USA: David Beckham thanks fans for their support during his last season with L.A. Galaxy

Record ID: 190013

  • Title: USA: David Beckham thanks fans for their support during his last season with L.A. Galaxy
  • Date: 4th December 2012
  • Summary: CARSON, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 3, 2012) (REUTERS) L.A. GALAXY PLAYER OMAR GONZALEZ TO PAN OF FANS IN STADIUM DAVID BECKHAM AND ROBBIE KEANE CLAPPING VARIOUS OF FANS HOLDING SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID BECKHAM, FORMER L.A. GALAXY PLAYER, SAYING: "It's been a good few days. I want to thank you guys for the support you've given me over the last six years, maybe five or five and a half, it was a little bit of a dodgy patch, but apart from that, I want to thank you." CROWD CHANTING "THANK YOU BECKHAM" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID BECKHAM, FORMER L.A. GALAXY PLAYER, SAYING: "Lastly, I'm sorry to disappoint, but this is my last year. I apologize." COACH BRUCE ARENA, LANDON DONOVAN AND MIKE MAGEE CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LANDON DONOVAN, L.A. GALAXY PLAYER, SAYING: "He came in with very good intentions and he's delivered on all his promises that he set out in the beginning. I, as a teammate, am very appreciative of what he's done for our team on the field. As someone who really cares deeply about this sport in this country, I appreciate him even more for what he's done off the field and how he's helped this league grow. So whatever he does in life, we're fully supportive of him." FANS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBBIE KEANE, L.A. GALAXY PLAYER, SAYING: "I'm a very, very lucky man. To come here and win two championships in a row is fantastic. I hope there will be a third next year. Thank you very much." VARIOUS OF FANS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALVADOR IBARRA , L.A. GALAXY FAN, ON DAVID BECKHAM'S FINAL GALAXY GAME, SAYING: "This is the last game, and the way it ended, with the win, is just icing on the cake." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NORMA IBARRA, L.A. GALAXY FAN, ON DAVID BECKHAM'S FINAL GALAXY GAME , SAYING: "Very bittersweet, I had tears of joy and tears of sorrow at the same time." (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN PAUL SUTLIFF, L.A. GALAXY FAN, ON DAVID BECKHAM'S FINAL GALAXY GAME , SAYING: "In the words of Dr. Seuss, 'don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.' I'm smiling because he made it happen for us and he gave us a good shot in the arm and we're grateful to him for it." VARIOUS OF FANS CHEERING L.A. GALAXY TEAM POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH MLS CUP THEN ZOOM IN ON DAVID BECKHAM
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ALNRSXLDSEL1DQ5SYO9HO61T
  • Story Text: A chant of "thank you Beckham" rang out from L.A. Galaxy fans to David Beckham, as the crowd continued their celebration of the team's championship in Los Angeles on Monday (December 3).

    "It's been a good few days," said Beckham. "I want to thank you guys for the support you've given me over the last six years, maybe five or five and a half, it was a little bit of a dodgy patch, but apart from that, I want to thank you."
    The entire Galaxy roster was in attendance at the same complex where they won their second successive MLS Cup on December 1 to express gratitude to their fans.
    Beckham has been adamant that now is the right time for him to end his time as a player in MLS and enjoy one more challenge, with so far an unnamed team, before returning to MLS in an ownership role.

    "In the words of Dr. Seuss, 'don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened,'" said L.A. Galaxy fan John Paul Sutliff, on Beckham leaving. "I'm smiling because he made it happen for us and he gave us a good shot in the arm and we're grateful to him for it."
    L.A. Galaxy has witnessed the arrival of other high profile internationals such as France's Thierry Henry and Ireland's Robbie Keane.
    Keane believes Beckham's move to the States handed the league the credibility needed to attract players of his ilk.

    "He came in with very good intentions and he's delivered on all his promises that he set out in the beginning," said Keane. "I, as a teammate, am very appreciative of what he's done for our team on the field. As someone who really cares deeply about this sport in this country, I appreciate him even more for what he's done off the field and how he's helped this league grow. So whatever he does in life, we're fully supportive of him."
    The league has enjoyed rising attendances during Beckham's six years as a player.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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