Inbetweener Blake Harrison takes part in Football Needs You launch.

Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison took part in an FA coaching class on Monday and revealed there is an unlikely Edgar Davids impersonator in the hit show’s ranks.
 
After being put through his paces at the training open day in London, held to coincide with The FA’s drive to recruit more coaches and referees in the country, the Millwall fan spoke about his co-stars' ability on the ball.
 
“Simon Bird, who plays Will, is a lot better then he looks," he laughed. "You don’t look at him and think he’s a player, but he is nippy and he looks a bit like Edgar Davids when he plays with his glasses on.

"Joe Thomas, who plays Simon, is arguably the worst player,” the 25-year-old added.

Harrison currently turns out for his brother’s team and he is quick to admit that his sibling has the lion’s share of sporting talent.

“I used to play six-a-side when I was at university, but it’s really my brother that got all the footballing talent. He was off playing football while I was off singing and dancing.

“I am the sort of player that likes to get it and give it, mainly because I haven’t got the talent to do anything else! I play left wing but at the moment I just play whereever I am needed, more of a super sub or linesman really.”

The actor’s enthusiasm and willingness to be involved in the game at any level and capacity is exactly the sort that trait that The FA are looking for with their new ‘Football Needs Me' scheme and Harrsion could be in-line for a starting role at the weekend, especially if he picked up any new tricks from the days training.

“I really enjoyed it and the coaching was really good, it was free flowing and that’s always what you want from a training exercise," he said. "The coach allowed the game to run and didn’t get too involved and helps, not making the session to stop-start.

“I’ve always loved football and I never really got the chance to play it as much as I would have liked. I’m a Millwall fan because my dad and all my family are from there.”

The actor’s love of all things Millwall contributes to the on-set verbal jousting that the young cast enjoy when they are not playing the beautiful game.

Harrison, who plays Neil in the show, explained: “We try to play as much as possible, but the producers are very weary in case we get injured. We had a cast vs crew game at the end of the first series and the cast ran riot.

"A few of the Inbetweeners lads are Palace fans too, so we have plenty of banter.”

Harrison bucked the glory hunting trend when he inherited his love of the Lions from his father, a lot of his school friends opted to support Manchester United, but Harrison is reaping the rewards now, despite their 6-1 loss to Watford on Saturday.

“My Millwall aspirations have changed a bit since the weekend," he admitted. "At the start of the season, if you had offered me fourth from bottom I would have bitten your hand off, as long as we weren’t relegated. We are a newly promoted team and It can take a couple of seasons to adapt to a new division but we have had an amazing start with some great results at home, I see Saturday's result as a bit of a fluke and they can happen.

“I think Kenny Jacket is doing an amazing job; we’ve got some great players like Steve Morison, so if we got mid-table I will be happy.”