The Beckham trail

The Beckham Trail has not been authorised, endorsed or licensed by David Beckham or any of his representatives. The Beckham Trail was initiated by the London Borough of Waltham Forest independent of David Beckham and his representatives.

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Below are directions for the Beckham Trail.

David Beckham was born and grew up in Waltham Forest and is one of the greatest sportsman of this generation.

The Beckham trail has been created to offer people the chance to trace his childhood steps, detailing the landmarks that moulded the early years of his life in Waltham Forest.

Let's start the trail.

David Beckham was born in the east end of London on 2 May 1975 at Whipps Cross Hospital, E11 1NR (1) and grew up as a young boy in nearby Norman Road Leytonstone, E10.

From the hospital, move west around the North Circular (A406), turning north off the Crooked Billet roundabout towards Chingford, then take the fifth exit sign-posted Highams Park along Wadham Road. Here you will come to the Peter May Sports Centre (2) [E17 4HR].

The centre, now home to the Ridgeway Rovers, is where Beckham played for the the under 10 football side and started off his stardom, scoring more than 100 goals in three seasons.

Go back to Chingford Road and go north where you will soon pass Walthamstow Stadium (3) [E4 8SJ], this is where David worked as a £10 a night glass collector on greyhound race nights.

Carry on up Chingford Mount taking a right along Royston Avenue until you come to Ainslie Wood (4) [map showing Ainslie Wood]. As a young boy David would visit his grandparents who lived in the council flats beside Ainslie Wood and would take this opportunity to play on the council pitches.

Continue up Chingford Mount and turn left into Hampton Road and then the second right into York Road. You will see Chase Lane Junior School (5) [E4 8LA] which David attended.

He played for the school football team as well as the Waltham Forest District and Essex County teams.Larkswood Park is where David practiced his skills with his father, spending hours perfecting his now legendary free kick.

Head back onto Chingford Mount heading North, turn right down Larkswood Road to the playing fields and Larkswood Park (6) [map showing Larkswood Park] .Larkswood Park is where David practiced his skills with his father, spending hours perfecting his now legendary free kick.

Moving further North up Chingford Mount you can see where David would play as he grew older either on the left at Mansfield Park (7) [map showing Mansfield Park] or on the right at Ridgeway Park (8).

David would regularly play football in Ridgeway Park, Chingford and Mansfield Park as a child. At the age of eight he joined the Ridgeway Rovers of the Enfield District League.

Head North again from these parks up Chingford Mount, Old Church Road and go straight over the Crossroads and then turn right into Nevin Drive.

David's secondary school, Chingford School (9) [E4 7LT], is on the left where he played for the school side when he won the Bobby Charlton Soccer tournament.

Representatives from Manchester United FC first came knocking after David's 12th birthday and every summer after that he went to Manchester for workouts. In July of 1991, on the advice of Charlton, the club signed the 16-year-old as a trainee.

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