If you are looking for classic reviews from the film's release, these articles offer varied takes on its "magic realism" and sports-drama blend:
: Highlights the "plucky performance" of newcomer Lewis McKenzie and the grit provided by seasoned actors like Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone. There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
: Describes it as an "amiable tongue-in-cheek venture" that uses supporting a hopeless football team (Manchester City at the time) as a metaphor for life's struggles. If you are looking for classic reviews from