The Brighton Kop [Extended edit]

A short documentary about love and football.
270 miles away from Liverpool...
This is The Brighton Kop.

There are 580 million Liverpool fans around the world, and only a tiny fraction of those can get tickets to the match. Most will watch on screens around the world, screaming and singing at the TV, some just as passionate those at the ground.

When Benny, a gay football fan tried to set up a Liverpool supporters club in his local pub in Brighton he was worried about how he would be perceived. But 4 years on, ‘The Brighton Kop’ have enough homemade banners to completely redress the pub on matchdays for the 400-odd fans that gather there to sing songs and wave flags. It is a brilliantly successful community project that has created everlasting friendships, raised money for charities and inspired a new generation of football fans.

The Brighton Kop are an example of how football can give gay football fans something to be proud about and challenging the perceptions of their fellow fans. It is a positive story that dispels lazy football fan stereotypes and show how through community projects we can overcome social and political boundaries, reestablishing what it means to be a modern football supporter.

This is a true story about human relationships and the emotional connection this unique set of people have forged through a shared love of football. Celebrating their love for the beautiful game and in the process realising it’s about more than 90 minutes.