Following David Beckham's announcement that he will retire from professional football the Guardian got in touch with his favourite pie and mash shop and the sports store where he bought his first Manchester United kit.

Tony Lane, owner of Tony’s Pie and Mash Shop in Waltham Abbey, which Beckham has claimed is his favourite pie and mash shop, said: “Being part of the legacy of David Beckham is great, you can’t top that.

“He’s one of the most famous men in the world – apart from the pope!”

Mr Lane said Beckham hasn’t been in since around Christmas, when he signed for French side PSG, but before that whenever he was in the country he’d come in.

Mr Lane added: “Last year he came in quite a few times due to the Olympics and whenever he came into the country he’d pop in and see us.

“He enjoys his pie and mash.”

Mr  Lane signed said he hopes Becks continues to come to the shop as he’s a very valued customer.

He said: “Good luck to him – he deserves it.”

Jeffrey Ferguson, manager of Rowe Sports, Chingford, the shop where Becks got his first Manchester United kit as a boy, said he was a really genuine man.

Beckham came to the store last February to buy some bits and pieces and he also signed some autographs.

Mr Ferguson said: “It was unbelievable. I was there when he came in and had a look around and it was fantastic.”

Mr Ferguson said apart from that he hasn’t been to the shop in a while, but they sometimes see his mum.

He added that Beckham came to the store regularly when he was a lad, and when he bought his first car, a BMW, he came to the shop and showed it off to one of the staff.