Many people may consider England footballers to be heroes (even though they haven't won a major trophy since 1966), but yesterday John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Co met some REAL heroes.
John Terry’s basic pay at Chelsea is £7.3million a year. Most of these servicemen will earn less than £20,000.
They dodge bombs and bullets, footballers face only jeers and yellow cards. And when it comes to words such as courage, sacrifice and self-discipline those in the uniforms leave those in the kits whining in the shade.
The England lads may consider a major injury to be a broken metatarsal (or even a broken fingernail), but that's nothing compared to the wounds these real heroes suffered.
Yesterday, members of the British Army and the Royal Navy met the England team at the team's hotel in Hertfordshire as they prepare for Saturday's Wembley friendly against Slovakia.
Royal Marine Ben McBean handed his false arm to several of the England boys to sign their autographs on.
David Beckham meets the real life war heroes who lost limbs in Afghanistan
By Sara Nelson
24th March 2009
Daily Mail
England star David Beckham came face-to-face with injured members of the armed forces today – including a Marine dubbed a ‘true hero’ by Prince Harry, after losing an arm and a leg to a Taliban landmine.
Brave Ben McBean was flown back from Afghanistan in March last year on board the same plane as the 24-year-old prince, along with another critically injured solider.
On landing, the humbled Prince, who had served for ten weeks, told interviewers ‘I’m not a hero – these two injured soldiers are the heroes.’
David Beckham looked amazed as Marine Ben McBean (right) showed off his prosthetic arm during a lunch at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire today
Marine McBean lost an arm and a leg to a Taliban landmine last year and was recently hailed a 'hero' by Prince Harry for his bravery
Football hero Beckham laughs and jokes with real-life war heroes and even signed their prosthetic limbs
Today 22-year-old Marine McBean and other injured squaddies including Mark Kingston, mingled with England stars during a lunch at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire.
Beckham joked with the men and handed out team shirts, and even signed some of their prosthetic limbs.
The England player was pictured looking visibly amazed as Marine McBean calmly removed his new arm and handed it over for an autograph.
Signed: Marine McBean adds David Beckham's signature to his limb
Mark Kingston removed his prosthetic leg for Beckham to sign
Of his encounter with Prince Harry, the 6ft 2 Plymouth Marine said: ‘I feel humbled that Harry said what he did.
‘It feels good to be recognised. I don’t these injuries as any more than a blip in my career.’
The Prince added: ‘These were guys who had been blown up by a mine they had no idea about – serving their country, doing a normal patrol.’
Marine McBean is training for the London marathon and is preparing to climb Mount Everest in October as part of The Khumbu Challenge 09, of which Prince Harry is patron.
England captain John Terry signs Matt Kingston's prosthetic leg
Terry shares a laugh with Marine McBain
Frank Lampard signs a couple of England shirts for grateful veterans
Wayne Rooney chats to serviceman Martin Wilkinson
Goalkeeper David James talks to two soldiers
Steven Gerrard makes a serviceman's day by signing a shirt and posing for a photo together
Enlarge
The England team lines up with the service personnel during a training session at London Colney in Hertfordshire
dailymail.co.uk
John Terry’s basic pay at Chelsea is £7.3million a year. Most of these servicemen will earn less than £20,000.
They dodge bombs and bullets, footballers face only jeers and yellow cards. And when it comes to words such as courage, sacrifice and self-discipline those in the uniforms leave those in the kits whining in the shade.
The England lads may consider a major injury to be a broken metatarsal (or even a broken fingernail), but that's nothing compared to the wounds these real heroes suffered.
Yesterday, members of the British Army and the Royal Navy met the England team at the team's hotel in Hertfordshire as they prepare for Saturday's Wembley friendly against Slovakia.
Royal Marine Ben McBean handed his false arm to several of the England boys to sign their autographs on.
David Beckham meets the real life war heroes who lost limbs in Afghanistan
By Sara Nelson
24th March 2009
Daily Mail
England star David Beckham came face-to-face with injured members of the armed forces today – including a Marine dubbed a ‘true hero’ by Prince Harry, after losing an arm and a leg to a Taliban landmine.
Brave Ben McBean was flown back from Afghanistan in March last year on board the same plane as the 24-year-old prince, along with another critically injured solider.
On landing, the humbled Prince, who had served for ten weeks, told interviewers ‘I’m not a hero – these two injured soldiers are the heroes.’
David Beckham looked amazed as Marine Ben McBean (right) showed off his prosthetic arm during a lunch at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire today
Marine McBean lost an arm and a leg to a Taliban landmine last year and was recently hailed a 'hero' by Prince Harry for his bravery
Football hero Beckham laughs and jokes with real-life war heroes and even signed their prosthetic limbs
Today 22-year-old Marine McBean and other injured squaddies including Mark Kingston, mingled with England stars during a lunch at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire.
Beckham joked with the men and handed out team shirts, and even signed some of their prosthetic limbs.
The England player was pictured looking visibly amazed as Marine McBean calmly removed his new arm and handed it over for an autograph.
Signed: Marine McBean adds David Beckham's signature to his limb
Mark Kingston removed his prosthetic leg for Beckham to sign
Of his encounter with Prince Harry, the 6ft 2 Plymouth Marine said: ‘I feel humbled that Harry said what he did.
‘It feels good to be recognised. I don’t these injuries as any more than a blip in my career.’
The Prince added: ‘These were guys who had been blown up by a mine they had no idea about – serving their country, doing a normal patrol.’
Marine McBean is training for the London marathon and is preparing to climb Mount Everest in October as part of The Khumbu Challenge 09, of which Prince Harry is patron.
England captain John Terry signs Matt Kingston's prosthetic leg
Terry shares a laugh with Marine McBain
Frank Lampard signs a couple of England shirts for grateful veterans
Wayne Rooney chats to serviceman Martin Wilkinson
Goalkeeper David James talks to two soldiers
Steven Gerrard makes a serviceman's day by signing a shirt and posing for a photo together
Enlarge
The England team lines up with the service personnel during a training session at London Colney in Hertfordshire
dailymail.co.uk