‘I owe him everything’

Beckham loved mentor so much he once did a 400-mile round-trip to take him a cake

Such was the esteem in which Eric Harrison was held by his Class of ’92 proteges that when he was diagnosed with dementia, David Beckham drove 200 miles to his home in Halifax to take his former mentor a bottle of whisky and a carrot cake which he had baked with his sons.

The former England captain, along with several of his former team-mates, spent a couple of hours with the genial Yorkshireman (above), but he was so shocked by his frail physical and mental state that he broke down in tears on the drive home.

Beckham yesterday led the tributes to the man to whom he owed everything.

“He was always watching and always with us every time we played, I can still hear him telling me ‘no more Hollywood passes’,” said Beckham.

“More importantly, he made us understand how to work hard and respect each other and not just on the pitch. We won’t forget the life lessons he gave us. Eric we love you and owe you everything.”

Beckham was just one of many highprofile United figures to express their sadness at the news of Harrison’s death.

Sir Alex Ferguson

“Eric’s contribution to football and not just Manchester United was incredible. He was a teacher, he gave these players a path, a choice and he only did that through his own hard work and sacrifice. He was able to impart that education to the young which made him one of the greatest coaches of our time.”

Gary Neville

“We’ve lost our mentor, our coach and the man who made us. He taught us how to play, how to never give up, how important it was to win your individual battles and what we needed to do to play for Manchester United Football Club.”

Paul Scholes

“He was a genius. He was a really tough man to play for but that is what made us into the streetwise players we became.

Phil Neville

“I’m a manager now and the standards I try to give my players are the standards he taught me and I’ll be forever indebted to him.”