Today marks 50 years since David Beckham was born – but it was 1996 when football gave birth to the legend that we know today.
It was the opening day of the 1996/97 season and ex-Wimbeldon defender Chris Perry was right there.
Yet still, he managed to miss one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history – as Becks officially became a superstar.
Man United took the lead at Selhurst Park thanks to Eric Cantona and doubled it in the second half as Denis Irwin scored, but the match highlight was yet to come.
In the 90th minute, the away fans erupted after Beckham sailed the ball into the net over a helpless Neil Sullivan – from inside his own half.
In celebration, Beckham held his arms high and wide as his teammates rushed to him, in a moment which will forever mark the birth of a legend.
“My memories from that day are literally that goal. It was an incredible goal,” Perry told talkSPORT.
“At the time of the actual goal, I saw he had the ball and he hit it from just inside his own half. I just turned away thinking, ‘well this is the goalkeeper’s ball’.
“The goalkeeper’s just going to catch this and it’s done. I literally turned away and I hear the big roar from the Man United fans on my right hand side. I’m thinking, ‘wow what’s happened there?’”
Sir Alex Ferguson was also shocked, admitting it was the first time he ever saw a player score from inside their own half.
“First day of the season, you have to say it will be the goal of the season,” he said.
“It will need to be something wonderful to beat that because I’ve never seen it done before.”
It would be the first of many Beckham strikes, crosses, free-kicks and magical moments delivered by that right foot.
Continuing his story, Perry said: “It wasn’t until I saw it on Match of the Day that I actually saw exactly what happened.
“What a good strike it was and what vision it was and how difficult it was for Neil Sullivan to get to. I just thought, ‘wow what’s he doing? The goalkeeper’s just going to save this.’
“Unbelievable. A right foot… if you wanted God to give you a right foot, he had it. He could do everything with that right foot.
“Incredible technique. He could pick out a pass from any distance.”
When asked if he knew Beckham would become a superstar after that goal, Perry said: “I think once you score that sort of goal… I’d heard a little bit about him.
“He’d been unknown at Preston and he’d only just broken into the United team then.
“To go and do that, you announce yourself and then you watch him as he carries on his career.
“He scores free-kicks and creates goals from corners and crosses. He had a fantastic career and he fully deserved that.”
It was that godly right foot – and charismatic personality – that helped turn Beckham into one of football’s biggest ever superstars.
Under Ferguson, he won six Premier League titles and a Champions League before his departure to Real Madrid aged 27.
At 31, the former England captain became the first big name to join an MLS team after a shock transfer to LA Galaxy.
David Beckham trophy cabinet
Manchester United
Premier League x6
FA Cup x2
UEFA Champions League x1
Real Madrid
La Liga x1
LA Galaxy
MLS Cup x 2
MLS Supporters’ Shield x2
Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1 x1
Besides his roaring success on the pitch, Beckham’s style and good-looks saw him transcend football as a celebrity, and he remains a truly global figure to this day.
Most of his time is now spent overseeing his MLS franchise Inter Miami – who boast Lionel Messi among their ranks.
And almost 30 years on from the moment that announced him as an icon, he still has one of the most recognisable smiles in all of sport.
