KEY POINTS:
A seven-year-old schoolgirl today got some priceless footballing advice from the world's highest paid soccer player.
Jemma Pickstock from Kristin School was one of six children called out at random from 6500 in the stands at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium to join David Beckham and the LA Galaxy in drills at a training session.
At one stage, during heading practice, Beckham bent down to Jemma, the youngest of the group, and whispered something in her ear.
It seemed to work because, having just missed a previous attempt with a header, she made firm contact with the next one.
Jemma later said that the soccer megastar's advice to her was "keep your eye on the ball".
She was so excited by the half hour she and the five others spent on the pitch with Beckham and his teammates that she couldn't decide what the best part of it was.
"I can't choose," she said.
Another of the lucky six, nine-year-old Teaa Tawhi, from Oranga School, said the experience made him want to become a better soccer player.
Teaa said Beckham complimented him on his soccer skills, and the words would serve to motivated him.
"It was exciting and I was very happy," he said.
With the United States Major League Soccer competition in its off-season, the LA Galaxy are in Auckland to play a charity match against an Oceania All Stars selection tomorrow night.
Children from 130 schools across the Auckland region were at the Galaxy's practice today, and also for the Oceania session that followed.
All eyes were on Beckham, however, and there were a cacophony of screams when the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder arrived.
The Galaxy trained for about 75 minutes, and Beckham stayed on for about 10 minutes afterwards, signing autographs as he was mobbed by fans near the team bus.
While the former England captain can lay claim to being the most recognised name in world soccer, his drawing power hasn't yet extended to selling out the 32,000 tickets for the match.
The Auckland Regional Council, which owns Mt Smart Stadium, today expanded a two-for-one ticket deal to everyone who had brought a ticket.
General manager of parks Lance Vervoort said the decision was taken after a sponsors' group initiative yesterday to offer two tickets for the price of one on every ticket sold from last night.
He said the ARC felt it was only fair to offer the same to all ticket purchasers.
About 15,000 tickets were reported to have been sold as of yesterday, with 19,000 being given as the break-even mark.
Vervoort said staff had told him that 1000 tickets were sold in two hours after the announcement of the offer extension.
"Things are taking off and we're expecting a big walk-up crowd with the announcement."
Vervoort said organisers estimated the total gate would be "well over 20,000, but you never know".
"With a fine day, you might get an even bigger walk-up crowd."
- NZPA
