Save Our Squad with David Beckham is delighting football fans around the world when it arrives on Disney+! Far from just being just an international footballer — soccer of course for those fans in America — David Beckham is also known worldwide as a fashion icon, model, family man and generally nice chap. Now the former England captain, who came from a working class background in London's East End, is giving back to the grassroots football that helped make him a star in a new four-part documentary series where he coaches Westward Boys, a team from his old stomping ground in East London.
So here's our guide to everything you need about David Beckham’s new series Save Our Squad on Disney+Plus…
Save Our Squad with David Beckham release date on Disney+
Save Our Squad with David Beckham launched worldwide on Disney Plus from Wednesday November 9 2022. It's a four-part docuseries.
Is there a Save Our Squad with David Beckham trailer?
Yes a full trailer for Save Our Squad has arrived from Disney Plus as well as the previous teaser trailer released via Instagram. The sneak peek shows David Beckham mentoring the young squad and giving advice and encouragement on the perfect free kick, so the team themselves can ‘bend it like Beckham’. Take a look at David coaching the youngsters below in both the official trailer and teaser below....
What happens in Save Our Squad? David Beckham on heading back to East London...
David Beckham may now enjoy a glamorous life, flitting between the UK and Los Angeles, but for Save Our Squad he’ll be going back to where it all started for him — East London. David's returning to the grass football pitches where he played as a child to mentor a young side that are struggling to survive in the league. Beckham and his team of professionals will coach the players and their manager on their game and involve the whole community in the future of the club.
David is mentoring Westward Boys, a young, grassroots team who are at the bottom of their league, facing relegation. However, this isn’t just any league… it's the same league David played in as a young boy from Leytonstone. Working with the head coaches, he’ll try to turn the fortunes of Westward Boys around.
“It’s fantastic to be able to shine a light on the kind of grassroots football that I experienced growing up and which gave me so much at the start of my life in the game,” says David Beckham. ”I was so fortunate to have a long and successful playing career and now to have the opportunity to give back to these communities as a mentor is incredible. Developing and nurturing young talent is so important in the game.”
Interview: David Beckham reveals more about the team he helps in Save Our Squad
What has it been like being a part of this project?
David says: "It has been so rewarding, and I’ve really enjoyed being around the boys, parents and coaches. It takes me back to my youth, when I used to play in the same league, and where it all began for me."
What’s your history with the league the boys play in?
David says: "It started when I was seven, playing football in the park, and wanting to play for a Sunday league team. I joined Ridgeway Rovers in the Echo league, and we ended up being pretty successful and winning the title a few times."
How challenging was it dealing with a group of boisterous youngsters?
David says: "Sometimes they didn’t want to listen and were messing around, but their focus changed quickly."
Is there a moment you’re most proud of, in terms of how the boys progressed?
David says: "That’s like asking me if I have a favourite child! It’s a difficult question to answer. The biggest thing was seeing the boys’ personalities change, and how much they wanted to learn. They just needed a little bit of help and tuition, and I hope I gave that to them."
Do you have a highlight from making the series?
David says: "One standout moment is when I took the boys on a tour of Wembley Stadium. When we went into the changing room, all of their football shirts were hung up where the England players’ shirts would normally be, and the reaction was priceless – mayhem and pure excitement."
How much is this show about you giving something back?
David says: "I’ve always wanted to give back to grassroots football, because it has given so much to me. I know how important it is for kids, not just as an avenue into professional football, but also for bringing the community together."
Who was your inspiration when you were that age?
David says: "My dad. I wanted to play well for him, and for my mum as well. My mum was the one who was driving me to training and games when my dad was working. So my inspiration was my dad, mum, and also [Manchester United legend] Bryan Robson."
Has your appreciation of the sacrifices they made increased since you became a dad?
David says: "As a parent, I realise how much my parents gave up for me every Tuesday or Thursday when I went training, and every Saturday or Sunday when we had games. The parents of the boys in the series do exactly the same things."
What do you think you’ve learnt from the Westward boys?
David says: "As a father, you have an idea of what kids face, and I’ve seen and learnt that again through this series. When they talk about some of the things they have had to go through, it’s heartbreaking."
And what do you hope the boys learned from the experience?
David says: "What we’re trying to create with the boys is not just about football, it’s about what they do off the pitch – whether they are good human beings, and what they’re like around their family. I want them to believe in themselves, their team, and their coaches."
Is this a series that your family will enjoy too?
David says: "I’ve talked about this series to Victoria and my children, and I know it’s going to be something that, after dinner of an evening, we’re going to sit down and watch together."
What do you hope viewers take away from the series?
David says: "I hope they are inspired, laugh, cry and smile. There’s so much passion there. It’s emotional and uplifting."
Who’s behind the series Save Our Squad with David Beckham?
David Beckham’s own production company Studio 99 is co-producing the series alongside BAFTA award winning company Twenty Twenty. Sean Doyle, who is executive producer for Disney on the series, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity to show the importance and impact of grassroots football in communities in the UK. The series will be exciting, dramatic, uplifting and full of heart and courage — everything David had in his own playing days!”
Save Our Squad — a brief history of David Beckham’s footballing career
Chingford-born David Beckham was just a young kid when he headed up to Manchester and came up through the ranks of the academy at Manchester United. He graduated to the first team at 17 as one of the famous "Class of ‘92" alongside Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Beckham played for Manchester United for 11 seasons where he won six Premier League titles, the Champions League and two FA cups. He then moved to Real Madrid in 2003 before signing for LA Galaxy in the US in 2007. He had a loan spell at AC Milan in 2009 before leaving the US and signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
Through his career, David Beckham played for England 115 times, including three World Cups, and captained his country between 2000 and 2006. He retired in 2013 and is now part of an ownership group planning to build a club called Inter Miami from the roots up in Florida.
Save Our Squad — more about David Beckham and his family
David married Spice Girl singer Victoria Adams, known as Posh Spice, in a castle near Dublin, Ireland in 1999. The pair have four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper. Together they've built up a global brand, known as "Brand Beckham", with David raking in endorsements from companies such as Adidas, Pepsi and H&M. Victoria has put her pop career on hold to concentrate on being a fashion designer.
