AWAYDAYS

GB
2009
1hr 45mins
Dir: Pat Holden
Starring: Stephen Graham and Nicky Bell

A disaffected youth joins a group of football casuals

This is yet another football hooligan drama, this time based on Kevin Sampson’s 1998 novel of the same name. Although it may follow an overworked theme almost to saturation point it does feature several decent railway scenes that try to reflect the era in which the film is set – 1979 and on into the early 80s. For these scenes, the East Lancashire Railway was used, with some particularly fine views of Class 47 No. 47402 on a short train of three blue and grey Mark 1’s. The station used was Bury Bolton Street and there are a number of sequences filmed onboard the train. Look out for the cab of a BR 4 CIG EMU that accidentally creeps into shot during one of the departure scenes. Otherwise, the historic accuracy is pretty good for a change. The film was shot on both sides of the Mersey in the washed out colours of the 1970s, which paints a pretty bleak picture. There is a later fight scene filmed at an unknown station, probably on the Merseyrail network, whilst the opening title sequence includes a very obscured shot of a Merseyrail EMU crossing a bridge. However, the film ends with a much clearer view of a pair of Class 507 or 508 EMU’s crossing wasteland somewhere on the Wirral. These units are just authentic enough for the film, having been introduced by Merseyrail in the period 1978-1980, though of course the modern livery is the weak link.

47402 arrives into Bury Bolton Street station
Another view of the 47 from a more elevated angle. Note the locomotive’s 2L05 headcode has now become 1N79 and it has changed platforms.
In this view, the train is departing out of shot to the left. Note the cab of a Southern Region EMU on the extreme right, probably a 4 CIG.
47402 is the real star of the show. Here we see it arriving back into Bury Bolton Street from another low-level angle.
A group of football casuals on the platform of an unidentified station, probably somewhere on the Merseyrail network
This is the rather distinctive entrance to the station
There is also this scene later on that appears to use the ticket hall of another different station
This night shot of passengers disembarking the train at Bury Bolton Street is pretty atmospheric. The Class 47 can be seen at the end of the train.
Liam Boyle looks down on 47402 standing in platform 4 of Bolton Street station
Nicky Bell all alone on platform 3 of Bury Bolton Street
The film ends with Nicky Bell walking along a footpath as a Class 507 or 508 Merseyrail EMU crosses on the bridge behind him
A few moments later, and still nursing his wound, another Merseyrail train crosses in the opposite direction