What do you think?
Rate this book
How NOT to be a Football Millionaire - Keith Gillespie My Autobiography
KEITH GILLESPIE is renowned as a footballer who liked a bet. And lost a lot.
One afternoon he added up how much he had squandered during the course of his professional career. It made for uncomfortable reading...
Manchester United £60,000
Newcastle United £1,102,000
Blackburn Rovers £3,510,000
Leicester City £1,050,000
Sheffield United £670,000
Bradford City £15,000
Glentoran £43,875
Total (plus extras) £7,215,875
That day seemed a world away from 1993 when he burst on to the scene as a fresh-faced young star with Manchester United. A dark-haired lad from the streets of Northern Ireland with a God-given talent, he was dubbed the new George Best.
One of the famous Fergie fledglings, he made his debut aged just 17 before moving on to Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle where he came so close to landing a Premiership title winner’s medal. International caps piled up too.
It was a thrilling adventure. Flying down the wing and sharing pitches and dressing rooms with legends, but behind the success and glamour, it was a different story.
Like Best, Gillespie had a talent for self-destruction. He liked a drink and there were women but they weren’t causing a big problem – it was keeping hold of the millions he had earned from the game that ultimately proved his downfall.
It wasn’t just about gambling. A nightmare ordeal during a training break in La Manga landed him in jail for a crime he did not commit. Then, in 2010, Gillespie became headline news again when a series of flawed business deals saw him declared bankrupt.
How Not To Be A Football Millionaire is one of the most honest autobiographies you will read, about a player who lived the football life to the full.
It tells a fascinating and moving human story of the darker side of the glory game.
About winning and losing, fortune and fate, hope and heartache...
About having the world at your feet and being left to ask yourself: ‘Where did it all go wrong?
One afternoon he added up how much he had squandered during the course of his professional career. It made for uncomfortable reading...
Manchester United £60,000
Newcastle United £1,102,000
Blackburn Rovers £3,510,000
Leicester City £1,050,000
Sheffield United £670,000
Bradford City £15,000
Glentoran £43,875
Total (plus extras) £7,215,875
That day seemed a world away from 1993 when he burst on to the scene as a fresh-faced young star with Manchester United. A dark-haired lad from the streets of Northern Ireland with a God-given talent, he was dubbed the new George Best.
One of the famous Fergie fledglings, he made his debut aged just 17 before moving on to Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle where he came so close to landing a Premiership title winner’s medal. International caps piled up too.
It was a thrilling adventure. Flying down the wing and sharing pitches and dressing rooms with legends, but behind the success and glamour, it was a different story.
Like Best, Gillespie had a talent for self-destruction. He liked a drink and there were women but they weren’t causing a big problem – it was keeping hold of the millions he had earned from the game that ultimately proved his downfall.
It wasn’t just about gambling. A nightmare ordeal during a training break in La Manga landed him in jail for a crime he did not commit. Then, in 2010, Gillespie became headline news again when a series of flawed business deals saw him declared bankrupt.
How Not To Be A Football Millionaire is one of the most honest autobiographies you will read, about a player who lived the football life to the full.
It tells a fascinating and moving human story of the darker side of the glory game.
About winning and losing, fortune and fate, hope and heartache...
About having the world at your feet and being left to ask yourself: ‘Where did it all go wrong?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
21 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 8, 2020
Keith doesn't hold back with his feelings. Only published in 2013 but I'm sure parts of it wouldn't get printed nowadays.
March 3, 2022
Second time reading this, and reading it off the back of Merson's first book, in many ways it was more of the same. However, I feel this was better written, with more anecdotes entwined alongside the obvious demons and issues, and as with all books of this ilk moments of laughter and moments of tears. I was pre-conditioned to not like Keith, given his Man Utd past (and love of the club) but he comes across as quite likeable and extremely honest, the kind of person I genuinely think I would probably get on with were we ever to meet over a drink or two.
The book charts his career from start to (almost) finish, with his transfer moves, some forced some not, and stories about some of the players and managers he worked with during his career, as well as some of the highs and lows football gave him. It's hard not to feel sorry for him, in the same way as certain others, around how much money they lost via people they thought were friends (demons such as drink and gambling are their own responsibility, having their trust taken advantage of less so).
If you like football anecdotes, then there is likely to be something within this book that you can relate to and enjoy, while also getting to know the character behind the tales.
The book charts his career from start to (almost) finish, with his transfer moves, some forced some not, and stories about some of the players and managers he worked with during his career, as well as some of the highs and lows football gave him. It's hard not to feel sorry for him, in the same way as certain others, around how much money they lost via people they thought were friends (demons such as drink and gambling are their own responsibility, having their trust taken advantage of less so).
If you like football anecdotes, then there is likely to be something within this book that you can relate to and enjoy, while also getting to know the character behind the tales.
September 1, 2021
Great book. The insight to the life of someone who earned that amount of money was incredible.
But what a waste of space gillespie is. It’s the classic why me tale. Embarrassed to sign on the dole, get a life son, millions of better people than you who haven’t had millions to throw away have had to do it.
Your problem is you have no willpower and you should try and get a proper job and then you can appreciate what hard work means. Just wanted everything to be his way and can’t quite work out why he doesn’t get it that no better class teams wanted him.
But what a waste of space gillespie is. It’s the classic why me tale. Embarrassed to sign on the dole, get a life son, millions of better people than you who haven’t had millions to throw away have had to do it.
Your problem is you have no willpower and you should try and get a proper job and then you can appreciate what hard work means. Just wanted everything to be his way and can’t quite work out why he doesn’t get it that no better class teams wanted him.
November 7, 2024
Whoever edited/wrote this has a good career in mystery novels because every chapter hooks you to immediately read the next one and the next one etc.
Every chapter ends with those crime book phrases:"The good times didnt last long," that was a calm before the storm" which really makes you wanna know what happened next.
This whole book is tensely written and Gillespie doesnt shy away from all the things he did in his life. Even though he seems and acts like an immature dickhead he acknowledges it all and admits to his faults and bad behavior which is refreshing to see and read.
Every chapter ends with those crime book phrases:"The good times didnt last long," that was a calm before the storm" which really makes you wanna know what happened next.
This whole book is tensely written and Gillespie doesnt shy away from all the things he did in his life. Even though he seems and acts like an immature dickhead he acknowledges it all and admits to his faults and bad behavior which is refreshing to see and read.
March 14, 2020
A very honest book which was an interesting read - I particularly liked the fact he wasn’t worried about calling out those he didn’t like - with some scathing comments reserved for his particular ‘favourites’. Still just another hard luck footballer story about gambling, drinking and girls though, so nothing too groundbreaking.
April 4, 2019
Honest
Very honest account of life and life as a professional footballer.
If it's possible it's probably to honest but you have to admire Keith.
I always had him down as a quiet lad you would run from trouble so some of the stories have really surprised me.
Recommended
Very honest account of life and life as a professional footballer.
If it's possible it's probably to honest but you have to admire Keith.
I always had him down as a quiet lad you would run from trouble so some of the stories have really surprised me.
Recommended
June 17, 2019
Just another Footballer hard luck story
Very difficult to have any sympathy with this character/footballer who seemed to be in a Peter Pan existence and never grew up until it's too late, book could be used as soon as a warning to other Footballers who think they are untouchable.
Very difficult to have any sympathy with this character/footballer who seemed to be in a Peter Pan existence and never grew up until it's too late, book could be used as soon as a warning to other Footballers who think they are untouchable.
November 6, 2022
My first ever footballer autobiography and it was good, but only because Keith has had a more exciting career than most footballers. Not too much football and a lot of lifestyle, pitfalls and money mismanagement. A cautionary tale...
May 4, 2021
Thoroughly Enjoyable Read On Being A Professional Footballer But Very Sadly Not On How To Spend Your Money Wisely
June 28, 2021
Probably not an ideal way to be a normal citizen either.Addictions don't respect professions,street sweeper or footballer you can end up in a mess.
January 5, 2022
A very honest account.
March 2, 2022
Seeringly honest
August 6, 2016
Car crash!!!
Real rollercoaster of a read. Bought it because I'm a Leicester fan and have fond memories of Keith flying down the wing. I was wincing at times, scarcely believing what I was reading but I seriously don't think you could make this up. If you want a warts n all footy autobiography, you would do well to pick this one. At times I felt sorry for the guy and at other times wanted to slap him and kick him in the nuts to wake him up from his cocooned cloud cuckoo land. Talented and paid vast amounts for doing what he loved, but disastrously inept with the wealth and responsibilities that comes with it. This should be part of every young footballers tuition. I honestly think so. I hope he's doing alright nowadays, his family deserve that at least.
Real rollercoaster of a read. Bought it because I'm a Leicester fan and have fond memories of Keith flying down the wing. I was wincing at times, scarcely believing what I was reading but I seriously don't think you could make this up. If you want a warts n all footy autobiography, you would do well to pick this one. At times I felt sorry for the guy and at other times wanted to slap him and kick him in the nuts to wake him up from his cocooned cloud cuckoo land. Talented and paid vast amounts for doing what he loved, but disastrously inept with the wealth and responsibilities that comes with it. This should be part of every young footballers tuition. I honestly think so. I hope he's doing alright nowadays, his family deserve that at least.
April 17, 2016
Very open and honest account of a rocky road through being a Prem footballer. As someone who grew up following Newcastle I thought I might lose interest after those chapters, but the book get better from there, if anything. A fair few laugh out loud moments as well as some sobering ones in a far-better-than-average sporting biog.
October 22, 2016
Interesting read
Behind the glamor we get to experience the life of working class boy struggling with fame and fortune.
It's raw at times, however a fascinating read and heart breaking st times as we look into the murky world of gambling & drinking addiction.
Behind the glamor we get to experience the life of working class boy struggling with fame and fortune.
It's raw at times, however a fascinating read and heart breaking st times as we look into the murky world of gambling & drinking addiction.
November 13, 2014
Good read
Enjoyable and well written story. He gives an honest account of his life and a valuable insight in the life of a modern footballer.
Enjoyable and well written story. He gives an honest account of his life and a valuable insight in the life of a modern footballer.
April 22, 2015
The only good thing about this book was it was bought for me.
May 5, 2020
Another distinctly average sports-bio. Quite interesting to discover how he ended up with barely the shirt on his back despite playing for some big clubs of MUFC and NFC. Noting more to say really.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews