From Dudley to the

From Dudley to the Dordogne... Brian Beard meets the Burrows family who live in rural bliss in south west France In 2003 David Burrows and his family decided on a new life in France. The name may be familiar to you if you are a football fan because David played for some of the top English Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Everton. He was part of the last Liverpool team to win the top flight league title, in 1990, before the revamp of English football saw the introduction of the Premier League. A little known football fact is that he still holds the record for the second fastest goal in Merseyside derby history, just 48 seconds from kick-off, for Liverpool against Everton, on 31st August 1991, second only to Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish, who actually signed the 19 year old left back from West Bromwich Albion, in 1989. So why and how did a died-in-the- wool Black Country lad up sticks and create a new life for himself and his family. "Why not" is the answer, accompanied with a typical Gallic shrug of the shoulders, with a Midland accent of course.

'Bugsy' as he is nicknamed continues. "We spent a lot of family holidays in France and as I was coming to the end of my career I had a few injuries and there was a lot about football I didn`t like so we thought, why not make a new life." David was in a fortunate position, financially, after a career in professional football totalling more than 400 games. A career which saw him win the Football League, the FA Cup and two FA Charity Shields. He says: "I had my pension from football as well as other business interests so I didn`t have to worry about that side of things and looking after the family." David met his wife Jackie when they were 16 and 14 respectively. They married in 1990 and she of course followed him around England as he stopped off to play for; West Brom, Liverpool, West Ham, Everton, Coventry, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday, his last club. Indeed it was the move to Yorkshire for 'Bugsy' that proved the catalyst for the move to France. Jackie recalls. "It was probably me more than David who wanted the move to France. When he signed for Sheffield Wednesday it was the first time he ever had to commute to work as we usually moved to the new area when he changed clubs. It was the first time he ever had to travel to a club and that was something neither of us liked." So the family packed up and headed for a new life in France. A beautiful 17th century farmhouse of yellow Dordogne stone, typical of the area, became home for the couple and their three children, David, Sophie and Alexandra, `Alex`. David never harboured any plans to coach or manage in England and that didn`t change when they relocated. But in order to enjoy their new life to the full 'Bugsy' was determined to keep fit.