Steelers - finding happiness and a place to belong
The moving story of how the world’s first gay rugby club has brought hope and happiness as told by Eammon Ashton-Atkinson.
Eammon, prevented by injury from playing in his Kings Cross Steelers team at the Bingham Cup, turned instead to his professional skills to create a documentary that chronicles the journey of two Steelers players and their female Director of Rugby Nic Evans.
As the filmmaker says: “This isn’t just a story about being gay, or even a story about rugby. It’s a story about searching for happiness and finding a place to belong.”
Nic Evans played rugby for Wasps and was awarded seven Wales caps before starting her coaching career, where she still finds she is being “validated by men”. She is, in her own words “a fierce female” but also “a bit of a pussy cat”. With a grandfather fuelling her passion for rugby and a proud grandmother, Nic says: “My gran always talks about how life was so different in her era. She loves the fact that our society now embraces gay people.”
At the Bingham Cup in Amsterdam we get to know this remarkable woman who guides her Steelers team through their world tournament, sharing inspirational team talks, tears and pre-match nerves.
Fly half Simon Jones, while intent on taking the silverware home, generously explains his experience of rejection, depression and suicidal thoughts. When he found the Steelers, he says “I knew it was a turning moment.” The rugby team and their friendship, he reflects, probably saved his life. He’s as courageous telling his story as playing number 10 on the pitch.
And then there’s the fabulously flamboyant Andrew McDowell, unrelenting on the rugby pitch and a glitzy drag queen off it. A star of Divalicious, which has become an annual fundraiser and event at London’s Heaven night club, Andrew loves making people laugh when not bulldozing his way down a pitch.
There’s all the steam and struggle of a full-on rugby tournament, plus the painted toe nails, as Steelers take on the best gay teams from around the world after an undefeated season.
There’s also newsman and filmmaker Eammon’s own story of being outed and bullied at an Australian all boys boarding school, of coming to London, joining the Steelers and finding happiness where he least expected it.
Tickets are on sale to stream at home as part of the @Glasgowfilmfest - it contains language which some might find offensive.
