Justin Fashanu In Extra Time

Born in 1961, Justin Fashanu was brought up by foster parents and by the children’s charity Barnardos.

At 14 he signed schoolboy forms with Norwich City FC, where he progressed through the ranks and played for the first team when he was in his late teens. His 1980 volley against Liverpool was the goal of the season and still claims its place in football’s all time great moments.

The following year, he was signed by Brian Clough and joined Nottingham Forest for one million pounds. He would go on to find fame and notoriety as the first black million pound footballer. And the first (and still only) openly gay Premiership player.

Sadly, he would end his own life at the age of 37.

The play begins when Justin arrives back in the UK (pursued by allegations of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in America) and takes us to his death in a lock-up garage a few hundred metres from where the play is taking place.

What kind of man was he? How had events in his life shaped his thinking? Why are the last known accounts of him said to be happy and positive?

The Saturday matinee at 2.30pm will be followed by a Q&A

Justin Fashanu In Extra Time
Thurs 8th-Saturday 10th July, 8pm
Richmix
35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
Price £12 and £10 concessions
boxoffice: 020 7613 7498 or online