On the Edge cover art

On the Edge

The Autobiography

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On the Edge

By: Martin Keown
Narrated by: Martin Keown
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin

Over three revolutionary decades, Martin Keown played football at the highest level. He witnessed the birth of the Premier League, the arrival of the millionaire player and was a key player in one of the best sides of all time – Wenger’s Arsenal. So why has he always felt like a man battling on the edge?

In this autobiography, Keown recounts how a son of working-class Irish parents, raised in a hostile England during the unrest of the 1970s, rose to be an automatic and enduring pick for club and country; the outsider who stayed the distance while so many insiders fell away.

Over his career, Keown played alongside some of the world’s finest footballers – including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, David Beckham – and under inspirational managers – Arsène Wenger, Kevin Keegan, Sven-Göram Eriksson, Howard Kendall. He was the backbone for many years of the invincible Arsenal team that went on to win the 2003/4 Premier League title without losing a match.

Known as “The Rash” by friend and foe alike for the intensity of his man-marking, Keown always played as if he had more to prove. But his teammates knew he was fast, skilful, tough and loyal, a leader on and off the pitch. Fearless too, as you’ll discover – he doesn’t pull any punches here.

On The Edge is the story of one of Arsenal’s all-time greats – a man whose commitment put him at the centre of the pitch, a place he dominated like almost no other footballer of his generation.

©2024 Martin Keown (P)2024 Penguin Audio
Football (Soccer) Sports Inspiring Thought-Provoking Biography England

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All stars
Most relevant  
I really enjoyed Martins book and would highly recommend it to anyone wants to know more about him or have an interest in football and autobiographies

Great Book - Better then Black and Tan “Simon Jordan’s book”

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I decided to give this a ‘go’ as there wasn’t really anything else that tickled my fancy when looking to use my monthly credit.
First things first. My main ‘go to’ audiobooks are sporting biographies & I will always look to see if the individual narrates their own book. If they don’t then I don’t bother with it. If they can’t be arsed to narrate their own life & sporting journey then I can’t be arsed to listen to it. That’s why I give those that do massive kudos if they narrate their own audiobook, so well done Martin you were excellent.
Martin played for my club (Villa) between 1986-89 & he always looked like he gave 110% when he played for us & my admiration for his efforts at my club have increased even more after the revelation’s in this book.
The details of his personal & sporting life journey flow nicely through the chapters & keeps you hooked all the way through.
The inserted audio interviews with Tony Adams & Arsene Wenger were a good idea but the execution could’ve & should’ve been better I’m afraid (note: use better audio recording equipment & don’t don’t record with young kids around you kicking up an almighty racket!).
However, the discussions were interesting & insightful so don’t be put off by that slight criticism.
All in all, you don’t have to be an Arsenal fan to enjoy this book, it’s one of the best sporting biographies I’ve listened to & I’ve listened to a few!
Well done Martin.

Surprisingly Very Good!

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Again an excellent and honest insight into a top sportsman’s career. But again the putting on of accents is cringe. I’m new to audio books so maybe they all do it. I don’t think it’s needed.

Excellent audio book

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I found Keown’s story really fascinating. I’m a huge football fan with a season ticket at Villa in the early 90’s at the time of the formation of the Premier League. I also like listening to Keown on TalkSPORT, although he comes across as pretty spikey and lacking a sense of humour. The book covered lots of known events and also lots of unknown things. There were only two things I didn’t like - the two interviews clumsily inserted into the middle of chapters- one with Tony Adam’s that sounds like he’s propped his phone up to record while small children are playing with building bricks nearby - the sound quality is awful. The other is with Wenger and it’s a bit cringey while he sucks up asks Arsene about things already covered in the book while calling him ‘boss’. I skipped both of these after listening to about 6 or 7 minutes. In my opinion they added nothing.

In all though it was a great listen and I really enjoyed it.

Really Interesting (but a little self indulgent)

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So interesting and so much I thought I knew but didn’t. This was more worthwhile just to listen to Martin narrate the story. The written word could carry the transcripts of some of his interviews but not the flavour. I hope to see him sometime and tell him how 11 hours of listening passed by in no time.

One of my Arsenal heroes. A great story.

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Superb book, loved that Martin challenged Wenger at the end. INSIGHTFUL. If you read this Martin, I can confirm that the Stretford end all stood till the end in 2002 and gave a standing ovation as you left the field in front of us. I can say that as I couldn't get a ticket in the Arsenal section, so I blagged one in that end, so I was there!

Great book

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Very interesting book that gives you an insight into Martin’s view and experiences of the game. Also, an idea of the injuries and challenges he has faced. At times emotional and sad and at times funny.

Get to know and understand a proper Arsenal man!

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An honest and enjoyable run through Martin's life and career. He's not the best reader, but had it been read by anyone else it wouldn't have been as good. Fascinating insights and great interviews especially with Tony Adams and Mr Wenger.

Oh, Martin! Never think Arsenal is not your club. I think we need more conversation with the old boys!

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Brilliant book, beautifully written and read. I really enjoyed this book, really open and honest. Highly recommended.

Martin Keown - On The Edge

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Hey Martin, I have grown up during similar times to yourself and so the story was also similar to my younger years. Obviously the footballing story was very interesting especially as a Villa fan being able to get the real story on why you left. I listen to you on talkSPORT with Simon Jordan, however you came across better in your book.
Regards, Rowan

Excellent listen

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