Harry's Heroes

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

Series overview </onlyinclude>

Series 1 Episode 1 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. 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 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. 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

Cast The Full English (Season 1) England Team No. Name Pos. Age Former Club(s) England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career Main Squad1 David SeamanGK Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal750 1988–2002 1982–20042 Rob LeeMF Newcastle United212 1994–1998 1983–20063 Lee SharpeMFManchester United 80 1991–1993 1987–20044 Ray ParlourMFArsenal 100 1999–2000 1992–20075 Neil RuddockDF Liverpool10 1994 1985–20036 Mark WrightDF Southampton,Derby County,Liverpool451 1984–1996 1980–19987 Matt Le TissierMF Southampton80 1994–1997 1986–20038 Chris WaddleMFNewcastle United,Tottenham Hotspur,Marseille626 1985–1991 1978–20029 Robbie FowlerFWLiverpool,Leeds United 267 1996–2002 1993–201210 Paul MersonMFArsenal,Middlesbrough,Aston Villa213 1991–1998 1985–200611 Mark ChamberlainMF Stoke City 81 1982–1984 1978–1998 Guest Substitutes12 Steve HoweyDF Newcastle United 40 1994–1996 1989–201014 Andy GrayMF Crystal Palace 10 1991 1980–199815 Alan KennedyDF Liverpool20 1984 1972–199416 Michael ThomasMF Arsenal 20 1988–1989 1984–200117 Lee HendrieMF Aston Villa10 1998 1994–201918 Paul WalshFW Liverpool 51 1983–1984 1979–1996 Players' ages are as of the opening episode of Season 1 (18 March 2019).

Euro Having a Laugh (Season 2) England Team No. Name Pos. Age Former Club(s) England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career Main Squad David SeamanGK Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal750 1994–1998 1983–2006 Rob LeeMF Newcastle United212 1994–1998 1983–2006 Lee SharpeMF Manchester United 80 1991–1993 1987–2004 Ray ParlourMF Arsenal 100 1999–2000 1992–2007 Neil RuddockDF Liverpool10 1994 1985–2003 Mark WrightDF SouthamptonDerby CountyLiverpool451 1984–1996 1980–1998 Matt Le TissierMF Southampton80 1994–1997 1986–2003 Lee HendrieMF Aston Villa10 1998 1994–2019 Paul MersonMF Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa213 1991–1998 1985–2006 Mark ChamberlainMF Stoke City 81 1982–1984 1978–1998 Substitutes/Guest Players Dave BeasantGKNewcastle United20 1989 1978–2008 Steve HoweyDF Newcastle United 40 1994–1996 1989–2010 Alan KennedyDF Liverpool20 1984 1972–1994 Andy GrayMF Crystal Palace 10 1991 1980–1998 Michael GrayMF Sunderland30 1999 1992–2010 Vinnie JonesMF Wimbledon9 0 1994–1997 1984–1999 Michael ThomasMF Arsenal 20 1988–1989 1984–2001 Trevor StevenMF Everton, Rangers,Marseille 364 1985–1992 1980–1997 Jamie ThompsonMFN/A None 0 0 N/A N/A Paul WalshFW Liverpool51 1983–1984 1979–1996 Teddy SheringhamFW Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United5111 1993–2002 1983–2008 Kevin PhillipsFW Sunderland 80 1999–2002 1991–2014 Darius VassellFW Aston Villa 226 2002–2004 1998–2012 Michael OwenFW Liverpool Real Madrid Newcastle United8940 1998–2008 1996–2013

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 Role. Name Age Notable Former Club(s) England Caps England Goals England Era Football Career Management CareerManager Harry Redknapp West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur 0 0 N/A 1965–1982 1983–2017Assistant Manager John Barnes Liverpool 79 11 1983–1995 1980–1999 1999–2009Fitness Coach Luke Worthington TBC N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/APhysiotherapist 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

Series One (2019)

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

England Legends Starting XI:GK 1 David SeamanCB 12 Neil RuddockCB 14 Mark WrightCB 8 Ray ParlourMF 3 Lee SharpeMF 7 Matt Le TissierMF 11 Mark ChamberlainMF 2 Rob LeeMF 8 Chris WaddleSS 10 Paul MersonCF 9 Robbie FowlerSubstitutionsDF 12Steve HoweyManager:Harry Redknapp

England Legends Starting XI:GK 1 David SeamanCB 12 Neil RuddockCB Alan KennedyCB 12Steve HoweyMF Andy GrayMF 7 Matt Le TissierMF 11 Mark ChamberlainMF 2 Rob LeeMF 3 Lee SharpeSS 10 Paul MersonCF Michael ThomasSubstitutionsDF Unknown crew memberManager:Harry Redknapp

Series Two (2020)

England Legends Starting XI:GK 1 David SeamanRB 8 Ray ParlourCB 12 Andy GrayCB 14 Steve HoweyLB 3 Lee SharpeMF 7 Matt Le TissierMF 11 Mark ChamberlainMF 2 Rob LeeMF 4 Lee HendrieSS 10 Paul MersonCF 9 Michael OwenSubstitutionsFW 13Paul WalshMF 15Trevor StevenManager:Harry Redknapp

England Legends Starting XIGK 1 David SeamanCB 4 Vinnie JonesCB 6 Mark WrightCB 15 Alan KennedyRWB 16 Michael GrayCM 12 Andy GrayCM N/A Jamie ThompsonLWB 3 Lee SharpeAM 10 Paul MersonAM 9 Lee HendrieCF 13 Paul WalshSubstitutions:GK 14 Dave BeasantManagerHarry Redknapp

England Legends Starting XI:GK 1 David SeamanRB 4 Ray ParlourCB 6 Mark WrightCB 3Lee SharpeLB 15Michael GrayDM 2Rob LeeCM 10 Paul Merson (c)CM 5 Lee HendrieAM 7Matt Le TissierCF 8Kevin PhillipsCF 9 Teddy SheringhamSubstitutions:MF 16Andy GrayFW 17Darius VassellDF 14 Alan KennedyFW 12 Paul WalshSubs not usedGK 13 Dave BeasantManager:Harry Redknapp

Reception 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.

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

References

Notes

Harry's Heroes

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