After failing to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, England manager Alf Ramsey is replaced by Don Revie (Colm Meaney), the highly successful manager of Leeds United A.F.C.. Revie's replacement at Leeds is Brian Clough (Michael Sheen), the former manager of Derby County F.C. and a fierce critic of Leeds because of their violent and physical style of play under Revie's management. Furthermore, Clough's longtime assistant, Peter Taylor (footballer born 1928) (Timothy Spall), has not joined him.