DAVID BECKHAM has inspired many in the beautiful game, but there is one man the star admits even he cannot match.
The football legend and his son Romeo paid a surprise visit to Who Cares Wins Unsung Hero nominee Allan Cockram, who set up the incredible Brentford Penguins FC for children with Down’s syndrome.
Dan CharityDavid Beckham puts his arm around a player[/caption]
Dan CharityDavid and Romeo paid a visit to Who Cares Wins Unsung Hero nominee Allan Cockram[/caption]
Dan CharityDavid and Romeo played football with the Penguins players[/caption]
And the achievements of The Sun’s awards hopeful brought a tear to the eye of the England ace.
Speaking on the touchlines of the club’s home ground in West London, David, 48, paid warm tribute to Allan, saying: “It’s so inspiring to see what Allan does — giving up his time, coaching these kids when normally they would face so many barriers.
“Instead, they have this team and this coach who they all care about so much.
“The love for him, the appreciation, is quite remarkable. The kids are amazing.
“Football brings people together, and it means so much to us to be here. and for me to have my son here for such a special moment.
“I always try to inspire my kids — and so to see Allan, and meet him and see what he does for them . . . there’s nothing I can do for my kids that’s as much as this. At one point I thought I was going to cry.”
After surprising Allan and all the team, aged five to 19 — as well as their excited parents, David and Romeo, who plays for Brentford FC’s B team, took it in turns playing in goal, with the Penguins players taking them on one by one.
They were thrilled by the chance to play with two footie superstars — but even more pleased that their coach has been shortlisted for a prestigious Sun gong.
The Who Cares Wins awards, sponsored by the National Lottery and in partnership with NHS Charities Together, are our annual celebration of heroic workers and volunteers across the health sector.
And making a special video for Allan was a first for Romeo, 21, who says he wants to follow in his dad’s philanthropic footsteps.
He said: “Being here today was so inspiring. I was quite nervous but I’ve wanted to do something like this for so long.
“Seeing my dad do all his charity stuff over the years has been amazing and it’s made me so passionate about doing things myself.
“He makes me really proud and I want to push to do the same thing.
“My parents have always drilled into me to try to be good with everyone, and respectful and kind, and they’ve played a very big role in that. It’s been a really, really good day.”
Ex-Spurs player Allan, 59, founded the Penguins in 2017 after retiring from professional football in 1996.
Dan CharityA Penguins player challenged Becks in goal[/caption]
Dan CharityDavid gives the lad a high-five after his session[/caption]
Having got a job as a taxi driver, he started driving children with special needs to school.
One of the kids he struck up a friendship with was Phillip, who later died of complications related to Down’s syndrome.
Heartbroken Allan swore he would honour Phillip’s memory by starting a football club for children like him.
He founded the team, with just five players, using his own money.
Today, the Penguins are the UK’s only football team that welcomes any child with Down’s syndrome, no matter their ability or verbal level.
Allan trains around 30 children, every Sunday morning, come rain or shine.
He has been nominated for our Unsung Hero award by Vanessa Rowley, whose son Charlie, 16, is the club’s captain and has trained with Allan for five years.
‘They are 32 angels’
Vanessa, from Brentwood, Essex, adds: “Charlie’s life wouldn’t be the same without the Penguins.
“He was just about tolerated whenever he tried to join other football teams.
“He’d unintentionally sabotage play and wouldn’t be asked back.
“It was really hard to watch as a parent because he just wanted to join in and he absolutely adores football.
“When we found the Penguins, it felt like we’d come home. Allan is everything to these kids.
“They light up when they see him, and he makes them all laugh so much.”
Allan joined Tottenham as a boy and also played for England Youth sides before going on to make 118 appearances for Brentford.
The Penguins are supported by both the Premiership club and the Down’s Syndrome Active initiative.
Endlessly enthusiastic, Allan’s bond with the children is utterly heartwarming.
And while the Beckhams were there to surprise him, the modest hero immediately thanked them for the time they devoted to the kids in his team.
Quizzed by ex-Man Utd star Becks, Allan said: “This is shocking me! No one told me what was happening today, and suddenly you appear.
“I want to thank you and Romeo for coming here because it’s these moments in time which change children’s lives.
“All these little things that happen to these children . . . they just get better and better at school, and more verbal, and you just don’t really understand what this moment means, really.
“It’s unconditional love, unconditional honesty, but also their naughtiness that I love.
“We have an open door policy so I have never turned any kid away.
“I feel like they’re untouched human beings and no one has given them a real chance to express who they are, I think they can fit into the mainstream. They are beautiful.
“It’s like I have 32 angels around me the whole time.
“They are very perceptive of my feelings so I am blessed every day with these children.”
The ex-midfielder played against some of the greats in day, but says the smiling faces of the Penguins mean more to him than thousands of fans chanting his name on the terraces in the Eighties.
The comprehension rate of Down’s syndrome children is incredibly varied, and Allan has non-verbal children in his squad as well as those with anxiety, special educational needs and a variety of abilities.
He said: “It’s not like a training session, it’s a carnival of football every Sunday.
“I’m by far happier now coaching these kids than I was playing.
“That was a selfish euphoria — this is something much bigger and better.
“They give me back tenfold what I give to them. I feel so fortunate and blessed to be part of this amazing team.
“The parents tell me it’s their favourite day of the week. I don’t often say it, but it’s mine too.”
For more information on the Penguins, visit planetpenguinfootballfoundation.com
Dan CharityThe Penguins were thrilled by the chance to play with two footie superstars[/caption]
Dan CharityAllan set up the incredible Brentford Penguins FC for children with Down’s syndrome[/caption]
Dan CharityDavid pictured with his son Romeo and The Sun’s Clemmie Moodie[/caption]
The ceremony will be shown on Channel 4 and All 4 at 6.30pm this Sunday
Who Cares Wins awards
ALL the inspiring winners of The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards will be revealed when the ceremony airs on Channel 4 on Sunday – and you might need tissues to hand.
Our nominees are sure to make you feel emotional, ranging from kids who have raised thousands to help others, to lifesavers who risked their safety to bring strangers back from the brink.
There are plenty of celebrity surprises too as the stars came together on Tuesday night to celebrate true healthcare heroes.
A special 12-page souvenir supplement in tomorrow’s paper reveals the shortlisted nominees across all categories.
You can watch The Who Cares Wins Awards in full on Channel 4 and All 4 from 6.30pm on Sunday.