Newmains documentary is an online hit

Nearly 1,000 viewers have tuned into a documentary about Newmains United.

When Paul Cassidy started filming ‘Newmains United: New Era’at the end of last year he assumed it would be a tale about the latest failed struggles of lower league football.

Instead, he emerged with footage which lifted the lid on a club determined to succeed no matter what challenges are thrown its way.

Cassidy, of Green Empire Films, jumped at the chance to follow the Victoria Park side, but even he had no idea how the end of it would turn out.

Cassidy said:“It’s a behind-thescenes look at grassroots football which people don’t get to see too often.

“We look at what motivates players and coaches to work at that level. A team like Newmains have been up against it in so many ways so it was interesting to see how they handle it.

“The first game I went to film was called off at the last moment because the referee said a part of the pitch was too wet. It made me think I could go down the path of making this about the disasters of lower league football.

“But as I got to know the guys and watched them train it would have been doing them a complete disservice.”

‘New Era’refers to a shared vision set out by co-managers Paul Davies and Craig Gupwell and a committee which was installed two years ago.

Over the years the club has been a regular at the foot of the lowest juniors league in the West of Scotland but under Davies and Gupwell they were on course to finish clear of the drop zone before the coronavirus lockdown halted things.

As the coronavirus pandemic ripped through the country it led to the premature end of the football season. That also impacted the making of the documentary.

Cassidy said:“Once the current situation calms down it leaves the possibility to revisit it and complete a follow up.

“There were still so many aspects I didn’t get to record.”

Newmains United: A New Era is available at https://bit.ly/2Yx92ZO