Acclaimed documentary on 'lost' English footballer to get northern premiere over Leeds Pride weekend

An incredible new feature documentary telling the story of a professional footballer's dramatic double life is set to receive its northern UK premiere in Leeds this weekend.

‘The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel’ will be screened at the historic Hyde Park Picture House, with the exclusive premiere forming the centrepiece of the fourth annual national ‘Football Pride’ festival, which is coming to the city to coincide with the city's massive Leeds Pride weekend.

Co-presented by the Football v Homophobia (FvH) campaign and the Leeds Queer Film Festival, the event marks an incredibly rare opportunity to see the highly anticipated film.

The documentary has not yet received a general UK cinema or streaming release, having only previously screened at the prestigious BFI Flare Film Festival in London earlier this spring.

The film follows the unbelievable true story of former English top-flight defender Tony Powell; in the late 1970s, Powell was a celebrated, tough-tackling centre-back who was named Norwich City's Player of the Year.

But in 1981, his life took a drastic turn when he crossed the Atlantic to play in the North American Soccer League.

Shortly after his arrival, Powell vanished without a trace - abandoning his wife and family.

Decades later, he is discovered living a completely different life in Los Angeles, working as the manager of the dilapidated, infamous Holloway Motel in West Hollywood.

The documentary unravels the heartbreaking truth behind his sudden disappearance, revealing the consequences of his double life on the family he left behind.

The film boasts a deeply powerful local connection to Elland Road: it is co-produced by former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers, who made history in 2013 when he became the first male professional footballer in the UK to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

Alongside Powell, Rogers remains one of only a select few individuals to navigate the professional men's game in Britain while being openly out.

Sponsored by the Premier League, the screening will be immediately followed by a 30-minute live panel Q&A session with expert speakers.

The discussion will explore Powell's complex legacy, the making of the film, and the evolving culture of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the modern men's game.

The event will then transition into a relaxed networking social just down the road at the legendary Brudenell Social Club.

‘The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel’ plays at Hyde Park Picture House (Brudenell Road, Leeds, LS6 1JD) on July 18 at 1.15pm. For tickets and further information, visit Hyde Park Picture House’s website.