Billy Carter with some of the LA Galaxy and Beckham merchandise on sale at RYOS on Lambton Quay. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Cash registers are already ringing in Wellington ahead of the arrival of football superstar David Beckham, with eager fans snapping up everything from shirts to clocks and cut-outs bearing the famous player's face and name.
Beckham is due to touch down in the capital on Thursday to play
a match for his LA Galaxy team against the Wellington Phoenix at the weekend.
The Englishman has been causing a stir in Sydney since his arrival on a private jet from London, and Australian fans got their first glimpse of him when he appeared on the field at half-time during a Sydney FC match late on Sunday.
Yesterday, Beckham took to the training field to limber up for his team's own match tonight against Sydney FC before a crowd expected to reach 80,000. Wellington's crowd on Saturday night will be smaller but public interest in the footballer's visit is building and fans have been steadily buying a special range of merchandise imported from the United States by a local retailer specially for the game.
Beckham fans can pick up a clock bearing his picture for $40, a mini cut-out for their desk for $20, or cups, pennants and key rings in preparation for the game.
Billy Carter, assistant manager at RYOS sports apparel store on Lambton Quay, said the interest being shown in the gear followed on from the public support that had been seen for the Wellington Phoenix team.
"It's really great to see people getting behind it," Mr Carter said.
"We're already seeing people coming in who are here for the game."
Beckham's LA Galaxy playing shirt was yesterday selling for $135, while on other racks in the store the replica jersey of the All Blacks' ill-fated World Cup campaign was heavily discounted from its full price.
Mr Carter said tourists were still buying the All Blacks' gear, but the Beckham regalia - and particularly the mini cut-outs - were now the focus of many shoppers.
"We have worked hard to get this stuff in, and we're glad it's paying off," he said.
Beckham will be greeted at the airport with a powhiri, and thousands of schoolchildren are set to attend the LA Galaxy's public training session in Wellington on Friday.
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