David Beckham has exclusively told whufc.com that he is relishing the prospect of taking on West Ham United in the MLS All-Star Game on Thursday.
The England midfielder has a good record against the club dating back to his time with Manchester United. Perhaps chief among those old memories is his last appearance at the Boleyn Ground. On 16 March 2003, Beckham scored the first and last goals as the Reds turned on the style in a rousing contest to win 5-3. He cannot wait to again take on the team that were just a stone's throw from his boyhood home of Leytonstone as he started out as a young footballer in London.
"I am looking forward to it," Beckham said on the eve of a highly-anticipated encounter. "I always liked playing against West Ham, especially being an East End boy as well. I played against them few times with Manchester United. I always especially liked playing at Upton Park, because it is a place obviously near my house and near where I come from. Also, I usually score against West Ham at Upton Park which is always nice!"
Beckham left the Premier League back in summer 2003 to join Real Madrid before last year's switch to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Unsurprisingly he is one of Major League Soccer's shining lights and will be a star turn at the BMO Field in Toronto. He will come up against fellow internationals like Robert Green, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton and is excited by the challenge. "It is great to be involved in this game and it is always nice to play against good players and a good team."