"Harry Kane and David Beckham: A Surprising Connection from Birth to School"

WANT to become an English footballing legend? Then don’t bother with coaching sessions and practice drills – just move to Chingford.

recently joined Sir in the record books by scoring in three different World Cup tournaments.

England World Cup legends David Beckham and Harry Kane had nearly identical childhoods Credit: Getty Beckham with 11-year-old Harry Kane (and future wife Katie) at the David Beckham Academy in 2005 Credit: Rex Features

They are the only Three Lions players to ever achieve the feat – not bad for two east London likely lads.

Incredibly the pair were born in the same maternity ward, attended the same school and played for the same junior team.

Maybe there is something in that Chingford water?

The pair crossed paths on Saturday when Thomas Tuchel’s men in Miami, Beckham’s adopted home city.

Victorious Kane at the end of the World Cup Quarter Final match between Norway and England on Saturday Credit: Getty Beckham cheering on Kane and the England team on Saturday Credit: Getty

It is a far cry from the muddy and water-logged pitches of the East Herts Rural Friendly League where both learned their trade.

Beckham is known for his flamboyant lifestyle, famous to ex-Spice Girl Victoria and his celebrity pals.

Kane prefers a quieter time away from and is married to his childhood sweetheart Katie.

While their personalities are wildly different, their backgrounds are astonishingly similar.

Both Beckham and Kane were born in the same maternity ward at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone Credit: The Sun Both stars also went to Chingford Foundation School – and Kane met future wife Katie there too Credit: Google

Both were born at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, raised in Chingford and went to Chingford Foundation School.

They also played – albeit years apart – for the top Sunday league team, Ridgeway Rovers FC.

In 2005 young Kane, aged 12, was famously snapped meeting his hero when he opened the David Beckham Academy in Greenwich.

Alongside him in the snap was Chingford classmate Katie Goodland, who went on to become his wife.

A young Beckham before his football fame Credit: Instagram Kane and future wife Katie with Beckham in 2005 Credit: Rex Features

Fast-forward 21 years and Kane has now passed Beckham’s 115 caps and is just six shy of record holder, Peter Shilton.

His former Ridgeway coach Dave Bricknell told The Sun: “It’s not some special secret or something in the water.

“They are just two very, very talented footballers who happened to come through the club.”

“It’s amazing to see Harry scoring in his third World Cup, just like David did.

“I wasn’t involved in coaching David when he was at Ridgeway, but he grew up around the corner from me so I knew of him.”

Dave, who is still a scout with Spurs, said Kane’s family life helped him become the superstar he is today.

“I’m not going to lie and say I knew instantly that I’d spotted the future captain, but I could tell Harry was good,” he said.

“I just didn’t know he was going to become a superstar.

Kane, with his school head of year, Mrs Jeanette Fagan, in Year 11 receiving his full sports colours Credit: SWNS Beckham at Ridgeway Rovers in 1986 aged nine (pictured front second from right) Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

“When you see a very talented eight-year-old it doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to make it as a professional, all sorts of things can happen in their development.

“But Harry was very lucky to have two amazing parents, Pat and Kim, who kept him grounded and did so much for him, guiding him through life.

“And he has also had a stable relationship with Katie from a very early age, which again is important.

“He had a good, settled upbringing, and combined with his undoubted skills made him into the magnificent footballer he is today.

“It’s unbelievable to watch him banging the goals in for England, I still remember the little boy that joined our team all those years ago.

“He has done so well.

“When he first came into the Spurs team and scored a hatful of goals, people were saying he was a one-season wonder.

“Well, he’s well and truly proved those doubters wrong.

“Yes he’s not the quickest player, but what he can do is put the ball in the back of the net.”

Two other boys from Kane’s Ridgeway team went on to become professional footballers.

Goalkeeper Jordan Archer enjoyed a successful career with , while Nico Yennaris signed for Arsenal and later played for .

Dave added: “I’m always on the lookout for the next .

Goalkeeper Jordan Archer was also in Kane’s Ridgeway team Credit: Reuters While their personalities are wildly different, their backgrounds are astonishingly similar Credit: Getty – Contributor

Kane was scouted by Arsenal and joined their academy aged eight, only for the Gunners to release him after a year.

He was given a trial by Watford when he was 11 and impressed Spurs scouts in a game against the Premier League giants.

The young joined his boyhood team’s academy – and the rest is history.

Kane’s former PE teacher at Chingford Foundation School, Mark Leadon, told The Sun that Harry was a “model pupil”.

“It’s been fantastic and quite amazing to see what he has become, a global superstar,” he said.

“He’s like a red wine – getting better with age.

“I started at Chingford in 1994, so David Beckham had left by then. But everyone talked about him. He left a legacy, that’s for sure.

“I taught Harry for five years, from around 2005 to 2010.

“It’s remarkable. We’re the only school to have two England captains and now the only school to have two England players that have scored in three World Cups.

“And both of those things have happened in the past few years. It’s crazy when you think about it.”

Mark, who retired in 2023, said he first spotted Kane’s talent in a Year 7 football trial.

“Obviously you can never predict the future and know how good they’re actually going to be, but he was technically very, very gifted,” he said.

“Once we started playing matches, it became apparent he was a little bit special.

“You often get good players but they take on too many players or hog the ball, but Harry was never like that.

“He linked up play, picked out the right pass, he was an absolute team player.

“On top of that he was also absolutely prolific. For the five years that he played for us, he scored loads of goals.

“He was very similar to what you see now. He never had much pace and wasn’t particularly big. He was just a great technician.

“We had a very good team and won everything, and he was the star.

“As a person he was extremely hard working. It wasn’t just PE. If you ask the maths teacher or English teacher or science teacher they would all say the same thing.

“He was completely dedicated, and he got very, very good GCSE grades. He was never any trouble, he was hard working and kept his head down.

“He was really well liked by his teachers. He was very humble and a great role model to the other kids.

“He played in the school team. He opened the bowling and batted at number five, but was a lot better at football.

“Seeing the success he’s having now motivates the current students to reach a goal, have a dream and work hard.

“I just feel so much pride seeing the Harry I taught playing so well in another World Cup.

“People ask if there’s something in the water in Chingford.

“I actually think it’s down to a few different reasons.

“Geographically we are between three London giants – Arsenal, Spurs and – so football is a huge deal here.

“I also think social reasons play a part in it too.

“Chingford is predominantly a working class area, but the parents and students have high aspirations and a work ethic.

“If you work hard, you can succeed. I really think that’s part of the culture in the area.

“Also, from a PE point of view, we had a kind of vision in which we pushed the elite athletes.

“So we entered all our teams in the major tournaments, right through from local events to national cups.

“We encouraged the students to push themselves.”

Other former pupils include ex-Crystal Palace and striker and basketball ace Daniel Clark.

Speaking last month, Kane said it was an “amazing achievement” to have two England captains come from the same Sunday league team and secondary school.

“Seeing Beckham go on to achieve what he did made it seem a little bit more real,” he said.

“Without that, it might have felt out of reach. It gave me that extra belief that I could go on and achieve the same.”

David and Victoria typically live life more in the spotlight than Kane’s family Credit: victoriabeckham/Instagram