Airmen at RAF Shawbury took on the team made famous by the Academy Award winning film, ‘Marvellous’ in a football match at the North Shropshire Airbase on Thursday 21 April.

The film told the incredible life story of Neil Baldwin who has had an exceptional life including spending many years as a clown and also as the kit man at Stoke City FC. Neil is a very well known character and an excellent ambassador for Keele University and started his Football Club at the University many years ago.

The film was a huge success when released last year and took the best British Drama at the 2015 British Academy Television Awards. Neil joined his team when they took on the RAF Shawbury team organised by Flight Sergeant Danny Jackson, an Instructor on the School of Air Operations Control. The game was well fought with the Airmen running out as eventual winners 4-2. Neil Baldwin made an unorthodox late entry as a substitute, dressed in his Black Tie Dinner suit to score a last gasp penalty.

Danny said: “We are incredibly pleased to have been able to play the fixture against the Neil Baldwin football Club. Neil is an incredible character with an inspirational life story. We hope to take on the students at Keele University early next season to maintain the excellent links we have been able to foster.”