Just people doing their jobs

I'll freely admit that I would consider going to the pub to watch a football game a great way to ruin an evening. I have even been known to grumble when it's my turn to stand on the chilly sidelines and watch either of my sons play 'the beautiful game.' Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the four-part Netflix series Beckham, which premiered at the start of October this year. I also found it wonderfully validating that even when her husband has achieved the dizzy heights of proficiency in the sport that he clearly has, that Victoria is still not able to summon any enthusiasm for the matches or the rules – it's good to be part of your club, Mrs Beckham! 

If you're old enough to be able to remember the 90s, then watching the series might well be a trip down memory lane for the hairstyles you coveted, or the outstanding collection of jumpers from the man himself, all of which my husband is now coveting. It also takes us through David Beckham's various career jumps and how what he's done paved the way for celebrities to become their own brand, making vast sums of money outside of their 'day job.'

Prior to the series release there was much in the press, even an article featuring me, inspired by David's reported 'OCD'.  I was intrigued to learn more about his presentation and how it played out on screen. It was therefore pretty surprising for his fastidious nature to only get approximately 60 seconds airtime. To me at least, he seemed to be someone that just 'likes stuff clean' and enjoys a bit of peace and quiet rather than indicating any apparent clinical diagnosis.

That said, it was evident throughout the episodes that Beckham's level of dedication to his sport, and the patience and perseverance for showing up and engaging in repetition on a loop, was something quite special even from when he was a child. The Sport and Exercise Psychologists among you might well find the series useful not only from a coaching and mindset perspective, but from a 'pushy parenting' perspective too.

Perhaps the most psychologically relevant content crops up in the aftermath of the June 1998 World Cup. At this time, I was 17 and I watched it unfold live from the 14" Matsui TV in my bedroom. It was difficult to imagine how one tiny movement from a right heel led to such a public outcry and vilification of one man. I still recall my shock at seeing that The Daily Mirror had printed a dartboard with his face at the centre. There are also angles around the psychology of leadership too, with the documentary laying out how Beckham's England manager Glenn Hoddle reacted quite differently to his club boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

I would hope that the last few decades have enabled us to become kinder when managing our own disappointment, but I did also reflect on the racist hatred and criticism shown towards players missing penalties in the final of 'Euro 2020'. We must bear in mind that even though celebrities and players may have played a key part of the fabric of our lives, and we may feel we have some ownership over them – we don't. They are just people doing their jobs, with their own families, lives and priorities.        

- Reviewed by Dr Marianne Trent, Chartered Clinical Psychologist at Good Thinking Psychological Services, and Host of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. Twitter: @DrMarianneTrent