Get In!: Football according to Mark Goldbridge

by Mark Goldbridge

It doesn't really matter who you support. Football is a cruel, cruel game. All of us fans have had moments of shock, disappointment, and feeling like a right knobhead. We want our teams to play like winners who’ll fight for the badge to their last breath. More often, there's so many clowns on the pitch we think the circus is in town. We've endured abject surrenders in the pissing down rain, watched multi-millionaire managers lose the plot, and signed players who couldn't pass a parcel, all to the sound of Michael Owen's 'expert' analysis. Season after bloody season. It stings so much your team might as well be sponsored by Dettol. Why do we do it to ourselves?

There’s a lot to love I guess. Nothing will ever emulate the high that a major win or seeing your team lift a trophy brings. Take Manchester United winning the footballing perfection. And nothing else will ever come close. Life doesn’t get any better than that.

As I talk you through everything from transfers to trophies to touchline tantrums, join me as I give my definitive take on football. There's a lot to get through, so take my hand like an over-eager mascot and walk with me out of the tunnel into the glaring floodlights of what it means to be a fan…

…and how to survive it.

Genres: Audiobook

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

Reviews

[Jamie Ho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having the signed copy of Get In: Football According to Mark Goldbridge, I expected a different, fresh perspective...

The book covers football, his passion for Manchester United, transfers, players, past football moments and parts of Goldbridge's personal life. What I enjoyed most was his personality shining through.

The witty humour, ridiculous analogies and rants naturally feel very much like his YouTube content, and it carries the book more than anything else. It's also relatable and entertaining, even if you're not a Manchester United fan, because he talks about the excitement, frustration and misery that comes with supporting a football club.

My main issue is that I wanted more from the book. Goldbridge does talk about his journey and personal experiences, but they never really grabbed me or turned into memorable stories. I was hoping for something that I wouldn't get from watching his live streams. Instead, a lot of it feels like listening to Goldbridge give his usual football opinions on YouTube, but with 290 pages. And every time he gets serious, it somehow turns into analogy. There's just too many analogies, making it feel like a stop and go.

It's not a bad football book at all, and I enjoyed reading it... I just don't think it's one of the best football books that will stick for you forever.

Overall, it's a decent and easy read if trying to get into football! It doesn't go too heavily into tactical analysis or a deep look into football, which I actually liked. But I'd probably stick to the live streams, Mark...

[Abbie Marrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a love letter to football! 💌 Completely relatable (when you get over the man united talk!) and notes the never ending trials and tribulations of following football team religiously. Listening to it on audio just made it even funnier ⚽️

[Nathan Holton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is better than Shakespeare, what a masterpiece.

[Noah Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all due respect, I didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. My prejudice was only based on the fact that I have logged many hours listening to the author on the United Stand. I became a subscriber in 2019 and a member in March 2020; so I thought Mr. Goldbridge would not be giving me any novel insight. Happy to say I was wrong with that assumption.
This is a joyful journey through the mind of a football fan growing up in a football country.
Hilarious in parts and full of insight in others. And as always, simile game on point!

[Adam Murfet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly enjoyable book I could not put down. Very funny and a lot of valid points. While his content is polarising, his football knowledge is great. I’m not a United fan but always felt his non United shows have a lot of insight.

Well worth a read for all football fans- except maybe the epilogue if you don’t love United.

[Xanxa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is written by a supporter of Manchester United, any football/soccer fan can identify with much of what he writes about. How being a supporter can be a total pain or an ecstatic high.

His style is lively and engaging. His anecdotes are amusing and interesting.

Altogether a fun read.

[Simon Cooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly awful. I've always found Goldbridge mildly amusing so though it might be quite fun if pretty lightweight stuff. Truthfully it's just a very random collection of antidotes. Some B list personality cashin titles can be fun but this was a struggle to finish.

[Day Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably a 4*, but enjoyable and because I read it in a day 5*. Probably best if you are a United fan and born between 1980 and 1990. For a first book it’s great.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny throughout! A must read for all M.G fans!

[Chris Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m probably not British enough to understand everything in this book, but it was still loads of fun! Goldbridge is the king of analogies.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many similes, too scatological, but he loves the game and there's clearly a good book within this one, which was aimed at people who like watching him shout on Youtube.

[Arbaaz Allybux · Rating 2 out of 5]

Get In by Mark Goldbridge is a decent read for football fans, particularly those who follow his popular YouTube channel. The book gives a peek into his personal journey as a Manchester United supporter and how he became a well-known figure in the online football community. Goldbridge’s unique style and humor are present throughout, making it enjoyable for readers who are familiar with his online persona.

However, for those looking for deep insights or a fresh perspective on football, the book can feel a bit light. It’s more of an extension of his YouTube content, filled with rants, opinions, and anecdotes, but it doesn’t delve too far into the technical or analytical side of the sport. If you’re a fan of Goldbridge, you’ll probably appreciate it, but for others, it might come across as just another fan’s take on football, without offering much new. Overall, it’s an entertaining, if somewhat surface-level, read for football enthusiasts.