A children’s book inspired by football legend David Beckham is aiming to become a bestseller this Autumn.

Beckham’s Boots by first-time author Phil Tusler is the story of a young boy whose passion for football isn’t matched by his ability until he receives a pair of the soccer star’s old boots.

But the manuscript went missing for more than a decade until the precious pages were discovered down the back of an old filing cabinet.

Now the book has been published for six to twelve-year-olds and author Phil Tusler hopes it will become the first in a series of children’s releases.

He said: “I started writing it when my son was only ten years old. He’s 25 now so I’ve had to apologize to him for it taking so long.

“The simple truth is I completed 95% of it and then mislaid the manuscript. I couldn’t remember where I had put it and over the years just assumed it must have got thrown out.

“Luckily my wife found it down the back of an old filing cabinet one day and there it was, a bit musty and crumpled, but all in one piece. I thought I’ve got to finish it now.”

Beckham’s Boots is being published by Showsport Publishing and Phil hopes the story of a boy called Billy whose love of football consumes his life will touch a chord with children everywhere.

He said: “There are lot of children out there who live and breath sport whether they are any good at it or not and none more so than football.

“The main character Billy Boyle is typical of them He’d love just to be a half-decent player but something is holding him back.

“Then he buys a pair of David Beckham's schoolboy boots at a sporting auction which seem to have magical qualities which transform his game. But are they really magical and are the extra problems they bring worth having? That’s the journey we take the readers on.

“It may have taken fourteen years to finish but I think it been worth the wait. David Beckham has been a sporting icon for many years and it is fitting he should provide the inspiration for both myself and the book’s main character Billy.”

Copies are available via Amazon directly by emailing philtusler64@gmail.com