A WIDNES schoolboy realised his dream of meeting the world's most famous footballer after he scooped first prize in a television competition.

Owen Davidson, 10, was the envy of every young footballer in Britain as he met his boyhood idol David Beckham at a book signing in Manchester.

Owen, who plays for Moor-field Juniors, was hand picked out of thousands of applicants to meet the Real Madrid star, but the young left-back was in for a massive shock...as he did not even know he had entered the competition!

His dad Tony said: 'I was at home watching the news when a competition came on the television offering people the chance to meet David Beckham. At first I did not think anything of it, but then decided to enter Owen's name for the sake of it.

'I did not think we would stand a chance of winning so I did not tell Owen about it - as I did not want to build his hopes up. But when Owen got the call he was ecstatic.'

Owen, a red-hot Manchester United fan, then made the trip to Manchester with his family to meet Beckham at a book signing where he later posed for pictures and was inter-viewed on Granada Reports.

When star-struck Owen finally got to meet the England captain he could not believe how pleasant and friendly Beckham was with him.

Owen said: 'Beckham was brilliant, he really looked after me and was asking loads of questions about my school and my football.

'He was chatting to me about how I had been getting on playing for my local team and he signed books, posters and pictures for me - it was fantastic.'

Owen has been the talk of the town since his meeting with the former Manchester Utd midfielder and has been getting noticed everywhere he goes.

He said: 'When we came out of the building in Manchester everybody was saying 'there is that boy who met Beckham' and when I got back to school all my friends were asking me what it was like meeting him.'

Beckham personalised autographs for Owen's family and has signed a number of books and pictures for Owen to hang on his bedroom wall.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience is one which Owen will never forget.

He added: 'This has been a special day - I'll always remember it.'