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David Beckham has made an emotional return to mentor players at a struggling club in his East London youth league as part of a new four-part documentary.
In the ‘Save our Squad’ series, Disney cameras follow former Manchester United and England legend Beckham as he visits Westward Boys, who were formerly coached by his father Ted.
The team is in the same league he played in as a boy – Ridgeway Rovers – battling relegation.
In the series, Beckham, 47, accompanies the club’s players and also takes them on a tour of Wembley Stadium.
“For me it started when I was seven years old, playing in the park and wanting to play for a Sunday League team,” says Beckham, the third most capped English player of all time with 115.
“My father helped me find an article in the newspaper that said they were starting a team. We were quite successful in the end and ended up winning the competition a number of times.
David Beckham returns to his boys’ club Westward Boys in a new documentary series
The Manchester United and England legend is seen as mentoring his struggling former club in the four-part series
Beckham also takes the club’s players on a trip to London’s Wembley Stadium
The team he visits in the film was formerly coached by Beckham’s father Ted (left)
“Obviously the guys saw me as David Beckham, the Manchester United player, the England player, the Real Madrid player and all the other teams I had played for.
“But once I sat with them and had a conversation and said, ‘This is how I started, I started in this league, I started as a player in the Sunday league and these are the problems I’ve been dealing with’ , we had a direct connection.
“There are so many moments in this series that for me were incredible moments to watch, and proud moments.”
Beckham says in the heartwarming documentary, which airs November 9 on Disney+, that it’s about more than achieving success on the field with the young team.
“I went here hoping that they would be successful on the field, but even more successful off the field.
In the heartwarming film, Beckham says he hopes to guide players to success on and off the pitch
Beckham, who won 115 caps for England, said the film helped young players see him as more than a football legend
“What we’re trying to create with the guys isn’t just about football and what they do on the pitch, it’s about what they do off the pitch and if they’re good people and how they’re in their family.
“There are so many moments in this series that for me were incredible moments to watch, and proud moments.
“But I think the most important thing for me is to see the guys’ personalities change. See how they want to learn and how they want to listen.
‘Day one they didn’t really want to listen too much, but on day 10 it was very different.
“The boys just loved playing football and it was clear they needed a little help, a little teaching and I hope I gave them that.”
One of the highlights of the four-part program is Beckham taking the players on a tour of Wembley, including stepping into the famous field where he won many of his 115 England caps.
“They were really excited to be on the pitch, but then I took them into the locker room and all their shirts were hung where the players’ shirts would normally be hung and their reaction… I mean you didn’t have a script can make it better,” says Beckham.
“Their response was priceless. They walked into that locker room and it was pure excitement and that’s exactly what we wanted.’
Beckham enjoyed successful stints for Man United, Real Madrid, PSG, LA Galaxy and AC Milan during his stellar career.
The English legend had celebrity status throughout his time on the pitch and remains one of the most famous footballers of all time.
After more than 520 appearances and winning numerous trophies, including the 1999 treble with United, Beckham became a co-owner of Salford City alongside his former ‘Class of 92’ teammates Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.
He is also the president and co-owner of MLS side Inter Miami, which was founded in 2018 and debuted in the league two years later.
Beckham is currently co-owner and president of MLS side Inter Miami, which was founded in 2018