Have you seen Becks around Wellington? Send us your photos
Photos: Beckham's Galaxy v Phoenix
Photos: Beckham at training
Photos: Beckham lands in Wellington
Photos: Beckham in Sydney
KEY POINTS:
He earns more than $1 million a week, but David Beckham was more than happy to slum it when he came to town.
Instead of enjoying the best five-star luxury and gourmet cuisine, the world's most famous footballer bunked down at a three-star $200-a-night Wellington hotel, dined out on Nando's $15 menu - and drank $3.50 coffee from Starbucks.
Beckham-mania reached fever pitch yesterday when he scored last night, from the penalty spot in the Galaxy's comprehensive 4-1 over the Phoenix.
Proving value for money, Beckham sprayed around quality passes, took the penalty and, as importantly, played the full 90 minutes.
He didn't get the chance to hit one of his trademark free kicks, but he did enough to make sure 32,000 people walked home happy.
Before the match the soccer superstar resembling the Pied Piper as he walked through the streets of Wellington, followed by hundreds of adoring fans.
The 32-year-old Beckham - a former England captain and star midfielder for Manchester United and Real Madrid - flies to Vancouver by private jet today; the rest of the team depart for LA tomorrow - along with a raft of security, minders and management.
Despite the burly bodyguards and tight security measures, I was able to sneak on to the fourth floor of the Copthorne on Oriental Parade and walk up to Beckham's bedroom door - room 401. His bodyguard has the room next door. I know this because he asked if I was looking for something. What could I say? "Yep, Becks"? I feigned parchedness and said "the bar." They are mindful of over-zealous fans and pesky journos looking for a lead.
The Galaxy's arrival on Thursday caused mayhem with security when a blue Post-it note was discovered attached to Beckham's hotel window, believed to be the work of an in-house hotel staff member alerting a member of the media. Paparazzi have been staked outside the hotel - back and front - constantly.
The curtains in his bedroom remained drawn the whole time. Becks did venture outside yesterday morning on a team mate's balcony sipping coffee. Paparazzi, with their eyes and long lens firmly fixed on the far-left suite, were clueless.
Beckham, the multi-millionaire superstar, has been anything but in Wellington, eating at Nando's on Courtney Place and popping in for coffee at Starbucks. The onslaught of paparazzi chasing his convoy to the coffee chain prevented Becks from placing his own order. He sat in the car while a minder fetched his morning coffee.
Thursday night, Becks dined at Monsoon Poon with five friends. The following night it was The Establishment. Earlier that day he had a two-hour tour around Weta Workshop in Miramar, where he told wife Victoria Beckham that evening (via mobile phone in a conversation overheard in the hotel lobby): "We met some producer from King Kong. You would have loved it." Becks and the team ventured outside yesterday for a brisk walk around the block - along busy Courtney Place, by Te Papa and back to the hotel.
But his grumpy demeanour and head bowed led some to snigger: what the heck, Becks? Becks appeared resentful at being paraded. Perhaps he had had enough of the celebrity fish bowl.
