Michael Sheen praised for inspirational speech on A League of Their Own

Virgin Radio

12 Sep 2022, 13:17

Welsh actor Michael Sheen has been praised for his inspirational speech on the quiz show A League of Their Own.

The actor was asked what he would say in a motivational speech to Robert Page’s Welsh national football team ahead of their World Cup match with England.

In typical Sheen fashion, he threw himself into the challenge completely and delivered an incredible rallying call.

He began: "I hear the voices singing. Speed your journey, bois bach [good heavens]. One nation, singing with one voice, a song of hope, a song of courage. A victory song that floats through the valleys, like a red mist, rolls over the mountain tops, like crimson thunder.”

As the music builds, so does Sheen’s speech as he continues: “A red storm is coming to the gates of Qatar. It crackles, with the spirit of ‘58 and Jimmy Murphy’s boys. It turns the pages of the history books and finds Rob’s page, waiting, still to be written. What would you do right in there, boys? Dare you write your names on that page? We haven’t waited 64 years and come halfway around the world to be troubled by a neighbour from back home.”

He ended the speech: “When the English coming knock on our door, let‘s give them some sugar, boys, let’s give them some Welsh sugar. They’ve always said we are too small, we are too slow, we are too weak, too full of fear. But yma o hyd [“Still Here”], you sons of Speed, and they fall around us. We are still here.”

The studio exploded when Sheen finished with host Romesh Ranganathan saying: “Wow. I have never felt more Welsh!”

You can watch the clip below:

The clip has since gone viral, and viewers have taken to social media to share their love for the actor and his speech.

One person wrote: “Wow I have goose pimples. Bring on Qatar.”

Another said: “I could watch that every day of my life and get goosebumps everyday of my life.”

A third tweeted: “I don’t think you can win an Oscar for something you’ve done on a British game show, but maybe Michael Sheen should.”

TV legend Lenny Henry also got involved and said: “I don’t know what this is for but I’m playing it before every gig, every job interview for the rest of my life…”

While Welsh rugby player George North wrote: “Ardderchog [well done] Mr Sheen.”

The World Cup will take place in Qatar in the winter.

A League of Their Own continues Thursdays on Sky.