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Harry's Heroes

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Harry's Heroes
Also known asThe Full English (series 1)
Euro Having a Laugh (series 2)
GenreSports documentary
StarringHarry Redknapp
John Barnes
Luke Worthington
David Seaman
Matt Le Tissier
Paul Merson
Neil Ruddock
Robbie Fowler
Rob Lee
Ray Parlour
Mark Wright
Chris Waddle
Mark Chamberlain
Lee Hendrie
Steve Howey
Michael Owen
Teddy Sheringham
Jamie Thompson
Vinnie Jones
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes6
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
Release18 March 2019 (2019-03-18) –
20 May 2020 (2020-05-20)

Harry's Heroes is an English documentary television programme produced by Fremantle for ITV. The first series Harry's Heroes: The Full English aired in March 2019. Series 2, entitled Harry's Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh aired in May 2020.

It featured former football manager Harry Redknapp attempting get a squad of former England international footballers back fit and healthy for one last game, vs a Germany Legends team. Redknapp was joined by an injured John Barnes, who acted as his assistant manager, and by sports scientist Luke Worthington, who analysed the players' weights and fitness throughout the course of filming the show.

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1323 March 2019 (2019-03-23)7 April 2019 (2019-04-07)
2329 April 2020 (2020-04-29)20 May 2020 (2020-05-20)

Series 1

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Episode 1

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Episode 1 aired on 18 March 2019. Harry Redknapp meets up with his squad of players, who aren't expecting what is to come. The squad got weighed and had their bodies analysed, before they played their first game against Ridgeway Rovers Youth Football Club, losing 2-1, with the game ending early to prevent injuries. Whilst the majority of players begin working to become fitter and slimmer, Neil Ruddock goes on a cruise holiday. David Seaman takes Robbie Fowler and Paul Merson fishing, where Merson reveals his struggles with drugs, alcohol and gambling.[1] Back on the training field, the squad are put through a bleep test. Mark Wright and Ray Parlour meet a golf course, before luring John Barnes into joining the squad's dieting regime, despite not being able to play. The squad meet up again, first in a gym for some strength and endurance training, and later in a recording studio to re-record World in Motion. They played their second game vs Crystal Palace Ladies, winning 1-0.

Episode 2

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Episode 2 aired on 19 March 2019. The majority of the squad jetted off to Spain for a training camp, in which Robbie Fowler missed a training session due to a hangover. Meanwhile in England, Paul Merson revealed he had fallen back into a gambling addiction, and met up with Drewe Broughton, a former footballer who had suffered with addictions himself.[2] The squad regather in England, where Merson again speaks with Seaman and Fowler about his struggles, before a number of the squad go for a session of cryotherapy, a new science used by today's modern footballers. Neil Ruddock meets up with former footballer and heart attack survivor David Ginola to talk about his health, before going for a personal check-up with a doctor, where he learns he is at a high risk of heart problems. The full squad regather to be suited up and weighed for the last time ahead of their third game, vs a Germany Legends team. Pre-match, the team were shown well-wishing videos sent in by Peter Shilton and Paul Gascoigne wishing them well, before winning the game itself 4-2.

Series 2

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Cast

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The Full English (Season 1)

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England Team

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No. Name Pos. Age Former Club(s)[a] England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career
Main Squad
1 David Seaman GK (1963-09-19)19 September 1963 (aged 55) England Queens Park Rangers,
England Arsenal
75 0 1988–2002 1982–2004
2 Rob Lee MF (1966-02-01)1 February 1966 (aged 53) EnglandNewcastle United 21 2 1994–1998 1983–2006
3 Lee Sharpe MF (1971-05-27)27 May 1971 (aged 47) EnglandManchester United 8 0 1991–1993 1987–2004
4 Ray Parlour MF (1973-03-07)7 March 1973 (aged 46) EnglandArsenal 10 0 1999–2000 1992–2007
5 Neil Ruddock DF (1968-05-09)9 May 1968 (aged 50) EnglandLiverpool 1 0 1994 1985–2003
6 Mark Wright DF (1963-08-01)1 August 1963 (aged 55) EnglandSouthampton,
EnglandDerby County,
EnglandLiverpool
45 1 1984–1996 1980–1998
7 Matt Le Tissier MF (1968-10-14)14 October 1968 (aged 50) EnglandSouthampton 8 0 1994–1997 1986–2003
8 Chris Waddle MF (1960-12-14)14 December 1960 (aged 58) EnglandNewcastle United,
EnglandTottenham Hotspur,
FranceMarseille
62 6 1985–1991 1978–2002
9 Robbie Fowler FW (1975-04-09)9 April 1975 (aged 43) EnglandLiverpool,
EnglandLeeds United
26 7 1996–2002 1993–2012
10 Paul Merson MF (1968-03-20)20 March 1968 (aged 50) EnglandArsenal,
EnglandMiddlesbrough,
EnglandAston Villa
21 3 1991–1998 1985–2006
11 Mark Chamberlain MF (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 57) EnglandStoke City 8 1 1982–1984 1978–1998
Guest Substitutes
12 Steve Howey DF (1971-10-26)26 October 1971 (aged 47) EnglandNewcastle United 4 0 1994–1996 1989–2010
14 Andy Gray MF (1964-02-22)22 February 1964 (aged 55) EnglandCrystal Palace 1 0 1991 1980–1998
15 Alan Kennedy DF (1954-08-31)31 August 1954 (aged 64) EnglandLiverpool 2 0 1984 1972–1994
16 Michael Thomas MF (1967-08-24)24 August 1967 (aged 51) England Arsenal 2 0 1988–1989 1984–2001
17 Lee Hendrie MF (1977-05-18)18 May 1977 (aged 41) England Aston Villa 1 0 1998 1994–2019
18 Paul Walsh FW (1962-10-01)1 October 1962 (aged 56) England Liverpool 5 1 1983–1984 1979–1996

[3][4]

Players' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 1 (18 March 2019).

Coaching Staff

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Role. Name Age Notable Former Club(s) England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career Management Career
Manager Harry Redknapp (1947-03-02)2 March 1947 (aged 72) England West Ham United,
England Tottenham Hotspur
0 0 N/A 1965–1982 1983–2017
Assistant Manager John Barnes (1963-11-07)7 November 1963 (aged 55) England Liverpool 79 11 1983–1995 1980–1999 1999–2009
Fitness Coach Luke Worthington TBC N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Coaches' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 1 (18 March 2019).

Euro Having a Laugh (Season 2)

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England Team

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No. Name Pos. Age Former Club(s)[b] England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career
Main Squad
David Seaman GK (1963-09-19)19 September 1963 (aged 56) EnglandQueens Park Rangers,
England Arsenal
75 0 1994–1998 1983–2006
Rob Lee MF (1966-02-01)1 February 1966 (aged 54) England Newcastle United 21 2 1994–1998 1983–2006
Lee Sharpe MF (1971-05-27)27 May 1971 (aged 48) England Manchester United 8 0 1991–1993 1987–2004
Ray Parlour MF (1973-03-07)7 March 1973 (aged 47) England Arsenal 10 0 1999–2000 1992–2007
Neil Ruddock DF (1968-05-09)9 May 1968 (aged 51) England Liverpool 1 0 1994 1985–2003
Mark Wright DF (1963-08-01)1 August 1963 (aged 56) England Southampton
Derby County
Liverpool
45 1 1984–1996 1980–1998
Matt Le Tissier MF (1968-10-14)14 October 1968 (aged 51) England Southampton 8 0 1994–1997 1986–2003
Lee Hendrie MF (1977-05-18)18 May 1977 (aged 42) England Aston Villa 1 0 1998 1994–2019
Paul Merson MF (1968-03-20)20 March 1968 (aged 52) England Arsenal,
England Middlesbrough,
England Aston Villa
21 3 1991–1998 1985–2006
Mark Chamberlain MF (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 58) England Stoke City 8 1 1982–1984 1978–1998
Substitutes/Guest Players
Dave Beasant GK (1959-03-20)20 March 1959 (aged 61) EnglandNewcastle United 2 0 1989 1978–2008
Steve Howey DF (1971-10-26)26 October 1971 (aged 48) England Newcastle United 4 0 1994–1996 1989–2010
Alan Kennedy DF (1954-08-31)31 August 1954 (aged 65) England Liverpool 2 0 1984 1972–1994
Andy Gray MF (1964-08-31)31 August 1964 (aged 55) England Crystal Palace 1 0 1991 1980–1998
Michael Gray MF (1974-08-31)31 August 1974 (aged 45) England Sunderland 3 0 1999 1992–2010
Wales Vinnie Jones MF (1965-01-05)5 January 1965 (aged 55) England Wimbledon 91 0 1 1994–19971 1984–1999
Michael Thomas MF (1967-08-24)24 August 1967 (aged 52) England Arsenal 2 0 1988–1989 1984–2001
Trevor Steven MF (1963-09-21)21 September 1963 (aged 56) England Everton,
Scotland Rangers,
FranceMarseille
36 4 1985–1992 1980–1997
Jamie Thompson MF N/A None 02 02 N/A N/A
Paul Walsh FW (1962-10-01)1 October 1962 (aged 57) England Liverpool 5 1 1983–1984 1979–1996
Teddy Sheringham FW (1966-04-02)2 April 1966 (aged 54) England Tottenham Hotspur
England Manchester United
51 11 1993–2002 1983–2008
Kevin Phillips FW (1973-07-25)25 July 1973 (aged 46) England Sunderland 8 0 1999–2002 1991–2014
Darius Vassell FW (1980-06-13)13 June 1980 (aged 39) England Aston Villa 22 6 2002–2004 1998–2012
Michael Owen FW (1979-12-14)14 December 1979 (aged 40) England Liverpool
Spain Real Madrid
England Newcastle United
89 40 1998–2008 1996–2013

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Players' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 2 (29 April 2020).

^ Vinnie Jones caps, goals and time spent in national team denotes to his appearances for Wales and not England. Jones was born in England but represented Wales at International level, despite this he appeared as a guest for the England legends in Season Two.
^ Jamie Thompson is not a footballer, and was the teams physiotherapist who was forced to play due to injuries to some of the players.

Coaching Staff

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Role. Name Age Notable Former Club(s) England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career Management Career
Manager Harry Redknapp (1947-03-02)2 March 1947 (aged 73) England West Ham United,
England Tottenham Hotspur
0 0 N/A 1965–1982 1983–2017
Assistant Manager John Barnes (1963-11-07)7 November 1963 (aged 56) England Liverpool 79 11 1983–1995 1980–1999 1999–2009
Fitness Coach Luke Worthington TBC N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Physiotherapist Jamie Thompson TBC N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Coaches' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 2 (29 April 2020).
Ruddock participated in the first two episodes but did not play owing to a heart condition. Jamie Thompson, the team's physio, played in the match against San Marino.

Games

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Series One (2019)

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The two episodes showed highlights of three games played by Harry's Heroes, winning two and losing one.

England England Legends1–2Ridgeway Rovers Youth F.C.
Robbie Fowler


England England Legends4–2Germany Germany Legends
Robbie Fowler 32', 58'
Rob Lee 68'
Paul Merson 90'
Report Maurizio Gaudino 46' (pen.)
Dariusz Wosz 48'

Series Two (2020)

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France FC Metz veterans3-1England England Legends
Paul Merson


Germany Germany Legends0-1England England Legends
Lee Hendrie

Reception

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The show received generally positive reaction, with many praising the air time given towards players talking about their mental and physical health, notably Paul Merson.[6][7]

The Daily Telegraph published a 3/5 star review, calling the issues touched on by the programme "rather heartwarming."[8]

References

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  1. ^ Carson, Sarah (19 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: the Full English: this sensitive programme was about far more than football". MSN. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Ex-striker helping players through mental struggles". BBC Sport. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  3. ^ Bond, Kimberley (19 March 2019). "Who is taking part in Harry's Heroes: The Full English?". The Radio Times. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. ^ Archer, Katie (19 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: The Full English – Who are the football legends taking part?". BT TV News. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Harry's Heroes". IMDB. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. ^ Parker, Sam (21 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: a moving reminder that middle-aged men are in denial about their health". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  7. ^ Moore, Joe (20 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: Harry Redknapp praises ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson for opening up over gambling addiction on hit TV show". talkSPORT. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  8. ^ Hogan, Michael (18 March 2019). "Harry's Heroes: The Full English, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2019.

Notes

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  1. ^ Club(s) that the player was signed on for at the time of their England appearances
  2. ^ Club(s) that the player was signed on for at the time of their England appearances