How does a locally-owned club compete against oligarchs and sovereign wealth funds?
When a dubious foreign entity launches a hostile takeover, United’s season unravels. Now they've got one last chance to salvage a city's pride...Can a rag-tag bunch of has-beens and never-wozzas—dispel despair and self-doubt long enough—to conjure up a victory with their backs against the wall?The 38ᵗʰ Match is a satirical dramedy, that draws on musical genres from hip-hop to classic songbook, all inspired by the sounds of the terraces. Get ready for a high-energy roller coaster with an ending you won't see coming.
Play the demos
Meet the development team
Derek Downham
Musical DirectorDerek is an award-winning musician, producer, and indie cult icon. He’s an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and musicologist whose production is characterized by a rootsy vibe for the digital age. His wide-ranging musical tastes provide the perfect complement to the show’s multi-genre pop sound. Just some of the artists Derek’s played and recorded with include Don Felder (of The Eagles), Alex Lifeson (of Rush), James Burton, Gord Downie, Albert Lee, Jeff Healey, Serena Ryder, Broken Social Scene, Ron Sexsmith, Lights, and Holy F*ck.
Michael Moss
Book and LyricsMichael is an award-winning creative director and emerging playwright. He began his career producing videos for UK record companies, before working for multinational and local agencies in Canada and internationally, winning awards in London, New York, and Toronto. His play, The Killers was shortlisted for the 2020 Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing. While his play The Trillionaire was met with acclaim at the 2022 Hamilton Fringe. Michael studied English & Drama at Goldsmiths College, London.
Mike Blanchard
ComposerMike spent his formative years playing guitar in Kitchener-Waterloo bands including The Rhinos with Robert Carli and Danny Michel. He wrote many of the tracks on the band’s two albums Fishing in the Fountain of Youth and Flying. During The Rhinos heyday, he toured Canada 14 times. Mike also co-composed the soundtrack and music for Vancouver regional weekly TV variety show Zero Avenue, together with Carli. He was awarded a VideoFACT grant for the composition of Jackadandy Babbit.
Jim Daly
Comedian/ActorJim’s been writing and performing standup since 2012, appearing alongside acts like Jon Richardson, Doc Brown, Holly Walsh, Reginald D Hunter Seann Walsh and loads more. In 2022, his Edinburgh Fringe show Football and Fatherhood was awarded four stars by Edinburgh institution Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of The Fringe and chosen to perform at the Pleasance. With an online following, of about 350,000 across all platforms, Jim has amassed more than 90 million views on You Tube with his comedy songs and sketches, which are often about football.
