THE EARLY YEARS
David Robert Joseph Beckham was born in Leytonstone, East London on 2 May 1975.
His parents Sandra and Ted were keen football fans and ardent Manchester United supporters, so it was no surprise when David quickly became hooked on both the game and the club.
David's footballing ability was soon clear for all to see. By the age of eight, he had scored more than 100 goals for his childhood team, Ridgeway Rovers.
Three years later, he made his Old Trafford debut - as a mascot for Manchester United in a league game against West Ham!
At the age of 12, David attended the Bobby Charlton Soccer School, where he won an award. Part of the prize was the opportunity to train with Barcelona, who would attempt to sign him 15 years later.
It was not long before a number of English league clubs started taking notice of David. He had trials with his local side, Leyton Orient, and attended Tottenham Hotspur's school of excellence.
However, there was only one team that David was going to end up joining and, in 1989, he signed schoolboy forms with Manchester United.
Moving to a club more than 200 miles from the family home was a huge commitment - but later events would prove it to be a very wise one indeed.
