SOUTHEND United’s Roots Hall stadium looks set to have a role in Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen’s new movie.

The football ground has been used by Baron Cohen, also famed for his comic creations Ali G and Bruno, while filming for his new film, Grimsby.

The comedy tells the story of a football hooligan and is due to be released in 2015.

Ever the method actor, Baron Cohen even got himself thrown out of Wembley Stadium last month for hooliganism during England’s 3-0 win over Peru.

Southend United fan Luke Mayes, 30, from Benfleet, can’t wait to see Roots Hall at the cinema.

He said: “I’m a definitely a fan of his, I think he’s brilliant, I want to find out more about it now.

“Our manager, Phil Brown is in the media a bit, with his TV and radio work, but anything else that gets us more into the public eye is a good thing.”

Adam Duffill, a 25-year-old Shrimpers fan and singer-songwriter from Hockley, added: “I’m of the opinion any exposure for the club is good, providing it’s morally correct and not really controversial.

“Any way the club can benefit from this, whether it’s positive publicity, or hopefully financial gain, is a good thing.”

Baron Cohen was spotted wearing a Grimsby Town shirt at one of United’s games last season.

In the film, Baron Cohen’s character joins his on screen brother, played by Mark Strong, on the run.

Johnny Vegas, Lovejoy and Deadwood star Ian McShane, Homeland actor David Harewood and the Oscar-nominated Gabourey Sidibe also appear in the film.

Southend’s seafront has often been chosen as a movie and TV location – most recently for a recent Cadbury’s advert, BBC soap EastEnders and a Jamie Oliver food show.

...and Tom Cruise used waterworks site

Hollywood star Tom Cruise shot scenes for his recent film, Edge of Tomorrow, at a disused water treatment works near Billericay, it has been revealed.

The megastar filmed at Essex and Suffolk Water’s Hanningfield Reservoir site over two weeks last August.

More than 200 people working on the sci-fi film were at the site, but the water company was sworn to secrecy until the movie hit cinemas, a fortnight ago.

They said Cruise took time out from filming to chat with water company and also pose for a picture with some of the 250 staff based at its Sandon Valley House offices, near Chelmsford.

The grim concrete building enjoyed its first film role three years ago, when actor Brad Pitt used it for shooting prison scenes for the zombie blockbuster, World War Z.