David Beckham swapped his usual U.S. commitments with Inter Miami to make a special appearance at Salford City’s home game against Swindon on Saturday afternoon.
The Manchester United icon, who co-owns Salford alongside former teammate Gary Neville, was there to support the club during a pivotal moment in its history.
The 50-year-old, usually seen jetting around the States for his football ventures, had his attention firmly on Salford inside the 12,000-capacity Peninsula Stadium.
Fans were quick to notice, with Salford posting on X: “Great to have co-owner Sir David Beckham here at the Peninsula Stadium today,” accompanied by a star-eyed emoji.
A Warm Welcome and Early Excitement
Beckham greeted Swindon manager Ian Holloway with a smile and soaked in the atmosphere as Salford raced to a 2-0 lead in the opening stages.
While the team eventually let the lead slip, the co-owner’s presence highlighted just how much he cares about the club’s fortunes.
Stepping In to Save Salford
Things could have taken a very different turn for the club just a week ago if Beckham hadn’t intervened.
Speaking to The Athletic, he reflected on the moment Gary Neville reached out to him:
“I very rarely panic, but when Gary said, ‘OK, this is the situation, we need to find a way of saving the club,’ I was concerned.
For him more than anyone, because Gary committed to Salford from day one.
I know what it means to him, the people in the club, the fans. When he said we had to sort it out, I knew we had to act.”
Beckham explained that his decision to step in was automatic, driven by the values he and Neville grew up with—loyalty, community, and looking after people.
A New Chapter for Salford City
After majority shareholder Peter Lim departed in 2024, leaving the club with £22.5 million in losses over seven years, Salford faced an uncertain future.
Beckham and Neville partnered with Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies to form a new consortium in May, with the first board meeting held on Saturday morning in Beckham’s presence.
Beckham’s connection with Salford dates back to 2014 when he and several former Manchester United teammates—including Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and Gary Neville—invested in the club.
Their efforts led to four promotions in five years, though the team is yet to break out of League Two.
Ambitions and Leadership Changes
This season, Salford has been performing strongly, winning five of their last eight matches before Saturday and currently sitting third in League Two behind Swindon and Gillingham.
New leadership changes aim to strengthen the club off the pitch.
Gavin Fleig of the City Group has been appointed CEO to manage daily operations, while Manchester United’s Ronan Joyce takes the role of chief business officer.
The club’s goal is clear: reach the Championship within the next five years.
Declan Kelly, a passionate Manchester United supporter, added:
“We’re very ambitious but we also understand that you take it one step at a time.
We’ll attract a lot of attention because of who’s involved, but we’re ready to chart our own course.”
Salford City may be a small club compared to Beckham’s Inter Miami, but with the former England captain back on the sidelines, both fans and players are feeling inspired as they aim for bigger ambitions in the English football pyramid.