{"id":816850,"date":"2026-07-22T15:58:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/816850\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:58:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:58:18","slug":"praise-at-football-pride-for-lost-gay-player-documentary-ahead-of-u-k-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/816850\/","title":{"rendered":"Praise at Football Pride for lost gay player documentary ahead of U.K. release"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Northern U.K. premiere screening of \u201cThe Last Guest of the Holloway Motel\u201d drew more than 100 guests to Football v Homophobia\u2019s annual Football Pride event in Leeds; LGBTQ football pioneer Joanie Evans, Stephen Wignal (Marching Out Together) and Baz Sido (Yorkshire Terriers FC) expect film to have great impact\u2026<\/p>\n

By Sports Media LGBT+<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Jon Holmes (Football v Homophobia) and Olivia Thomas (Leeds Queer Film Festival) at the Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds (image: Cass Hyde)<\/p>\n

New documentary \u201cThe Last Guest of the Holloway Motel\u201d has great potential to influence important conversations about LGBTQ inclusion in football.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the verdict of a \u2018Football Pride\u2019 panel which spoke after the Northern U.K. premiere of the film in Leeds last weekend.<\/p>\n

The special screening took place at the Hyde Park Picture House as part of Football v Homophobia\u2019s<\/a> annual summer get-together event, with support from Leeds Queer Film Festival and sponsored by the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Former Leeds United player and co-producer Robbie Rogers provided a warm video introduction to open the afternoon, explaining how he was thrilled to share the finished film by directors Ramiel Petros and Nick Freeman with an audience in the city where he used to play.<\/p>\n

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\nImages from Football Pride 2026 (clockwise from top left) \u2013 Robbie Rogers, Marching Out Together, the Football Pride banner, and the panel (images via Katie Watkin and Cass Hyde)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Last Guest of the Holloway Motel\u201d<\/a> is about former professional footballer Tony Powell, who left England in 1981 and within a few years had completely cut ties with family and friends back home.<\/p>\n

Once Norwich City\u2019s Player of the Season, Powell is discovered at the eponymous motel in West Hollywood, L.A., and it soon becomes apparent that he has a remarkable tale to tell.<\/p>\n

By sharing his life story with the film-makers, it opens the door to a reckoning and perhaps a chance to alleviate the pain of the past\u2026<\/p>\n

Following the screening in Leeds, attendees gathered at the Brudenell Social Club for a post-screening networking social.<\/p>\n

Celebrations continued into the rest of the weekend as a Football Pride group joined supporters group Marching Out Together<\/a> at the front of the Leeds Pride parade on Sunday 19 July.<\/p>\n

Thanks to MOT and members of the Regional Alliance of LGBTQ+ Supporters Groups for making this possible.<\/p>\n

In the post-screening chat, the panellists commended the documentary\u2019s moving story and reflected on their own journeys within the game.<\/p>\n

The panel featured:<\/p>\n

Joanie Evans, co-founder of Europe\u2019s first out lesbian team (Hackney Women\u2019s Football Club in 1986), former Co-President of the Federation of Gay Games, and FvH Lifetime Achievement Award winner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stephen \u201cWiggy\u201d Wignal, long-time chair of Marching Out Together, Leeds United\u2019s official LGBTQ+ supporters group who were National Diversity Awards finalists.<\/p>\n

Baz Sido, co-chair of Yorkshire Terriers FC, one of the UK\u2019s oldest inclusive football clubs, which has provided a safe haven for LGBTQ+ players since 1997.<\/p>\n

Each panellist shared anecdotes and experiences about overcoming exclusion in sports, agreeing that sharing stories like Tony\u2019s is essential to making football welcoming for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a weekend! It was a real privilege to be invited to the screening, and fantastic to see so many folks come to watch the film,\u201d said Baz.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that wasn\u2019t enough, we followed that up by marching with our friends at the head of the Leeds Pride parade on Sunday! The atmosphere was fabulous, and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped organise and who came along.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait to do more of these brilliant events in the future!\u201d<\/p>\n

Following its successful Northern premiere in Leeds, the documentary is set for a limited U.K. run.<\/p>\n

Film fans and football supporters in London will have an opportunity to view the film when it screens at the Arzner Cinema in Bermondsey Square on the evening of Saturday 22 August.<\/p>\n

Tickets are on sale now.<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking recently to Pop Culture Confidential<\/a>, Petros emphasised the years of dedication that went into bringing this story to light and the need to reach new audiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re just so focused on getting people to watch this documentary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think Tony\u2019s story is so important, and it\u2019s been a long journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started making this almost four years ago. And so, now that it\u2019s out into the world, we\u2019re so happy that people have the chance to watch it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s still getting out into the world! We\u2019re so focused on making sure that we do Tony\u2019s story justice, and that everyone gets a chance to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Ramiel and Nick spoke with Pop Culture Confidential\u2019s Christina Jeurling Birro (July 2026)<\/p>\n

Watch the trailer for \u201cThe Last Guest of the Holloway Motel\u201d on the documentary\u2019s official website<\/a>, where you can also find information about future screenings.<\/p>\n

Further reading\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018I just wanted to be who I am\u2019: the extraordinary story of Tony Powell, the secretly gay footballer<\/a> (The Guardian, March 2026)<\/p>\n

Directors Ramiel Petros And Nicholas Freeman Talk \u2018The Last Guest Of The Holloway Motel\u2019 \u2013 \u201cFeel the fear and do it anyway\u201d<\/a> (Filmhounds, April 2026)<\/p>\n

Justin Fashanu was the 1st out gay soccer pro. He had a gay teammate, a new film confirms.<\/a> (Outsports, July 2025)<\/p>\n

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