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Tuesday 24th of July 2007 10:27:54 PM

Even though David Beckham only played a total of sixteen minutes in his first American soccer match since joining LA Galaxy, he has a legion of new fans, most of which had never been to a Galaxy game before. Many bought jerseys with Beckham's name and number to remember the occasion by. If they win, we'll be here every single game until they lose. And then, we'll probably still be here - supporting David Beckham!" said one fan, Jeanine Judge before the game, which LA Galaxy ended up losing to Chelsea FC.

The popularity of David Beckham has gone beyond printed jerseys and tickets to upcoming games, however. At the first game, people were selling handmade Beckham T-Shirts and other items. But can Beckham use his popularity to turn people into fans of the game? "I think it's great, what he's doing for the game and for American soccer. Would I have come to see the game without him? Probably not. But I'll definitely be back," said fan Mike Whalen.

While some say this is a good sign that the sport will also grow in popularity in the US, others are wondering if the crowds are more fixated on Beckham than the game itself. "There's going to be an incredibly large number of people waiting to see Beckham play for months. If he comes out and hobbles around for a few minutes in the beginning or only comes in after the game's decided, that'll be a problem," said Professor of sports business at the University of Southern California, David Carter.

So far, though, fans seem to be enjoying themselves. Only time will tell if American soccer becomes as big a sport as it is in other countries.

(c)Adriaan de Man, www.sxc.hu