The Cup is a British television programme starring Steve Edge, Pal Aron and Jennifer Hennessy. It is based on the Canadian TV series The Tournament. The show is presented as a mockumentary, and features an Under-11s football team aiming to succeed in a prestigious national tournament – amidst friction between the various parents and club staff.
Contents
Plot outline
Terry McConnell is desperate for his 10-year-old son, Malky, to get a trial for Bolton Wanderers – so desperate that Malky misses a training session. And, even though he is joint leading scorer, Malky is dropped from Ashburn United's league decider. Terry moves heaven and earth to persuade coach Tom Blackley to relent and play Malky from the start, but Tom's blood pressure is rising fast, and he soon succumbs to a stroke. McConnell forces club owner Sandra Farrell to allow him to manage, ahead of fellow player dad and gynaecologist Dr. Kaskar, and he leads the team to victory. With Blackley critically ill, the club attempts to organise a benefit for him, while McConnell and Kaskar continue to chase the regular manager's job (each unwilling to be a 'co-coach', and each wanting to get his own son into the team). Farrell instead awards it to the French-born coach at the local school.
Farrell Funeral Directors reveal that they can no longer fund the club's trip to Birmingham for the Under 11's Cup competition. Despite Terry's best attempts to raise money for the trip, they all prove fruitless. He then suggests that they use the money raised for Tom Blackley to fund the trip, an idea previously thrown out by the group of parents; with no other option, they quickly begin to warm to the idea, and take back Tom's money to travel to Birmingham. On the journey there, Terry wonders how he can get the Bolton scout to visit, and decides to take his wife's saved money to book him a room. Despite having stolen the money and later being found out by his wife the scout, Hinchcliff fails to arrive, and rumours that their new French coach is gay generate much excitement, before they are dispelled.
Characters
Terry McConnell – A former Monkey player whose career ended when he was accidentally tackled in training by Steve Robson (his later boss); he is willing to go to any means to further his son Malky's footballing career even if it means sabotage. He is happily married to the long suffering Janice who often is a part of Terry's plans for Malky. He is often at odds with Dr Kaskar.
Janice McConnell – Terry's wife, who is often used by Terry to further the career of her son Malky, but Janice also takes an interest in her daughter, Hannah which Terry does rarely. She used to date Steve Robson before she married Terry. She also helps keep Malky's dream of becoming a chef secret from Terry, who finds this out in Episode 3.
Sandra Farrell – The Chairman of Ashburn United, who spends large amounts of her and her husband Vincent's money on the club, she works as co-head of Farrell Funeral Directors. Sandra tends to use foul language and aggressive tendencies against her opponents, which her daughter Ali picks up. Sandra often compares herself to Roman Abramovich.
Vincent Farrell – Co-Head of Farrell Funeral Directors and Ashburn's underwriter, he struggles to pay the bills and keep up with the financial demands of his wife for Ashburn United. He is often kept under Sandra's thumb and is more focused on the Funeral directors, which tends to get less funerals due to a decrease in dying.
Dr Kaskar – Kaskar is a gynaecologist and Terry's main rival at Ashburn United, he is also the Fitness Coach for the team. He wants his son Ranjit to secure a football career and is often at odds with Terry over team management and formations.
Raymond Mercier – The new dishy French coach of Ashburn United after Tom Blackley's stroke, who was recommended by Bolton scout Jeff Inchcliffe he uses a 4-5-1 formation and makes sure that things like nutrition and fitness are used in his training sessions to secure ultimate prowess for the team. He is often called things like Clouseau and Jacques Twatty by Terry.
Debbie Rossi – The mother of Jack and friend of Janice, she went through a messy divorce prior to the series start and as a result spends most of her time in the gym.
Cast
Steve Edge ... Terry McConnell
Jennifer Hennessy ... Janice McConnell
Tanya Franks ... Sandra Farrell
Dominic Coleman ... Vincent Farrell
Pal Aron ... Dr Kaskar
Emmanuel Leconte ... Raymond Mercier
Samantha Power ... Debbie Rossi
Billy Geraghty ... Steve Robson
Craig Cunningham ... Fourbellies
Gordon Kane ... Tom Blackley
Ceallach Spellman ... Malky McConnell
Nazim Khan ... Ranjit Kaskar
Haylie Jones ... Ali Farrell
George Weaver ... Jack Rossi
Henry Smith ... Gordy
Amber Munsie ... Hannah McConnell