A NEW film described as the "greatest Irish football story you didn't know" is to premier in Belfast tonight.
The Queen's Film Theatre will screen Don Patricio, a documentary that charts the life of former Belfast Celtic player Patrick O'Connell as he made his way to Manchester United and Spain.
The 90-minute production, which was partly filmed in Northern Ireland, tells the remarkable story of O'Connell who was credited with saving FC Barcelona.
Also filmed in the Republic, Spain, Mexico and the UK, it includes interviews with a host of sporting names.
Among those is Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, who tells the documentary of his dismay he did not know about one of the "most fascinating people in Irish sports history".
Known as 'the man who saved FC Barcelona', O'Connell - who was originally from Dublin - lived in Albert Street in the lower Falls area of Belfast where his first son was born.
He was captain of the Ireland team that won the British Home Championship at Windsor Park in 1914 and was the first Irishman to captain Manchester United.
Also known as Don Patricio, he guided Real Betis to its only Spanish league title in 1935 and was the only Irish manager to win La Liga.
He managed Barcelona from 1936 to 1940 and is credited with saving the club from financial ruin during the Spanish Civil War.
In 1937, he was given the title of honorary consul by the last republican government of Spain. Despite his success, he ended up dying destitute in London in 1959.
Filming for the documentary, which was spearheaded by Spanish producer Michael Anderesen, took place on Albert Street where O'Connell lived and the Shankill Road where he would drink as a Belfast Celtic player.
The film-makers also visited Windsor Park and the Belfast Celtic Museum on Donegall Road where its ground once stood.
Don Patricio also tells his story of the Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund, founded by football fans who have worked to keep his memory alive.
The premiere is open to the public and tickets are on sale from the QFT website.
