Many regard David Beckham as one of the best players to have played in England and America during his time. It is quite difficult to forget the Manchester United free-kick specialist with his unique looks and charms. After all the glitz and glam, however, fans wanted to know the unknown story of the iconic football player. Considering this, as well as other reasons best known to the man himself, Beckham, alongside Tom Watt, wrote “Both Feet On The Ground.” The two men did an impressive job of satisfying the curiosity of fans and expressing his opinions and views. At the same time, the book is a practical guide for all those who aspire for greatness. The book is similarly very immersive, telling Beckham’s story in the most captivating manner.
Beckham, whose full name is David Robert Joseph Beckham, was born on 2 May 1975 at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, London, to Sandra Georgina and David Edward. He was the second of three children and was the only son. The book describes Becks as a child who was always looking to play football. He attended Chase Lane Primary School and was soon renowned as a footballer. After his basic education, Becks moved to Chingford County High School. He was a famous football player at Ridgeway Park, Chingford. Both schools were academically oriented, giving barely enough opportunities to the young star to showcase or practice. His teachers would ask, ‘What do you want to do when you’re older?’ and he would reply, ‘I want to be a footballer.’ These teachers would press further, saying that they were referring to his future profession, and he would still say ‘football.’ Beckham recounts that he always attended church with his grandparents every week, as that was the only way he would be allowed to play for the church’s team.
The book impresses a lot on Beckham’s family. He grew up having a poor background. Life in Chingford was not very rosy for Becks and, growing up, and he was never a part of the echelon. However, for all the difficulties the family faced, the boy’s football thrived. His grandparents and patents were avid supporters of the sport, and as each couple supported a different team, he was often on the fence on which team to support. His grandparents were Tottenham supporters while his parents were core Manchester United fans. From childhood, it was apparent that Beckham was going to play football professionally. It was just a matter of when. His commitment and drive towards the sport would go a long way in shaping his glamorous and trophy-laden career. His parents were very supportive, too, making sure that he had everything necessary to play despite the low standard of living.
Beckham writes that his love for Manchester United soon grew deeper, and playing for the club became what he lived for. The young Beckham would not be discouraged from achieving this dream, notwithstanding his tender age. His father is well lauded for the pivotal role he oversaw in the development of the young dreamer. The older Beckham used to take the younger Beckham to Old Trafford so he could watch matches and fall in love even more with the Manchester club. The book describes the boy’s insane dedication that saw him playing at his dad’s practices against the big men. The men were not always easy on him, and he ended up crumbling on a heap more often than not, but this merely motivated the talented player more. This phase is regarded as a delicate and impactful one, given that it molded him to always get up after he got knocked down later in life.
Going forward, the book narrates the young player traveling to several places so that he could play and at the same time, have fun. Beckham is found playing for Ridgeway Rovers, a local team that was being managed by his dad, Stuart Underwood, and Steve Kirby. Beckham excelled at Bobby Charlton’s football school in Manchester, winning a competition that gave him the opportunity of training with Barcelona. His first trial was with the local club, Leyton Orient, then Norwich City before he attended Tottenham Hotspur’s school of excellence. He also played for Brimsdown Rovers’ youth team, where he won the U-15 Player of the Year in the 1990 season. On his 14th birthday, Becks signed schoolboy forms for Manchester United, representing the beginning of his journey with the prestigious club. He also spent some time at Bradenton Preparatory College but didn’t spend much time with the institution, courtesy of his Manchester United association.
Beckham and Tom are detailed and comprehensive in the narration of Beckham’s time at the Manchester United youth team, recognizing that his earliest time as a Fergie Fledgling at the Carrington training institute is worthy of mention. Upon signing schoolboy forms for his favorite club, Beckham became even more hardworking than he had ever been. He arrived in the institute sometimes after some of the players. On his first day, he was having on an extravagant tracksuit with fancy looks. Looking at him, his mates would have thought he could not play the United way, but there was, of course, more to Becks than looks.
His nickname ‘Becks’ was coined during this period. Having recognized the vast availability of talent in the institute, he quickly realized he needed more dedication. Beckham describes his training routine, noting that he practiced for 20 hours a day. With such commitment and attitude to go with his incredible talent and skills, it was only fair that he made the cut when it was due. The special quartet of him, Gary, Scholes, and Giggs were formed here. David writes that these were extremely determined boys and realized that they were just what he needed at such a crucial stage. Of all the players, Becks developed a unique bond with Gary, and the two would go on to become very close friends for several years after.
On July 8th, 1991, Beckham signed a Youth Training Scheme contract. He became a full-blooded Fergie Fledgling alongside other young players, such as Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Garry Neville, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs. They were coached by Eric Harrison, a man whom the players testified was the best for them at such a delicate stage. He played the role of a father well, petting and supporting the players and at the same time, making sure he got the best out of them. The Old Trafford traditions for young players are mentioned too. The traditions were meant to toughen the boys but could, at times, get embarrassing and demeaning, especially for shy players. In 1992, Beckham helped the Youth Team to an FA Cup final victory over Crystal Palace. In the first leg, played in April, he scored United’s second goal of the night, and the match ended in 3 – 1. In the returning leg, played in May, he played for 90 minutes, doing his bits in a 3 – 2 win for the club. This represented the first trophy acquired by this talented pool of players.
As a result of his role in the Youth Team’s trophy win, David soon made a first appearance for the first team in September, coming on as a substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis in a League Cup fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion. Encouraged by his contributions, the club handed him a professional contract on 23 January 1993. The manager had famously quipped: “Boy, you’re just what we’ve been looking for.” The Youth Team reached the final of the FA Cup that season, making it two consecutive final appearances. This time, however, Leeds United got the better of the team, winning the first leg with a score of 2 – 0 before winning the returning leg with a scoreline of 2 – 1, giving the team a 4 – 1 aggregate win over Manchester United. In 1994, he was making the reserve team already and hence won honors when the first team lifted the league trophy. His first full-time appearance was in September in a League Cup match against Port Vale. Three months later, he made his first European appearance in a 4 – 0 win over Galatasary in the last game of the UEFA Champions League group stage. He scored a goal in this fixture.
In the following season, 1994/95, Beckham was loaned to Preston North End for some months so he could gain valuable first-team experience. He performed very well at the club, netting two goals in just five appearances. One of these was a wondergoal: a goal scored directly from a corner kick. At this stage, Beckham draws the curtain on his youth career, and he was found next, making his Premier League debut in a drab draw against Leeds United. That season, he made just four appearances for the club. At the end of the season, the team lost the league title to Blackburn Rovers and the FA Cup to Everton, becoming the only season that the club did not win any trophy since 1989.
The end of the 1994/95 season saw a lot of outgoing transfers from the club. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the club refused to sign established stars to replace the departing players. The manager chose to trust his young group of players, and Beckham writes that this was to be a very significant test for the team. After the persistence, determination, courage, and preparations, the big moment had finally arrived, and it was time to prove that they had something extraordinary to offer. Fans, unsatisfied with the club’s decision but willing to trust and believe, were, however, to be disappointed soon. The first match of the season was against Aston Villa, a match United lost 3 – 1. The league was agog with criticism and pointed fingers, and the then coach of Aston Villa had infamously remarked: “you can’t win anything with kids.” Were they about to fail just when it mattered?
Beckham, nor the team, would give up that easily, though. The tides turned in subsequent games, and with a lot of hard work, the team could begin to dream. They had recovered remarkably and were winning match after match. But there was a challenge: in January, the club was behind table leaders, Newcastle United with 10 points. This didn’t deter the players, as Beckham recounts, mentioning the ‘never give up’ mentality the club had grilled into them. By March 1996, Manchester United had surpassed Newcastle United and was occupying the top spot. The team maintained the level of excellence and cum May; they were crowned league champions. The club also won the FA Cup, with Beckham himself scoring to knock Chelsea out in the semifinal and delivering an assist in the final. Throughout this season, Beckham played on the right side of the midfield instead of on the right side of the attack, as his purported predecessor had played. For this season, he wore 7.
The 1996/1997 season brought with it goodwill for Beckham; it was his season after all. On the first day of the season, Beckham scored perhaps the greatest goal ever in the Premier League and arguably the best of his career. He writes that this was his proudest goal, pronouncing the fact that many others think so too. This goal came in a 2 – 0 win over Wimbledon. He was with the ball just by halfway line when he noticed that the opposition’s goalkeeper was standing far from his post. With an incredible sense of accuracy and incredible shot power, he took a shot that kept floating until it landed in the net. This was from a distance of 60 yards. In his words: “It changed my life. The ball seemed to be in the air for hours, and it all went quiet. Then the ball went in, and it just erupted. I was on cloud nine.” The goal has been voted 18th in Channel 4’s top 100 Greatest Sporting Moments and currently ranks as the best goal to have been scored on the opening day of the league. With this goal, David Beckham became a household name in all of England, with the man ascending a legendary status throughout the country. Beckham tells of the intense joy and elation that lunged at his heart with that goal.
For all of the team’s huffing and puffing that season, though, they lost the Premier League to an Arsenal side that was playing an exemplary, entertaining brand of football. Beckham writes of disappointment. In this season, Beckham was already a guaranteed starter in the first team, delivering an excellent level of consistency throughout. Beckham and Tom soon introduce readers to the first phase of Beckham’s international football career. On September 1st, 1996, he made his first appearance for England against Moldova in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
In the 1998 world cup, Beckham was named in the squad. He, however, was not used in the first two matches and only played the third match in which he scored a stunning curler from a free-kick. The next match against Argentina, a round of 16 qualifiers, will always remain his worst match. During the match, he was fouled by Argentina’s Diego Simeone, and he lost his cool. He retaliated instantly by kicking the Argentine while on the floor and was shown a straight red. Beckham was shattered. England went on to lose the game and was subsequently dumped out of the tournament. As a result of this, he was blamed for all quarters and could have gone on to become the most hated footballer then. Beckham recounts this with regret and disdain, describing the year as his worst and the attitude of his countrymen and the press completely depressing. He received death and kidnap threats from supporters who found his action abominable. This was his lowest point. However, Beckham never gives up, and once more, he wore his boots and played and then kept playing.
The 1998/1999 season would never be forgotten in Manchester United and Beckham’s history. This was the season that the club won the first treble ever in the history of football, whether in the Italian, Spanish, German, or English league. Beckham is exhaustive in the telling of this feat, taking his time to churn out details in a very pleasing style. The club won the Premier League, FA Cup as well as the UEFA Champions League that had been evasive for a very long while. The book is emphatic on its telling of this amazing record, with mentions of notable, season-defining matches. What made the victory even more significant was that the world had expected Arsenal or Real Madrid to become European Champions for that season due to the team’s impressive dominance in their respective leagues. Beckham describes the buzz hovering above Old Trafford as the season drew to an end and the growing excitement amidst the country with each win: perhaps, just perhaps, the team, then fans, and eventually, England could dream. The final match against Bayern Munich is discussed too, with the various emotions that filled Nou Camp that glorious night well written on. Personally, this was Beckham’s proudest season yet, but it was his worst too.
The book tells of the remainder of Beckham’s Manchester United career before his departure to Madrid. There is reasonable coverage of all seasons until his last one, 2002/03, in which he netted 11 goals in 51 appearances. At this time, there was discontent coming from the manager’s box due to the extreme fame he had reached and the effects it could have on his productivity. Beckham tells the growing tension between the two men that eventually reached a climax in an accidental injury the player suffered from a boot thrown by a livid Alex Ferguson in the aftermath of an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal. From the pages, one could tell Beckham’s wish that things had gone differently. During his 12 years with the Red Devils, Beckham won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one European Cup, one Intercontinental Cup, and one FA Youth Cup. He appeared 256 times and scored 61 goals – a decent return considering he was a midfielder.
Beckham tells of his subsequent years with the national team. Until Euro 2000, he was still being subjected to abuses and threats, and in a match against Portugal, he responded to the taunts by raising his middle finger. This gesture was criticized, but it helped to reduce hate actions. He went on to play in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring a 30-yard free-kick against Greece in the qualifiers. Beckham captained the team in 2000 under new coach Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Beckham deems it necessary to include family. He narrates his relationship with Victoria and the circumstances surrounding their meeting. The media’s intensity in monitoring their lives was understandable given that Beckham was already a star in the country while Victoria was a member of a reigning pop group. The two married at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland, and Gary Neville served as the best man. The wedding was private and OK! The magazine had exclusive rights to its coverage, but somehow, other media outlets obtained images of the two sitting on thrones. Beckham talks about how the media light affects his marriage but how they’ve kept going. He also discusses becoming a father, celebrating his two kids: Brooklyn and Romeo.
As all great biographies are, Both Feet On The Ground is eager to bare it all about Beckham, telling all of his strengths and weaknesses. Avoid running your imagination wild as these weaknesses are not shoddy or dark secrets, and are merely the usual failings of Beckham, typical in the view that every human is flawed. You could, however, read of him getting dismissed in perhaps the most important football match of the England national team or of the man getting into a violent melee with his legendary coach. These are everyday downsides, as mentioned before. Notwithstanding, both writers did excellent in the narration and writing style. The book is a remarkable composition about the revered Englishman before and during fame. There are notable quotes from fellow players and coaches, interviews as well as images that help to leave a visual imprint on the reader’s mind. There are detailed accounts of his childhood, adolescence, career, meeting with Victoria, and just more. Mind you, Both Feet On The Ground is not only about football; family is particularly emphasized. The book covers just 28 years of his life, leaving you in wonders of how he had achieved so much at that age.
Beckham and Tom ticked all boxes in this biography. The book ends with Beckham still in the middle of his career, just after his move to Real Madrid. This does not diminish the book’s value whatsoever. The book is recommended to everyone due to the valuable lessons it teaches. Both Feet On The Ground impresses Beckham’s legendary achievements, and readers are left satisfied and inspired by the story it tells.
Similar Books To Read
- Sir Matt Busby: The Father of Manchester United.
- Roy Keane: The Autobiography
- Growing Up With the Trinity: An Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman Walked Onto a Football Pitch…by Brendon Mcguire (Out Sept 2019).
- My Manchester United Years by Bobby Charlton.
- Gentleman John: The biography of Johnny Carey. Manchester United and Ireland Legend by Cavanagh MBE, Mr Roy and Mr Carl Abbott.
- Denis Law: My Life in Football (MUFC) by Denis Law and Ivan Ponting.
- From the Goal line to Touchline Kindle Edition by Jack Crompton.
- Harry Stafford: Manchester United’s First Captain Marvel by Ean Gardiner and Mark Wylie
- The Man Who Kept The Red Flag Flying: Jimmy Murphy – The Family Authorised Life Story by Wayne Barton.
- Class of 92 (MUFC) by Ian Marshall.
- Cantona: The Rebel Who Would Be King Philippe Auclair.
- Giggs: The Autobiography Joe Lovejoy.
- Duncan Edwards: The Greatest (MUFC) by James Leighton.
- Robbo – My Autobiography: An extraordinary career by Bryan Robson.
- Red, White & Blackmore by Clayton Blackmore, Wayne Barton, et al.
