With the exception of David McKay (Liam), all the members of Joe's football team had no previous acting experience and were local residents, some with previous drug problems.
During the scene where the football team steal the strips from the depot, Gordon McMurray (Scrag) was stopped by suspicious police officers while running after the van, as he was well-known to them. The cameras were some distance away and director Ken Loach had to step in to explain he was part of a film.
With the exception of 'Peter Mullan' and Gary Lewis, all the people in the opening Alcoholics Anonymous meeting are actual members.
The Scots dialect used means that the film is often shown with subtitles in North America to be made intelligible to a wider audience.
Lorraine McIntosh, who plays Maggie, is the former co-vocalist in defunct '80s Scottish pop band Deacon Blue.