Transferred to a British POW camp in Lancashire, he and his comrades are kept under strict conditions and made to work to repair the damage their country has caused to the surrounding area.

Jack Friar, a local tradesman and manager of non-league side St Helens Town, spots Trautmann keeping goal against other POWs during a trip to deliver treats to the camp commander and bribes the commander into allowing Trautmann to be allowed out of the camp, whereupon he recruits him to play as goalkeeper for his relegation-threatened side.

At their end-of-season party, his teammates present him with a hamper to take home to his family, but Bert's growing connection with Margaret leads him instead to stay, and in due course they are married.

Following Altmann's letter, and with continuing fine performances on the field, the mood shifts and soon Trautmann is even being welcomed by players of other teams around the country.

By 1956 Bert and Margaret are living an idyllic existence with their young son John, while Manchester City's strong run has led them to the FA Cup Final.

Their heartbreak causes Margaret to grow more distant from him, while he himself becomes convinced that his loss is a karmic consequence of his inaction when witnessing war atrocities in Ukraine,[8] and the film leaves them still working through the resulting difficulties in their marriage.

As the film ends with footage of Trautmann's continuing City career, overlaid text reveals that Trautmann would continue to play for Manchester City until 1964, would be named the first foreign recipient of the English Player of the Year title,[8] and would in time be recognised by both the British and German governments for his work in promoting Anglo-German relations.