The six-part series will tell the story of the origins of football, and how the people behind the game’s beginnings overcame class divides to make it the world’s most popular sport.

Also starring in the series, which is currently shooting in the UK, are Line of Duty’s Craig Parkinson, James Harkness (The Victim), and Henry Lloyd-Hughes (Indian Summers).

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has written and executive produced the series, which will be produced by 42, the company behind the recent adaptation of Watership Down, and ITV’s upcoming drama Wild Bill, starring Rob Lowe.

Fellowes has also written the screenplay for Downton Abbey’s highly anticipated big screen adaptation, due for release on 13th September, and has penned two upcoming period dramas for television. ITV’s Belgravia, based on Fellowes’ novel of the same name and starring Alice Eve, Tamsin Greig and Philip Glenister, started filming earlier this month, and will chart the scandals of the upperclasses of 19th century London.

Meanwhile, Fellowes has also created The Gilded Age, set in 1880s New York, for NBC, which sees a newly-wealthy family try to find acceptance among the Astor and Vanderbilt set. The series is slated for a US release later this year.

The English Game is due to launch on Netflix in 2020.