FOOTBALL icon David Beckham embarks on a humanitarian mission, as an ambassador with Unicef, to take the sport to the farthest reaches of the planet. Beckham’s adventure leads him to play seven games in all seven continents, revealing the global appeal of football by joining local communities from all walks of life in some of the most extreme locations. Starting with a beach foot-volleyball game in Rio de Janeiro, they head deep into the Amazon, to post-earthquake Nepal and a refugee camp in Djibouti, apart from a rooftop in Miami (with a university girls’ soccer team), and a makeshift snow pitch in Antarctica, before winding up with the remote Yanonami tribe.
As For the Love of The Game, the documentary based on this epic journey, is set to be aired on television this week, we got Beckham to chat about his love for kids, and playing father figure.
You met a lot of underprivileged kids for this film. Did that give you a new perspective on parenting?
David Beckham It did. I’ve been involved with UNICEF for many years. What trips like this do is make you realise how fortunate you are. It makes me go home and tell my children how lucky they are to have fresh drinking water, food on the table and a roof over their heads. I always get asked why I do these trips — I do it because I feel I can help in some way, to give children around the world a better life.
Do your children believe you?
DB Yes, without a doubt. Even Harper, who is 4 years old, understands why daddy goes on these trips, and the money we raise. My 16-year-old is desperate to come on one of these projects, but obviously, they’re at school. At some point they will be coming with me.
Were you easily recognised by people on the trip?
DB It’s kind of amazing when I go to the most remote places and they know who I am. Or even if they don’t know my face, they know the name, which is incredible. It’s nice to be welcomed in certain places. When we arrived in Papua New Guinea, the welcome we had was very traditional. I’m honoured that people know who I am.
Do you ever think the fame is hard?
DB Not at all. I would never sit here and complain about the fame. There are certain moments where you want to be left alone, like when I’m out with my children. I know how fortunate I am to be in the position I am, so I would never complain.
You travel a lot with UNICEF. And you also have many other businesses and brands, while your wife is a fashion designer. How do you juggle all of this when you’re on the go?
DB It’s difficult. Finding time for each other is always hard, but our priority is our children. When I’m away working then Victoria’s home with the children, and when she’s away working, I’m at home — that’s something we make sure happens. I think it’s important to have a presence.
One of the things that people say to me is, ‘What’s the most important thing about parenthood and having children?’ Being present. Being with your children and doing the simple things, as in the future, that’s what they remember. So, I take my children to school every morning, I pick them up every afternoon and take them to football, to ballet, and tap (dance). These things are important to children, and when you’re present, that’s the most important thing. I’m not going to lie, it’s difficult to divide time — whatever situation you are in, you have to make time for each other. And we do that as
husband and wife, but it’s never easy, because we work hard, and we have a million children!
Is that what you remember from your childhood?
DB Yes, my parents were always there, I was very lucky. I have the support of my mum and dad, and even though I’m 40 years old, my parents still turn up to see my children play. Not every child is lucky to have that. And not every adult is lucky to have the time to take their children to school — I’m lucky I can do that every morning.
Have you ever said ‘no’ to Harper?
DB Once. In four years. And I said to myself, never again, because of her face of disappointment! Victoria goes mad that all she [Harper] has to do is smile, and my legs disappear. She’s constantly breaking my heart with the way she looks at or talks to me. All the children have this hold over me that no one else does. I rarely say no to any of them, but we have to be strict as parents from time to time.
It was bittersweet at Old Trafford – the terror attacks in Paris took place just before your farewell game.
DB I was in my room in Manchester and the breaking news came on television. Everyone’s focus was on safety. There was a chance that the game was going to be cancelled, and there’s a part of the film where I turn around and say that this game has to continue no matter what — because I felt that the power of football is so big that we can’t allow situations like these events, within reason, to stop the unity of the world.
The minute’s silence before the game was incredible, to be in the stadium to witness the solidarity of the people. The coming together of 75,000 fans in support of everyone in Paris, it was an incredible moment before the game.
For the Love of the Game airs on Sony BBC Earth on May 28, 9 pm.