Abby Brammell

By Simon Cass

City slicker: England international keeper James has signed for the Robins


Little over a month ago David James was between the sticks for his country as England crashed out of the World Cup.

But after turning down the advances of Celtic and Sunderland, his next competitive game will be against Millwall for Bristol City next Saturday.

James completed his surprise move yesterday, signing a one-year deal - with an option of a further season at Ashton Gate - that will earn him around £15,000 a week after collecting a signing-on fee in the region of £500,000.

The veteran keeper, who reaches the milestone of 40 tomorrow, will be paraded today prior to City's preseason friendly at home against Blackpool and his decision will doubtless shock many.

But James has a long-held ambition to help a club from the region to the Barclays Premier League promised land.

Before joining Portsmouth, that club was almost Plymouth Argyle. As James revealed in the summer of 2006 as he was pondering a move away from Manchester City:

'I had decided I was going to join Plymouth Argyle. My missus was in Devon; I would go down there and get them promoted to the Premier League - the first South West club in the league. They never knew anything about it, but it had to be Plymouth.'

There comes a time in every man's life when priorities must be re-examined. If you can shave an hour off your commute to work, all the better.

James tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Amanda Salmon last weekend and while it might not be pipe and slippers time yet, it is clear he had no desire to uproot his family from their mansion in Chudleigh, Devon.


And Bristol City fans will be pleased to hear James' ambitions have not been dulled with the passage of time.

'I've had offers to stay in the Premier League but it is more important that I play football - which I love - for the right club and be a family man. I know all about the plans for a new stadium and desire to win promotion to the Premier League,' he said.

'The club is ambitious and that's what I am. The south west has not had a club in the Premier League and that needs to change.'

Fitness permitting, James intends to carry on keeping until he is 45. Plenty of time to achieve his ambition of making it Premier League appearance number 574 with City.


source: dailymail