David Beckham gives dad Ted a job

David Beckham has appointed a new ambassador to help out at his British soccer academy - his dad Ted.

He stands in for his son to hand out prizes to kids at the coaching school in London.

The England star and 60-year-old gas-fitter Ted had become estranged - but the rift was healed last year when David flew in from Los Angeles to be at his bedside after Ted nearly died of a heart attack.

Now David's request for him to stand in at the soccer academy has sealed the reconciliation.

The pair drifted apart after Ted divorced David's mother Sandra in 2002 after 33 years' marriage.

David blamed him.

And David cut off all contact in 2005 when Ted wrote the book David Beckham: My Son without his permission.

But when David learned of his father's heart attack he rushed 6,000 miles from LA to be with him - and their relationship was on the mend.

A milestone was reached in March when proud Ted looked on as David won his 100th England cap, surrounded by grandsons Brooklyn, 8, Romeo, 5, and three-year-old Cruz.

A Beckham family friend said: "David and his father now chat regularly on the phone."