Fever Pitch

Fever Pitch is a 1997 film starring Colin Firth and Ruth Gemmell, based loosely on Nick Hornby's best-selling memoir, Fever Pitch: A Fan's Life (1992). Hornby adapted the book for the screen and fictionalised the story, concentrating on Arsenal's First Division championship-winning season in 1988–89 and its effect on the protagonist's romantic relationship. Firth plays Paul Ashworth, the character based on Hornby, a teacher at a school in Muswell Hill, north London, and his romance with Sarah Hughes (Ruth Gemmell), a new teacher who joins Ashworth's school. The film culminates with the real life events of Arsenal's match against title rivals Liverpool in the final game of the season on 26 May 1989, with a last-minute goal by Michael Thomas giving Arsenal the 2–0 win they needed to secure the title. Plot Paul Ashworth is an English teacher where new history teacher Sarah Hughes has just started. From the first day of class they clash. His classroom is lively and boisterous, chanting for Arsenal F.C. which she says distracts her students. Sarah complains about him to her flatmate Jo, who jokingly says they'll end up shagging. Paul talks about her to his friend Steve, saying that although she's pretty, they mutually hate one another. Steve suggests it is a promising sign.