New Show for Manchester United Fans
Wayne Rooney, a former Manchester United captain and the club’s all-time record goalscorer, is set to co-host a new show dedicated to the club this season. The programme, titled Stick to United with Wayne Rooney, will feature Rooney alongside influencer Mark Goldbridge. This new venture is part of a broader distribution agreement with Disney+, which will serve as the headline sponsor for the show.
The show aims to provide fans with analysis of Manchester United‘s latest results and performances. It will offer expert insight, opinions, and in-depth discussions on significant topics surrounding the club. Stick to United with Wayne Rooney is scheduled to debut weekly from Tuesday 18 August in the UK and Ireland.
Mark Goldbridge, whose real name is Brent di Cesare, has a substantial online presence with over 3.8 million followers across his two YouTube channels. His videos often gain viral attention due to his reactions and football opinions. Goldbridge expressed his excitement about working with Wayne Rooney, calling it a “historic milestone for fan-led media” and a significant step forward for The United Stand community.
The Overlap’s Expanding Reach
The new show is an extension of Gary Neville‘s The Overlap network. Neville, a former England defender and co-chair of The Overlap, acquired Goldbridge’s YouTube channels earlier this year. This acquisition brought Goldbridge’s The United Stand and That’s Football into The Overlap network. Neville founded The Overlap in 2021, and it has since expanded to cover other sports, including cricket and rugby.
Wayne Rooney is already a regular pundit on The Overlap‘s existing show, Stick to Football. This programme is hosted by Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane, and features various guests discussing football-related matters. Disney+ has secured a one-year exclusive agreement to be the headline sponsor for both Stick to Football and the new Stick to United with Wayne Rooney, covering the upcoming 2026/2027 football season.
The agreement includes 50 episodes of Stick to United with Wayne Rooney and 40 new episodes of Stick to Football. Some episodes of both shows will be exclusive to Disney+ for a limited period, with 20 episodes of Stick to Football and extended content from Stick to United with Wayne Rooney being exclusive to the streaming service. Additionally, Disney+ has commissioned an extra 6 exclusive episodes of Stick to Football from the UK.
Gary Neville commented on the partnership, stating that it “expands our reach without compromising our identity.” He highlighted that the community will continue to access content through YouTube, while Disney+‘s global audience will also be able to discover the shows. This collaboration is seen as an opportunity to introduce the shows to millions of new viewers worldwide.
Broader Streaming Landscape
The deal with Disney+ underscores a growing trend of streaming services engaging with sports content, particularly podcasts led by former players. Sean Doyle, VP, Unscripted, Disney+ EMEA, noted that this move broadens their local original content offering and expands into new sports formats, complementing their existing catalogue of entertainment and ESPN content.
The Overlap is part of Global Studios, a digital powerhouse for video-first podcasts from Global, a media and entertainment group. Global acquired a majority stake in The Overlap in January. Wayne Rooney also mentioned that his family show, The Real Rooneys, featuring him, Coleen, and their 4 boys, will premiere soon on Disney+.
The Stick to Football episodes will continue to be available on Disney+, other podcast platforms, and The Overlap‘s YouTube channel. Similarly, Stick to United with Wayne Rooney will be accessible on Disney+, other platforms, and The Overlap‘s The United Stand YouTube channel. The Stick to Football show will stream weekly from Thursday 20 August.
Source: bbc.co.uk