Finding Jack Charlton release date: where to watch the new documentary film about the Northumberland born footballer

As the debate around the long-term effects of heading footballs continues following the death of Nobby Stiles, a new documentary focusing on another England 1966 World Cup winner has been released.

Finding Jack Charlton takes a look at the life and times of the legendary footballer and Northumberland native, who died in July of this year after suffering from dementia, much like Stiles.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is Finding Jack Charlton about?

The film is not really about football at all, and is more about the man at the heart of a proud footballing career that included the managerial rescuing of Sheffield Wednesday from the depths of despair to the First Division

It centres around Charlton’s 10-year spell as manager of the Republic of Ireland, but Finding Jack Charlton is more about Charlton’s heartbreaking battle with dementia.

The film juxtaposes clips of Charlton's larger-than-life character with intimate footage of him at home with his wife in the last year of his life, and features key characters from throughout his career.

That includes major figures in football, music, film, politics, and, for the first time, Charlton’s family.

"All we wanted was for this to be a true reflection of him and I think this does that,” Charlton’s eldest son John told ITV. “It gives a new insight into who he was. He was a brilliant man.”

Who directed it?

The film is directed by Gabriel Clarke – who has previously worked on footballing documentaries like Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager – and Pete Thomas.

The more recent scenes were shot on location both in Ireland and England in the months before his death earlier this year, and show how much he could still do in the last years of his life.

“Jack wasn’t quite the same Jack towards the end,” Thomas told The Star. “But he could still do a lot. He recognised his family and just loved spending time with them.”

The co-director – who previously worked with comedian Adam Hills on Take His Legs, a documentary about Hills establishing the UK’s first Physical Disability Rugby League team – said Charlton “came alive when the camera was turned on.”

"You see in the film there are a number of times when he looks up and smiles at the camera. You’d see these glimpses of the Jack we all knew and loved and that glint in his eye.

"We wanted to get that across, that he was living with it and that it affected him in certain ways, [but] he was still there.”

When can I watch it?

Finding Jack Charlton was released on DVD and digital download on Monday 23 November 2020.

Is Finding Jack Charlton on Netflix?

At the time of writing, Finding Jack Charlton is not currently available on Netflix.

The film is available to rent or purchase digitally from the Microsoft Store, Rakuten TV, Apple iTunes, and the Sky Store.

More information on the film can be found at FindingJackCharlton.com