Beckham played a key part in securing the Games for London as part of the delegation and has spoken of his desire to play for his country. However, after coach Stuart Pearce announced his omission from the team today, a nation’s women mourned the diminished opportunities to see him running around in his kit.

Fans took to Twitter to oppose Pierce’s decision. @Sandford11 cried, 'David Beckham left out of team GB football team. That's shirt sales fallen by half! #idiots', @OneTreeHill said, ‘So no #Beckham this year....hmmm. Let me know how that works out for you Britain. HAHA #Olympics’. @17_Sonik said 'No #Beckham for GB in London is a shame, DB is an icon’, while @DemaBeckham said ‘I've never seen Stuart Pearce but I totally HATE him! #Why #Beckham isn't in the #TeamGB’.

Gracious as ever Beckham responded saying, ‘Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me. So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad. Naturally, I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.’

Beckham told ELLE, ‘The Olympics is going to be something special. I’m proud to be an East End boy and to have the Olympics there is exciting for the country and exciting to have it here’. He added that he’s most looking forward to 100 metre sprint.

See his exclusive film from the current issue of ELLE, on sale now

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Read Beckham's London guide

See the behind the scenes pictures from our Beckham shoot