SATURDAY, May 18, 2013: a date that any City fan can recall with total clarity.

It was the afternoon when six years of hurt from being stuck in League Two were gloriously swept away inside 28 pulsating minutes in the Wembley sunshine.

But, hard as it may be to believe, there was a bigger football story that day. Beyond Bradford anyway.

While the promotion celebrations were still in full flow in West Yorkshire, the world's sporting media was focused on an event across the Channel.

In Paris, the curtain was going down on a star-studded career. David Beckham was playing his 834th and final game.

The wall of paparazzi made it feel more like the premiere of a Hollywood blockbuster than the end of the Ligue Un season in France. The French president was among the glorious and good of Parisian society waving au revoir to the most celebrated footballer of his generation.

But while the global media turned out in force to end it like Beckham, it was an equally significant occasion for a member of the opposition.

Stade Brest were that day's equivalent of the Washington Generals, the makeweight opposition who traditionally played patsy for the Harlem Globetrotters. Paris Saint-Germain's lowly visitors were viewed as no more than walk-on extras in Beckham's big bash.

But for 21-year-old Timothee Dieng, it was a first experience of the professional game he will find hard to equal.

He had known for a week that he would be playing after centre half Florian Lejeune's red card against Sochaux. But the long wait did not lessen the impact of a surreal experience.

"I was the next central defender so I was ready for my debut," the City utility player recalled this week.

"Being in Paris, I knew it was going to be a big game anyway because they were champions and it was their last one at home.

"They were celebrating the title and some of their players had their hair in blue, white and red.

"Beckham is a legend and to make my debut against him in his last game was a very special moment for me."

Not that Dieng got the chance to get up close and personal with the man of the moment.

The pre-match hand shakes – Beckham was PSG captain for the day – was the only time their paths directly crossed. "He played quite deep and was passing a lot of long balls," laughed Dieng.

But the rookie had someone equally feted to keep him occupied that night; a certain Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Dieng said: "It was not an easy first game, as you can imagine. Zlatan is so big and athletic and his technique is complete.

"It was a great experience, although he scored twice – a free-kick and another good goal. They weren't my fault anyway!

"Zlatan is so hard to play against. He's massive and strong and he has very good movement.

"Sometimes on the pitch he looks like he's doesn't care about the game. But a second later, bang and he's gone.

"You've always got to be aware because he's a permanent danger. I remember coming off the pitch and thinking I will never play against someone as tough again in my career."

By the time Beckham – his eyes streaming – made his emotional exit eight minutes from the end, Dieng was on the away bench with his first game done.

Despite the 3-1 scoreline in PSG's favour, nobody could take away the knowledge that the youngster had been part of such a famous occasion in not only French but world football.

But there was one ever so slight regret – no picture for the family mantelpiece.

"Maybe I should have taken my phone on with me and got a selfie with Beckham!" said Dieng.

"I still have my shirt but didn't get anyone to sign it. They were celebrating so went straight out after the game.

"But we just enjoyed the moment. We were happy just to be on the pitch with such special players.

"Even now, every time you see it on social media when Beckham is crying on the pitch, my friends always say 'you were there as well'. It is something I will never forget."