Big Ron Manager is a television documentary series based on Ron Atkinson's efforts as a troubleshooter at the English football club Peterborough United, at the time playing in Football League Two. The series was screened on Sky TV in 2006.
Originally, the show was going to feature Swindon Town and Sky spent around four weeks filming there before being asked to leave by the Swindon management. Peterborough United received a fee of around £100,000 from Sky TV for access to the changing rooms and for Ron Atkinson to assist the rookie manager Steve Bleasdale. Bleasdale was unhappy at Atkinson's involvement in the changing room and subsequently banned him and the cameras from the changing rooms on matchdays. However, later in the series Bleasdale relented after being overruled by Chairman Barry Fry.
Some scenes caused quite a stir in Peterborough when the show was aired, including a dressing room brawl between Mark Arber and Paul Carden and Bleasdale rowing with youngsters Sean St Ledger and Adam Fry.
St Ledger joked about suing Sky TV, after claiming the programme showed him as the team's bad boy, which he denied. The media alighted on this, and he was later forced to clarify that the statement was in fact, a joke.
There were several instances during the filming of Atkinson upsetting Bleasdale:
Although the club were short of funds, he persuaded Barry Fry to hire a goalkeeping coach in Tony Godden
Suggesting during an injury crisis to go for Queens Park Rangers striker Stefan Moore on loan. However Bleasdale overruled Atkinson and instead snapped up Lloyd Opara on a free transfer from a local team.
In April 2006, Bleasdale walked out of Peterborough United only 70 minutes before a game against Macclesfield. It was later reported that this was due to clashes with Atkinson. Chairman Barry Fry put himself in charge for the final two games of the season.
Big Ron Manager was regarded as a low point in the fortunes of Peterborough United. However, it proved the catalyst for future revival. Property businessman Darragh MacAnthony-who previously had no connection with the club-watched the show on television and a few months purchased the club and later became chairman. Under MacAthony's investment and his appointment of Darren Ferguson as the club's manager in 2007, Peterborough gained promotion to League One in 2008 and then to the Championship in 2009.
Episode 1
Part 1: • Big Ron Manager Ep1 (1/4)
Part 2: • Big Ron Manager Ep1 (2/4)
Part 3: • Big Ron Manager Ep1 (3/4)
Part 4: • Big Ron Manager Ep1 (4/4)
"It's not like me to lose my temper" lol he always lost his temper
Big ron closing the phone with his chin like an absolute badass
This is like a comedy. Almost like a fictional parody. Talk about prehistoric football tactics and ideas.
+alansmith888 Their punishment for insubordination is "going 4-4-2 DIRECT" in 1 episode lmao. BLEAO FOR PM.
In fact I'll turn the car around and get over there right away. LOL
Big Ron closes his eyes when he's introduced, maybe he didn't want to see all those smiles
he wants to listen he wants to learn lmao
"Kham down, Kham down, Kham down yer fuchers" Steve Bleasdale
lmao
7:02 his expression with Barry Fry's comments 😆
Barry Fry's introduction of Ron at the start completely undermines the (temporary) manager to be fair.
They needed the money, sky original went to Swindon and they pulled out. So he agreed to do it for 100k.
*goal*... "now that's against the run of play... but who fucking cares?!" LOLOL
They should do this again but with Big Steve Sitton as the consultant!
I can imagine that Bleos pride might have been dented by Ron's presence in the dressing room, but if Barry thought he wasn't up to it then why didn't he sack Steve and give Ron full status? Bleo initially did well but when Ron came in the wheels started to come off. Mixed signals to the players. Sean St. Ledger came across as a sulk, Danny Crows attack of the shits was funny, and Mark Arber ignoring the gaffer at training was too much. When Bleo starting yelling "You battle!!!!! You fuckin' battle!!!!" I was in stitches. He did his best but the pressure on him was too much: playoffs, Ron's presence (which implied Barry had no faith in him) and the players losing heart was a recipe for disaster. And when Fry picked the team Steve could take no more. I felt sorry for him at the end: yes he was out of his depth but his players didn't help, and he felt undermined by Ron.
He would have had to compensate Steve and the club were skint
Its not that he thought Bleasdale couldn't do it its just that without the money from this TV show they'd have gone bust before the season ended
You're a hero for uploading this, cheers
Legend for uploading this! 👍
About bloody time!!!!! Loved this when it first aired. Good work mate!!
Legend for uploading this,thanks
Classic Barry Fry, reminds me of his time at my club, Birmingham City!
Looking forward to the cameo of the legend that is Barry Fry. Expecting a reference or two to Barnet too! Bravo!
Terry Venables once said to Big Ron. When are you gonna stop apologising!
Barry Fry is a LEGEND in football
You might like the old Barnet book "The club that wouldn't die" then.
‘Danny crow, he’s got 12 in 20. He’s only 19’
My favourite scene was the one where Barry Fry lost it with the players, saying they looked like Rag Arsed Rovers. His language was all the funnier because he's got a comedians face. Bleos springtime quotation was also funny. He was completely out of his depth but he was as funny as hell: "I'm the fuckin' manager!!!!"
What a big character of the beautiful game the big man was.
So funny-Bleasedales face when Ron is introduced. Not impressed is he!!!
Ron's head looks like them old toys...BOGLINS...
this is hilarious
"Help Help Help, I'm in the shit as usual" lol
he should be back on tv
Such a noughties soundtrack to this
What was the point of bringing him in if Steve had just won 3 out of 4?
£££££
They were broke at this point. It was pretty dire financially at Peterborough and Sky paid them £100000 to take part. £100000 that they needed badly.
Because Sky offered them ££££ to make it happen. The club was skint so....
Up there with Kinnear, Platt & Megson as Forest's worst ever Manager.
What's the common denominator there? 🤔
They were rubbish?
Big Ron Manager > All or Nothing
finally!!!
Mr Brightside- The Killers.
I've seen all of these and it strikes me that Bleasedale was doing alright up until Ron came, I honestly think having him there stirred the squad up especially when he started to interfere and undermine Steve later in the series.
"He wants to listen. He wants to learn." No. He. Fucking. Doesn't. lol
I'm not one to lose my temper
Best co-commentator there was. Those racist comments were bang out of order though, off air on on air.
Bleasdale strangely enough wasn't a successful manager.
oFF TOpic but you see the instrumental being playing between - 03:39 onwards...any know what the song is...would be lovely to hear back
I’m not sure if you’re serious but It’s Mr Brightside by The Killers.
This was so rotten on bleo the poor guy never got a chance as a manager with this circus. Ron was so sly and a not a trouble shooter but a trouble maker through out no doubt was part of the deal with sky.... Poor bleo had his balls in a noose and he tried to roll with it but he ended up having to resort to petty passive aggressive acts to take back some control in this ridiculous situation he was put into by barry fry.
Well 8 years on I'd say it helped Peterborough move forward xD
Andre8306 6 years on from this comment and I can say that it really did help them move forward
Is that jeff stelling doing the voice over? Good video. D.
+David Miller Yep
Seems like Posh were doing just fine until Big Ron turned up 😂
Bleadstale is a character lol
Is this the guy they make fun of on the fast show?
Everything Ron said was with the intention to undermine bleo but was delivered in such a way if bleo confronted it sly ron could just pull the you're being sensitive card and you have the problem. sky/ron uttur trash but it was a bloody good program must admit!
Anyone know the song at 1:26 onwards?
Hard Fi - Living For The Weekend
what is that song on 1.20 ?
Bluenose.. It is 'Living for the Weekend', by English band Hard-Fi.
2020 and Still awesome 😜
I bet swindon regret it now, given Peterborough's turn around
no we're english, we don't get gold medals.
Song at 3:05?
The Killers - Mr. Brightside.
Thank you
6:18 These mandem having bonfires on the training ground
UTP
Reminds me of My country Trinidad and Tobago Football team🇹🇹⚽️🥅
how these players even played at this level is scandolous absolute shite
Always got the impression from day 1 Atkinson didn’t want Steve to do well!! I think this programme fucked up boro promotion bid
Ron as an ex manager would have loved the job himself probably.
Cringe this show wasn’t it still good though
That ‘Barry Fry’ sounds very much like SLY SPORTS own Jeff Stelling/Sterling wgaf‼️ GARBAGE THIS IS...FFS💩