New Film – The Keeper Tells the Story of Manchester City’s Bert Trautmann

There are few players who have played the game of football with a life story more dramatic than Bert Trautmann, and that is why he is the topic of a brand new film which hits the cinemas in UK and Ireland on 5 April 2019.

Trying to describe the life of Bert Trautmann to young Manchester City fans almost defies any credibility. This is a tale of a time when men were made of sterner stuff. Where they went away at impossibly young ages to fight in a bloody and long war. Where they left a Prisoner of War Camp after being captured and earnt a chance to play in goal in the First Division for top side Manchester City. Where they broke their neck in a FA Cup Final and played on to earn their team a major trophy.

I never saw Bert Trautmann play as he earnt the last of his 545 appearances for Manchester City in 1964, before I was even a twinkle in my dad’s eye. But he was an undoubted hero to my dad’s generation who despite being brought up in the austerity of the second world war and their hatred of the Germans for the horrors of the war, somehow found a German goalkeeping hero.

More from Man City Editorials

• Phil Foden Scores Opener for England Against Scotland
• The FA Cup 1904; Manchester City’s First Trophy Ever
• Scandal Erupts: Raival’s Star Winger Antony Faces Accusations of Assault
• Man City Reigns Supreme in Ballon d’Or Nominations, Argentina Shines on National Stage
• Louis van Gaal Drops Bombshell: Accuses Argentina of World Cup 2022 Conspiracy!

Trautmann was a German paratrooper who fought against the Allied Troops on the Eastern front in the Second World War and was honoured for his bravery with the Iron Cross. In his wartime career he was captured and escaped from both the French and the Russians before eventually falling into British hands in 1944. He was transferred to England in a Prisoner of War Camp and although the war ended in 1945 he remained incarcerated until 1948.

Whilst in the camp Trautmann had shown skill as a goalkeeper during regular games of football and played for St Helens on day release from the camp. Following his release he was scouted by Manchester City and eventually signed to a professional playing contract. The signing provoked an outcry from the community with German atrocities still uppermost in everyone’s minds and with England only just beginning to rebuild.

It required the intervention of local dignitaries and religious leaders for the hostility against Trautmann to begin to subside. It helped that he continued to give customary excellent performances in goal and he started to win over the critics, fearful of the prominent role played by a German in English post war sporting life.

The moment which came to define his playing career happened in the 1956 FA Cup Final at Wembley between Manchester City and Birmingham City. Manchester City were clinging to a 3:1 lead when Trautmann was injured by a blow to his head from the knee of the Birmingham attacker. This was in the day before substitutes were allowed so Trautmann held his neck and clearly in discomfort he played on.

During those further 17 minutes Trautmann somehow made numerous further saves to ensure we won the FA Cup Final but he later said he had no recollection of the later stages of the match. He was still struggling with this injury a number of days after the game so went to hospital where it was discovered he had actually broken his neck and had risked his life by playing on.

Trautmann remained in some coaching and management roles following his retirement from playing and was awarded both the OBE and the German Equivalent for his services to the beautiful game before his death in 2013.

The Story of Bert Trautmann has now been turned into a major motion picture which is released in cinemas on April 5 2019 in the UK and Ireland. Tomorrow we will publish our review of the movie having been invited to the press preview screening.