Ben Davies: No finer role model than Beckham himself

English Football League / Ben Davies / 10 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

Notts County's Ben Davies will be hoping to dispatch a free-kick goalwards this weekend, just like his role model David Beckham is so used to doing

"Take his move to America for example. In most peoples minds that was the end of Becks’ international career, but he has since been a regular in the national side and has also enjoyed a fantastic spell on loan at AC Milan."

Notts County's Ben Davies was a little frustrated after last week's draw with Burton, so to raise his spirits he decided to tell Betting.Betfair about his role models... and refreshingly, they're all English.

Hello to you all once again and welcome to my Betfair column. It has been an eventful weekend for Notts County and me, which included a very frustrating game for us that resulted in the club picking up only one point against Burton Albion.

We felt our second half performance, and the chances we created, were enough for us to have taken all three points. However, Burton were a very committed and organised outfit and have a very good young up and coming manager in Paul Peschisolido. I think Burton will surprise a few people this season and might be in and around the play off places come what May. We will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend when we welcome Northampton Town to Meadow Lane.

This week I'm going to give you an insight into the players that I looked up to whilst growing up and who my role models are, both on and off the pitch.

The person I most modelled my game on was David Beckham. As a person that has always taken the set pieces and free kicks I thought there was no one better to model my technique on than Becks himself. He was (and probably still is) the best dead ball specialist there has ever been. I also admired him for his all round passing and determination.

There have been many times in his career when he has been written off and doubted but he just keeps proving people wrong. Take his move to America for example. In most peoples minds that was the end of Becks' international career, but he has since been a regular in the national side and has also enjoyed a fantastic spell on loan at AC Milan. The standards he sets himself are sky high which explains his career and the clubs that he has played for. He has also had the honour of representing his country 114 times and counting - a record for an outfield player representing England.

It's not just on the pitch where Beckham impresses me. He is also involved in a number of charity events and can also be seen promoting the country. So many footballers these days are role models, however a few of them have been seen to abuse that position. It comes as a refreshing change to see the likes of Becks and Rio Ferdinand doing the work they do and putting their own money into supporting a number of worthy campaigns.

Steven Gerrard is also a player who I like to watch. When Gerrard is on top of his game, for me he is one of the best. He is a player of great quality and a player who can change any game. Some of his performances in recent years have had the lot. Gerrard and Paul Scholes are the most complete midfielders this country has had this millennium.

Talking of Gerrard brings me on to my bet for this weekend. I fancy that Liverpool will beat Burnley by a scoreline of 2-0 (available to back at [6.4] in the Correct Score market) - that would bring in a good return. I would also bet that Liverpool will finish in the Top Four this season - available to back at [1.49].