Statue success for Beckham – and Reds fan
DAVID BECKHAM was awarded a PFA merit award for his achievements for club and country last month.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star’s trophy commemorated a very special moment in his career – the famous last-minute free kick against Greece that took England to the 2002 World Cup finals.
Little did he know when collecting that award, though, it was made by a diehard Liverpool fan from Southport.
Father-of-two Peter Mook is the man who crafted the trophy, one of the last few sculptors in the country and one commissioned by a number of international companies.
Peter, 46, has been in the industry for more than 20 years and is an official approved by the likes of Disney and Warner Brothers
He was asked to make the award for the second year running, after making one for Ryan Giggs last year.
Having made awards for two United players, he’s hoping that next year’s will be a Liverpool legend instead – and that this time he’ll get to meet them.
“I was hoping to go to the ceremony and meet Beckham,” Peter said. “But by the time they got to sorting it out there were no tickets left.
“It’s a shame, but hopefully I’ll get to go next year.”
The trophy represents one of the most symbolic moments in the recent history of English football and features Beckham at the top of his game.
“David Beckham was asked his greatest moment and he said it was that goal for England,” Peter said.
There are few sculptors like him left, with just one small factory left in the country, though David shows no sign of wanting to follow those who have left the industry.
“It’s just what I always wanted to do. I came out of uni and that’s what I did.
“I was competing with China and no-one wanted to know at first.
“I kept going to conventions and eventually someone asked me to work for them for a share of the money.”
The former Farnborough, Birkdale High and Southport College pupil then spent several years working in the Far East before eventually returning to his home town.
“There’s not many companies left because most shut down because they couldn’t compete with China.
“I’m the last of a dying art really, a lot of the work is now done in Chinese factories but at a much lower quality.”
His work now varies from being commissioned to make 4in sculptures to two 6ft statues which will be soon put up in Holland, and he admits that even his shed, loft and mum’s loft are filled with his work.