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Whistle Blower: My Autobiography
The outspoken and hard-hitting autobiography of one of the most highly-rated, recognisable and controversial football referees of modern times.
Mark Clattenburg found himself in the centre circle, whistle in hand, at the start of 450 Premier League matches during a highly eventful 13-year career in football's top flight.
He has shaken hands with, issued red and yellow cards to, and been sworn at by hundreds of players. He has been screamed at and shared jokes with dozens and dozens of managers. And he's felt the wrath of thousands upon thousands of irate fans.
His autobiography is the ultimate guide to what it's really like to be in the referee's spotlight. It offers numerous intriguing insights into the daily trials and tribulations, the acute stresses and strains, of a top-flight referee. Clattenburg takes the reader into the referee's room, the players' tunnel and out on the pitch to experience precisely what a referee goes through on match day.
Mark Clattenburg found himself in the centre circle, whistle in hand, at the start of 450 Premier League matches during a highly eventful 13-year career in football's top flight.
He has shaken hands with, issued red and yellow cards to, and been sworn at by hundreds of players. He has been screamed at and shared jokes with dozens and dozens of managers. And he's felt the wrath of thousands upon thousands of irate fans.
His autobiography is the ultimate guide to what it's really like to be in the referee's spotlight. It offers numerous intriguing insights into the daily trials and tribulations, the acute stresses and strains, of a top-flight referee. Clattenburg takes the reader into the referee's room, the players' tunnel and out on the pitch to experience precisely what a referee goes through on match day.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published March 29, 2022
24 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 17, 2022
There are some great football stories here. It was a quick, easy read but Mark does come across as a bit of a knob still.
He’s not especially likeable but aside from that it’s a really interesting read.
He’s not especially likeable but aside from that it’s a really interesting read.
February 9, 2022
One of the best football books I’ve ever read! How can a book about a referee be good? That’s what I thought too, but it was very interesting, entertaining and insightful. Very good 5/5
October 16, 2023
Great book from a great idol
December 10, 2021
Very little self awareness here 😫
February 9, 2022
Really enjoyed this book I felt like he laid it all out there. Great insight answered all my questions and at the same time giving out great advice.
June 6, 2022
I write not just as a reader of this book but as a retired Class 3 referee who spent virtually all his career on park football. I never aspired to the heights achieved by the author and I can only thank heavens.
He comes across as arrogant, self centered and with an insufferable ego.He manages to rubbish virtually everyone who ever came in contact with him.
I attended the Eve of Final rally organised by the Referees Society on many occasions up to the late nineties.It is an occasion to honour the Cup Final officials.When they enter the hall everybody stands and applauds them to the dias.For him to call the attendees geeks is to show how out of touch he is with his refereeing colleagues.
On googling his name I came across press articles alleging an extra marital affair in 2017.Well he didn't mention that.
Rarely have I read a book that made me so thoroughly sick to my stomach. I am truly glad I have finished with this book and the wretched man.
Finally how can you swear at players and gain any respect.
I am passing this book on to a former Premier League referee,not of the same era,and will be interested in his comments.
He comes across as arrogant, self centered and with an insufferable ego.He manages to rubbish virtually everyone who ever came in contact with him.
I attended the Eve of Final rally organised by the Referees Society on many occasions up to the late nineties.It is an occasion to honour the Cup Final officials.When they enter the hall everybody stands and applauds them to the dias.For him to call the attendees geeks is to show how out of touch he is with his refereeing colleagues.
On googling his name I came across press articles alleging an extra marital affair in 2017.Well he didn't mention that.
Rarely have I read a book that made me so thoroughly sick to my stomach. I am truly glad I have finished with this book and the wretched man.
Finally how can you swear at players and gain any respect.
I am passing this book on to a former Premier League referee,not of the same era,and will be interested in his comments.
May 23, 2022
I went into this book not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoy autobiographies and Mark Clattenburg's 'Whistle Blower' scratches that itch.
The book provides an insight into the world of refereeing both in the United Kingdom and beyond. Mark discusses battles he faced throughout life and provides a window into the world of football officiating, from how he is treated by his superiors to his opinions on other referees, every chapter provides a delightful tidbit of information thus far unknown about the elusive Geordie.
I recommend any football fan to seriously consider the book. I purchased it on a whim and was not disappointed at all, and read the whole thing in a few days.
The book provides an insight into the world of refereeing both in the United Kingdom and beyond. Mark discusses battles he faced throughout life and provides a window into the world of football officiating, from how he is treated by his superiors to his opinions on other referees, every chapter provides a delightful tidbit of information thus far unknown about the elusive Geordie.
I recommend any football fan to seriously consider the book. I purchased it on a whim and was not disappointed at all, and read the whole thing in a few days.
December 29, 2022
Referees as a group and individually are much maligned....often unfairly. Their shame is that you would think that at minimum they would have each other's backs. But no...the biggest take-away from this book is that as a group they are very much into politics, infighting and petty feuds....and Mark regards at least half of them as odd. It's straight out of the playground...bullies, gangs, sleights and infantile reporting on each others often petty misdemeanors!! Mark is not at all innocent in this respect, regardless of his pride in being 'different'. An interesting look behind the scenes. I would like to have had more of an insight though into the art of refereeing, the training and what makes a top 'man in the middle'.
January 10, 2022
A good insight into the man you think you know, but turns out you don't.
A really honest look into an area of football we take for granted and I was compelled to keep reading.
For someone I've seen weekly at games and on TV but not really known much about, I found Mark's thoughts on the structure of refereeing in England insightful and gripping.
It's safe to say it's not an easy ride being an elite level referee and this books gives a good idea of the litigation surrounding the profession.
Also very engaging to hear Mark's viewpoints on certain points of his career where he wasn't able to air his views publicly given his role!
A really honest look into an area of football we take for granted and I was compelled to keep reading.
For someone I've seen weekly at games and on TV but not really known much about, I found Mark's thoughts on the structure of refereeing in England insightful and gripping.
It's safe to say it's not an easy ride being an elite level referee and this books gives a good idea of the litigation surrounding the profession.
Also very engaging to hear Mark's viewpoints on certain points of his career where he wasn't able to air his views publicly given his role!
September 23, 2022
Finally a referee talked! It's often frustrating how you always hear one side of the story and only get the "politically correct" version from the match officials if even that. This is an easy and very enjoyable book to read of the struggles of a top flight referee. It gives a glimpse into the routines, rules and struggles that are part of the life of match officials. The bad guys range from players, clubs, governing bodies and fellow referees. I hope this encourages others to also share their own experiences.
December 24, 2022
A revealing and fascinating insight into the personal character, emotional balance, life-story and mindset of an EPL referee. Sadly the topic of the mechanics of match operations, ref training and post match critiques and assessments was not addressed in the kind of detail I was hoping for but this is a great and very honest disclosure type of read that I think many fans would really enjoy.
May 12, 2023
I have really enjoyed this book. Being a football fan, it's good to hear the experiences and behind the scenes stuff of a top referee. Mark does not hold back giving his opinion about people and organisations. He tells it as it was. If you like sports autobiographies, I'd recommend this one.
June 3, 2023
Interesting read but he still comes across as a know it all.
August 18, 2023
As a football fan I found this a very interesting read
September 1, 2025
As a referee myself I found it a brilliant insight into the game at the professional level
January 12, 2023
A really good insight to the life of a referee. I particularly enjoyed Marks insight into how he made decisions in games based on various factors and I appreciated how he was willing to stick the boot in and name names of players, managers and other refs he didn't get on with. He has had an interesting life as a ref and I would recommend this book to any football fan.
February 18, 2022
The author (Craig Hope) cannot use semi-colons, and dangles commas all over the place. He also ups the word count by repeating information at the top of some chapters. Mark himself, though candid and something funny, spends too much time settling scores. More lessons for younger referees other than 'be yourself' would have been welcome. A curate's egg of a book...but better than Graham Poll's.
September 14, 2022
Απρόσμενα ενδιαφέρον! Θα επανέλθω εν καιρώ...
June 4, 2023
Good read . Made a change to hear from a ref . Particularly liked the Battle of the Bridge story
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews