‘I worked with David and Victoria Beckham – the complaint from Buckingham Palace was weirdest ever’

David Beckham’s former publicist Alan Edwards writes for the Mirror to mark David Beckham’s milestone 50th birthday as he remembers bonding over chinese takeaways, his love of Usher and the star’s acts of generosity
As Becks turns 50 on Friday, his former publicist Alan Edwards – the man who helped invent Brand Beckham – opens up about his memories working with the footballer and watching him evolve into the global superstar he is today. Writing for the Mirror, he remembers meeting a 19-year-old David, who had just returned to Manchester United from being on loan at Preston North End. And he was by his side as his profile soared including meeting now-wife Victoria Beckham and his infamous World Cup sending off.

“The first time I remember meeting David it was in Manchester, and I went back to his digs afterwards. It was a one up – one down house, nothing flash at all. I wasn’t sure what we were going to talk about, I’d met a few footballers before, and they always seemed to talk about which car they wanted or what nightclub they wanted to get into.