David Beckham has become the sixth and final member of the Class of ‘92 to invest in Salford City.
Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt all first invested in the club back in 2014, taking a 10% stake each while businessman Peter Lim, who also has a controlling 82.3% state at Valencia, was responsible for 50%.
However, it is now the CO92 that have become the majority shareholders of the club, after Beckham himself purchased a 10% stake in the club from Lim, whose share has since dropped to 40%.
Beckham has previously focused his attentions on opening an MLS franchise in Miami, having helped to form Inter Miami CF, who will become the 25th member of the league in the 2020 season.
Now, the former England captain is joining his fellow Class of ‘92 graduates in taking a stake in Salford, who are currently third in the National League table, just one point behind league leaders Leyton Orient.
The 43-year-old told the club’s official website: “It’s a proud moment for me to join Peter Lim and the Class of ’92 lads as an owner of Salford City FC,” said Beckham.
“It’s a really special club and a special group of people. My early years in Manchester were all spent in Salford. I grew up there in many ways so to be able to finally join the lads and the club today is a great feeling.”
Salford have enjoyed a meteoric rise up the leagues since the Class of 92 takeover, winning three promotions in four seasons and are now on the brink of winning promotion to the Football League this season. The team now play in a 5000-capacity stadium and the club have also launched an academy and women’s side.
The CO92 added: “From the very beginning we wanted David to be involved and be with us on this incredible journey however circumstances and commitments didn’t allow that. Now the time is right and is another exciting time in Salford City’s history.
“It is important to emphasise that nothing will change in the day to day operations of the club but to have us all together was always the vision. We grew up in Salford, carved our careers here and that’s why we are doing what we are doing at Salford City.
“We have grown to love this club and the fans and we would like to welcome David to the club and to becoming part of the Salford City family.”
