The Cup – a six-part comedy series for BBC Two
The children
The children absolutely loved being so involved in the project, particularly as for most of them The Cup is their first proper acting job.
Haylie Jones, who plays tomboy Ali, was pretty unfazed by the fact that she was the lone girl in the team.
She says: "I'm pretty used to being the only girl to be honest. When I was about eight I played for a while in a team which was all boys – I don't mind.
"I also enjoy teaching my little brother to play football. I just love playing and being part of the team. I now play for Bolton Ladies Junior Team which is brilliant too."
Despite thoroughly enjoying acting – and having a long-harboured dream of appearing in Shameless – Haylie hopes one day she'll be a footballer.
She says: "I really love acting, ideally I'd like to do both but I think deep down I'd like to be a professional footballer!"
Ceallach Spellman plays Malky McConnell and would love to become a famous actor one day.
He and Nazim Khan, who plays Ranjit, his footballing arch rival in The Cup, had a particular favourite scene while filming.
Ceallach says: "The best was when a fire engine was used to spray water over us. It was a scene where our dads force us to go out and practise even though it's tipping it down, and we got soaked and freezing from all the water from the hoses – but it was so much fun and made all these cool rainbows!"
Beryl Vertue concludes: "The cast are so perfect and natural in their roles, and really enhance the reality of the behaviour of the parents.
"I think there will be quite a few dads up and down the land who just might recognise themselves."
Sue adds: "This isn't just a comedy about kids' football – it's a comedy about the pettiest adult behaviour since the latter days of the Roman Empire.
"It's the show that lifts the lid on the juvenile obsessions and heartbreaks of children's football – and discovers the parents."
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