Gary Webster is a bag full of good intentions who rides a rollercoaster of emotions through life and never gives up

SYNOPSIS:

Welcome To Friston-on-Sea follows the life of Gary Webster from the age of eight to early fifties. Gary is an only child and lives in a small village in Kent. He has very few friends and a domineering father. Shut away from friends and family, Gary shows early signs of suffering from anxiety and depression. Gary gets offered the chance of trying out for the school football team, but is not allowed to by his father. All Gary wants to do is to make his father proud.

The story moves on to Gary aged fifteen. He is playing in the final of a Junior Snooker Tournament. Gary misses a match winning pot and goes home to face his father. He is laughed at and told that he is nothing and is useless.

The story moves on again to see Gary at the age of nineteen. He is about to make his motor racing debut in a clapped out Mini in the Hot Rod class at local Banger Racing track. Gary is belittled once again by his father and no love is shown. Four years later Gary goes on to race for a championship at another circuit. He wins the championship in dramatic fashion and celebrates with his mum. His father ignores his achievement.

Gary gives up the racing and is next seen with his wife Lila twelve years later. Gary and Lila have been married nine years. They have no children. Lila cheats on Gary, leaving him to contemplate taking his own life. Whilst out one evening Gary stumbles into the ground of Friston-on-Sea football club. As he sits sheltering from the weather he is befriended by Joe Davies, the manager and chairman of the club. They sit and chat and Joe offers his words of wisdom.

With Gary just longing to be loved, he goes on to remarry and have a daughter. The marriage doesn’t last. He goes on to have a relationship with Beverley, a lady fourteen years younger. As they start going through a difficult spell, Gary meets Alison. The pair are only together a month with Gary ending it due to Alison living a hundred miles away. Gary soon realises he has made a massive mistake and that he has fallen deeply in love with Alison. In the meantime Gary gets offered the managers job at Friston-on-Sea FC and throws himself into role. He marries Beverley, but catches her in bed with another guy a few months after the wedding. Realising he has to get a grip of his life he contacts Alison again. Alison has just entered into a new relationship, but agrees to meet Gary. They both realise they have strong feelings for each other and kiss passionately. Gary tries everything to woo Alison, but she won’t leave her new partner Simon. Alison shows Gary around her village and starts to play mind games with him. The mind games play havoc with his depression and anxiety. She tells Gary it’s over and to never contact her again.

Gary throws himself in the managers role at Friston with his head in a spin. A friendly match is arranged with a local team managed by an old school friend. Two players get injured and Gary and his assistant Mickey both have to come on to play, despite them both being nearly fifty. With the match heading for a draw, Gary goes up for a header. The ball flies into the back of the net. Could this be the winner?

Over the following months Friston go on a cup run. Gary can’t stop thinking about Alison and everything she said. He goes to her village and is spotted by her. She goes mad at him, but they realise the spark is still there. Alison and Gary kiss, not knowing Simon has seen everything. A few months later Gary is contacted by Alison’s daughter Rebecca. She tells him she’s really worried about her mum and how Simon is treating her. Gary at first refuses to get involved, but when news comes through that she has been involved in a car accident, Gary knows he has to help. The police soon realise that Simon, who died in the accident, was trying to kill Alison. Gary spends every available moment at the hospital with Alison as starts to recover from her injuries. They both declare their love for each other and that nothing will come between them again.

In the meantime Friston have reached the FA Cup Final. With the scores level and only a few minutes of the match remaining Gary comes on. He hits the ball, but collides with the goalpost knocking himself out. He wakes up, not at Wembley, but at the friendly match and realises it has all been a dream. He sinks deeper into his depression and attempts an overdose.

The film ends with Gary sitting on a park bench with a local newspaper showing that Friston had been hammered seventeen nil in the cup. Gary talks to the camera and says he got lucky and says watch this space for news about Alison.