PRIOR to the London premier of The Shouting Men, Warren Llambias, co-writer, producer and star of the movie, was quoted as saying to sports writers: “I know you all hate my dad, but come and see the film in any case.”

Warren’s father is Derek Llambias, Newcastle United’s vilified managing director. His running of the club may have made him and owner Mike Ashley reviled figures in the eyes of supporters, but he is not hated by sports writers. On the contrary, his comments and admissions have provided the sports press with a steady stream of stories since he arrived at St James’ Park.

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And Llambias junior has provided a fine script for The Shouting Men, while admirably playing the procrastinating Rod, a bored psychologist.

The film is a road movie, following a group of dysfunctional Gillingham supporters making a journey of discovery.

The Gills, or The Shouting Men, have drawn Newcastle United away in the FA Cup quarter-finals and Rod organises a trip for his friends to travel 300 miles to Tyneside to watch the match.

But when Rod agrees to take wheelchair-bound fan Terry, who supplies the transport, a mental health minibus, for the trip, the journey takes several unexpected twists and turns and the hapless group drive from one disaster to another.

Their plight is not helped by the psychotic Terry, superbly played by co-writer Matt Daniel-Baker, who picks several fights with opposition supporters.

Terry is eventually dumped by his new friends after they become disillusioned by his increasingly irrational behaviour, and the disabled fan is left to make his own way to St James’ Park.

Fate then deals the rest of the group a bad hand, punishment for abandoning their disabled acquaintance, which culminates in their minibus catching fire.

Director Steve Kelly, writers and actors have done remarkably well to create a funny, introspective and moving picture with sporadic splashes of pathos – all on a £500,000 budget.

There are cameos from John Barnes and Peter Beardsley, with Barnes’ self-deprecating scene, in particular, both memorable and amusing. And, by the end of the movie, the characters had either redeemed themselves or become a little wiser from their experience.

It is unlikely that, in the eyes of Newcastle fans, Derek Llambias will either redeem himself or become a little wiser following his experience at St James’ Park, but Warren has a promising future in the film industry – and not simply because no Geordies were harmed in the making of this movie.

■ The Shouting Men is being shown at the Empire, Newcastle and the Showcase Cinema, Teesside Park.