Back in the seventies, there was very little that was attractive about our ‘beautiful’ game. Players were more concerned about the length of their hair rather than silky smooth footie skills; stadiums had the charm of multi-storey car parks; and pitches often had more lumps than cold custard. What the game did have though, by the bucketful, was passion.

Based on the controversial book written by David Peace, director Tom Hooper tackles a period of footballing history that, on paper at least, should have been a match made in heaven – the appointment of Brian Clough to the best club in the league at the time, Leeds United.

Clough (Michael Sheen), along with his right hand man Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall) had already proven themselves with bringing Derby County from the bottom of Division 2, back to top flight football in Division One, culminating in winning the title in 1972.

Call that a cup? I drink my tea in something bigger than that.

When manager Don Revie left the coveted role of managing high-flying Leeds United, Clough decided to become their new manager - despite being publicly highly critical of both the club and Revie. Not only that, he took on the job without his number two Taylor. What followed were undoubtedly the worst 44 days of his managerial career.

Although the facts are in place, much of this film is a work of fiction - although noone would question the essence of Clough that Sheen effortlessly embodies. Not that you would expect anything less from Sheen, who has mastered the art of absorbing a character with the accuracy of a T-1000. He is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest actors of his generation, which he reinforces here with a no nonsense portrayal of the much loved Cloughy.

Hooper skilfully juggles and intercuts the highs of Clough and Taylor at Derby, with the lows of Clough on his own at Leeds. In doing so, we see the bromance between Clough and Taylor blossom and wither.

He also imbues a real sense of the seventies into the film, which is particularly effective on Blu-ray. For those that lived it, it’s like receiving a postcard from the past. It will easily send you spiralling into a dizzy state of reminiscence, for better or worse.

What it evokes more than anything though is Brian Clough’s love of the game – often at the expense of relationships. Again, one must remember that it is a work of fiction, but in fairness, Clough isn’t exactly painted in a light that none of us don’t recognise.

Although there may be few surprises here for the ardent fan – it’s football lore now after all – it’s the great performances that will win audiences over. Sheen allows the likes of Spall, Colm Meaney (Don Revie) and Jim Broadbent (Derby’s chairman Sam Longson) to share in the spotlight that is, understandably, constantly trained on him.

If you have a love of the game, either past or present, The Damned United – unlike Arsenal and their dreams of European greatness – is a title well within your grasp and should be grabbed with both hands.