Antony Blair's comparison of the scene 44 years later.

Rod's father Sam, Mac and Marek walk with the fans. Facing north at the southern end of Olympic Way.

Looking along Olympic way from the 'new' Wembley Stadium by Antony Blair.

The view from Wembley Stadium with Engineers Way crossing in the top right.

Antony Blair took this view of a much changed location with Wembley Arena the only original building still standing.

As the Players get ready in the changing rooms Clint and Cloudy arrive to watch his team play. Car Park 5 at Wembley with Engineers Way in the distance.

The match gets under way with Rod sitting next to Jake on the bench. According to IMDb, action from the 1979 League Cup Final between Southampton and Nottingham Forest was used for this finale sequence.

Antony Blair records action from the semi-final of the 2023 FA Cup between Brighton and Manchester United.

With the Saints trailing 2-1 and just 8 minutes to go until the final whistle, Rod runs onto the pitch after one of the team is injured. Wembley Stadium in Wembley, Greater London.

More from the 2023 FA Cup semi final captured by Antony Blair.