Beckham grateful to parents in new documentary

David Beckham has opened up about coming to grips with understanding the sacrifices his parents made for him growing up.

The former footballer, 47, began his journey to sporting stardom by playing in a grassroots team in East London, coached by his dad.

He says it’s only now he has become a parent himself that he realises how much his mum and dad, Ted and Sandra, gave up for him.

Speaking on his Disney+ documentary Save Our Squad, David said: ‘My dad was my inspiration, I wanted to win for him.

‘I wanted to play well for him and my mum as well, of course. My mum was the one that was driving me to training, to games, when my dad was working.’

‘I, as a parent now, realise how much my parents gave up for me’.

He has four children with wife Victoria, sons Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 17, and 11-year-old daughter Harper.

The documentary sees David return to east London pitches where he played as a child and mentor the Westward Boys as they struggle to survive in the Echo League, where David started his own footballing career.

He revealed his delight at seeing they had they same supportive family backgrounds that he did.

He said: ‘Every time I sat down with every one of these boys, when I asked: “What do you love most?” most of them – apart from one who said “pizza” – said their mums and dads.

‘And even the little boy who said “pizza” said his mum and dad after. It’s about their families and that is what is heart-warming about this series. The boys are playing football, but they’re playing football for their families.”

David added: ‘These parents do exactly the same things. They all work, they’ve all got busy lives but they all turn up for their sons and all bring their siblings.