The Keeper (15) introduced and with a Q&A by Bob Wilson OBE

About Us

The Keeper (15)

With Introduction and Q&A with Bob Wilson OBE

A film dedicated to the life and career of Man City goal keeper, Bert Trautmann OBE, who famously played the 1956 FA Cup Final with a broken neck, still winning the Cup for City.

This is an absolute “must” for football fans everywhere and Cherry and Saints fans do not have to change allegiance to Man City to appreciate this astonishing true story of a brilliant goal keeper who started off as a German paratrooper in WWII, winning the Iron Cross and who, having been a POW in England, developed a love for Britain that led to him staying on after peace was declared and adding an FA Cup Winners Medal and an  OBE, presented by the Queen, to his Iron Cross.

Film Introduced by former Arsenal and Scotland goal keeper and national BBC and ITV broadcaster, Bob Wilson OBE, for whom Bert Trautmann was his boyhood idol and the keeper who influenced his own style of goal keeping.

The Regent is very pleased to announced a very special showing of the recently released film, The Keeper (15) on Sunday 26 May 7.30pm. 

The Keeper is the true story about the legendary German-born goalkeeper Bernd ‘Bert’ Trautmann – the goalkeeper for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. He was a man whose love for football, for England and for the love of his life, his wife Margaret, saw him initially dismissed as an enemy only to become a British hero. Trautmann won over even his harshest critics by playing on with a broken neck in the 1956 FA Cup Final, ensuring victory for his team. Bert was City’s goalkeeper for 15 years. 

Bert actually arrived in Britain as a World War II German POW who decided to stay in Britain after peace was declared.  He was talent spotted by non-League St Helens Town where a Man City scout saw him play and was so impressed that he was signed up for a transfer to the legendary Manchester club straight away.

Bert had the unique distinction of being awarded the Iron Cross, from his days as a German paratrooper, to go alongside his FA Cup Winners Medal and an honourary OBE for his work in promoting Anglo-German relations.  Her Majesty the Queen famously remarked at the awards ceremony: “Ah Herr Trautmann, I remember you.  Have still got that pain in the neck?” 

Bert sadly passed away in 2013 aged 89 but this new film dedicated to his story will ensure that his memory lives on

This special one-off screening will be introduced by and have a post-film Q&A with broadcaster and former international goalkeeper, Bob Wilson OBE.

Bob Wilson played in goal for Arsenal and Scotland in the 60s and 70s and was a key figure in Arsenal’s famous Double winning Season in 1970 – 71.  He has presented sport and football nationally on BBC TV and ITV and coached the goalkeepers at Arsenal for over 28 years.

Bob idolised Bert Trautmann as a boy and styled his own game on Bert’s fearless goal-keeping by diving headlong at an opponent’s feet to prevent a goal being scored by the opposition.  Bob has dedicated his most famous save, diving at the feet of George Best during Arsenal’s Double-winning season, to Bert. “I owed that to Bert too!” said Bob.  “I learnt from Bert that in a one to one situation, he always dived head first at a time when everyone else went feet first.”

Tickets: £10 and the Regent is very pleased to donate £1 from every ticket sold to the Willow Foundation.

Bob and his wife Megs set up the Willow Foundation charity, which provides special days for seriously ill people aged 16-40, after their daughter Anna died of a rare form of cancer, aged just 32. https://www.willowfoundation.org.uk/