Football fans – in particular those who root for the underdog – and others may be interested in The Giant Killers, which comes to the Theatre Royal Winchester on July 24 at 7.30pm.

It tells the inspiring true story of a ragtag bunch of Lancashire mill workers in the town of Darwen who defied the odds to become the first working class team in the country to play in the FA Cup.

It is set in Lancashire in the 1870s amid poverty and social unrest resulting from a recent cotton famine. The players are rejected by their upper class rivals and fight for more than just their place in the cup, rising up against social prejudice, becoming a beacon of hope for millions.

While the true story took place 150 years ago, the social and political issues of the time resonate as strongly today and will speak to more than just football supporters. The Giant Killers is an uplifting and heartening show of spirit and passion.

This production is brought to the stage by the Long Lane Theatre Company, formed in 2014 by husband and wife team Andrew and Eve Pearson-Wright, who met while appearing in The Mousetrap in the West End.

The company exists to search out stories of underdogs and dreamers, and creates theatre for new and non-traditional theatre audiences as well as working with schools and colleges to inspire the actors of the future.

For tickets, priced from £15.50, call 01962 840440 or visit theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk