Ted Beckham was happy, naturally, when he found out that he was about to become a grandfather. However, the first thing he said to his son, David, was: “Oh, blimey. You couldn't have picked a worst time, could ya?”
The timing was indeed unfortunate. It was 1998 and David was one of the most hated men in England, having been sent off against Argentina in the World Cup match that saw the Three Lions eliminated. His mistake led to a tabloid-fuelled hatchet job―one printed a dartboard with his face on the bulls-eye―and months of abuse from football fans and even threats. He received bullets in the mail and was hanged in effigy.
In the new Netflix documentary Beckham, directed by Fisher Stevens, the family has opened up about the ordeal. “I don't think I've ever talked about it,” says David. “Just because I can't... it was so extreme.” Former Spice Girl Victoria, David's wife, says the hate left David “clinically depressed”. It pained me so much, she says, and adds: “I still... want to kill these people.”
While Victoria is frank and forthcoming, the anecdotes from Ted and Sandra, David's mother, add great value. His extended family at Manchester United has a prominent part. Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson walks in, his aura undiminished by age, and, typically, albeit in jest, immediately demands more―Stevens put two cameras on him; he expected three.
Sir Alex's unfavourable attitude towards Victoria is explored in depth―though he preferred his players being in steady relationships, like David and Victoria were, he felt the singer's stature would bring the entertainment industry's spotlight on the footballer and affect his game. There were also the more obvious clashes―flamboyant hairstyles were not entertained and players were only allowed to wear black boots (one landed on David's face after a defeat in early 2003). David's teammates and fellow United legends Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provide interesting insights.
Galacticos Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo talk about David's time at Real Madrid. This helps to establish how much he was valued by his teammates in Spain, despite not quite hitting the level of consistency he had at United. His will to deliver for Real is also highlighted. Indeed, the documentary does an excellent job of showcasing David's fortitude and hardworking nature.
Beckham has a lot to offer to those who are not interested in football, too. There are interesting nuggets―about his style and celebrity, the sarong he wore in 1998 and David and Victoria's decision to wear purple for their wedding (“What were we thinking,” says David). The approach to an alleged affair is refreshing―the focus is on how the marriage survived rather than whether David cheated.
There is over-dramatisation, but this is now expected in a Netflix sports documentary. The only major issue with Beckham is that David's controversial and highly paid gig as a face of Qatar has been completely ignored.
However, this was perhaps an acceptable compromise considering the access Stevens got. And how he made use of that access―the tone he opted for and other choices― has contributed immensely to making the four-hour plus limited series an engaging watch.