We’ll Go Down in History, directed by Cameron Richards and Charlie Tidmas, depicts the story of TRUK United, a transgender grassroots football club over a two-year period. The documentary focuses on not just the importance of on-the-pitch results but also the community football creates for one of society’s most maligned groups. It is a celebration of trans joy through the beautiful game against the backdrop of a society that is increasingly reluctant to allow trans people just to play football—or even exist at all.
The story follows two figures from TRUK United at differing points not just in their football journeys but their lives as well. Lucy Clark, the founder of TRUK United, is nothing short of a trailblazer. She is the first transgender referee and manager in women’s football and has, in the words of Richards and Tidmas, spent years “carving out space for trans people in the sport she loves.” She currently manages her beloved Sutton United Women FC.
It’s fitting that the other person We’ll Go Down in History centres on is someone from the next generation who will benefit from Clark’s tireless work. Teenager Emily previously struggled to find a club where she truly belonged before she joined TRUK United.
Through Clark’s guidance and support, Emily has gone from strength to strength both on and off the pitch. She looks set to take up the mantle left by Clark in advocating for trans inclusion in football and is an example that young trans athletes deserve the same opportunities and inclusion in football.
The documentary is keen to note that the journeys of these two individuals are a part of a greater support network. Clark’s wife Avril and Emily’s mum Emma provide personal insight into their worlds and their devoted support of their loved ones. The team itself, as Richards and Tidmas note, “is at the heart of our film” and at the heart of the support network. Their camaraderie, coupled with their passion for creating an inclusive space within the sport, is paramount to the story being told.
In an era where trans rights continue to be eroded, films like We’ll Go Down in History become even more vital. Often in trans rights debates, the human stories are stripped away and replaced with the overtly clinical. Instead, the film’s interest lies in illustrating the importance of inclusivity in a space that historically has been far from inclusive.
Given the current climate, it is imperative that as many people as possible see and support this documentary, both football fans and beyond. Mainstream media narratives surrounding trans rights and issues need to be altered, and films like We’ll Go Down in History go a long way to aid that alteration.
Richards and Tidmas have confirmed that the journey doesn’t end here. In the aftermath of the FA ban on trans women in grassroots women’s football, the filmmakers are continuing to follow Lucy, Emily and the TRUK United team as they navigate this latest challenge—laying the groundwork for a future feature film that will delve even deeper into their evolving story.
In support of this continued work, a special Trans on Screen x TRUK United: Screening & Fundraiser will take place on Thursday 10th July 2025 at 7:00 PM at art’otel London Hoxton, Powered by Radisson Hotels (1-3 Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3DT), a fully accessible venue with wheelchair access and accessible toilets.
The evening will feature a curated selection of short films backed by Trans on Screen, followed by a special screening of We’ll Go Down in History. Attendees are invited to stay for a post-screening mixer at the Art’otel bar to connect with filmmakers, supporters, and members of the TRUK United family. All proceeds from the evening will go directly to supporting Trans on Screen and TRUK United FC, helping to sustain and expand their work.
In a time when trans people are so often spoken about rather than listened to, We’ll Go Down in History ensures that trans voices are not only heard, but celebrated.
https://www.outsavvy.com/event/28450/trans-on-screen-x-truk-united-screening-fundraiser
