Pie in the sky for Becks (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Pie in the sky for Becks

1:23am Thursday 19th February 2004

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NOT many restaurants can claim to have their ready-cooked food exported, but Tony's Pie and Mash shop in Waltham Abbey can claim such an accolade to David Beckham in Spain.

Tony Lane has provided the Real Madrid and England midfielder with his favourite pie and mash and has even delivered it personally to the star's Sawbridgeworth mansion, direct from his premises in Market Square.

But the England skipper's love of the traditional East End speciality has gone a step further amid speculation that Beckham has been asking friends to get helpings of pie, mash and liquor to Madrid.

And being that all things Beckham generate such a media frenzy, Mr Lane has been inundated with media requests to reveal all.

He said: "We deliver it up to his house once a week or once a fortnight, it's a regular thing. But what happens to it after that I really don't know. Whatever goes on, it's definitely good for business."

The Guardian covered the story of the pie and mash deliveries to 'Beckingham Palace' last August, but since the 'export' story appeared in a national newspaper yesterday, Mr Lane said the media attention had been "absolutely crazy".

He said: "We're due to have Sky Sports down here today and I think Radio 2 wants to do an interview at the shop. Just because the guy eats a bit of pie and mash you get all this. It's mad. But on the other hand he can't be getting any pie and mash out in Spain. They won't be able to make it in Madrid probably because they don't have the ingredients."

Despite Mr Lane's life-long affinity with West Ham United, he is a big fan of the ex-Manchester United star.

"He must be an East End boy at heart but it's nice to see someone like him go from nothing to where he is now at Real Madrid and captain of England. I say good luck to him.

"It proves to all the kids out there who want to become footballers that you can do it if you try hard enough. It's lovely to see."

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