LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham bid farewell to his grandfather Joe West at a memorial service at Tottenham Football Club yesterday. West was a lifelong supporter of the Tottenham Hotspurs and Beckham asked the club if they would hold the wake at White Hart Lane where the former Manchester United star donned a yarmulke (skull cap) for his Jewish grandad and wore a Tottenham tie - both items belonged to West.

A family friend said: "Spurs meant the world to Joe. He used to take David to the games when he was a boy.

"It was the one last thing David could do for his beloved grandad."

Beckham admitted coping with the passing of 83-year old Joe to cancer was very tough.

"Of course, any family thing like this is tough. My granddad was not well for quite a few months but it's something that, when it happens, nothing can prepare you for it," he said.

"Finding out he had passed away was obviously upsetting because I was so close to him. He would call me after each game, every training session and everything that happened which involved me."