After three years with Watford he made a total of 89 first team appearances, winning Player of the Season in the 1990/91. In August 1992 David signed for Liverpool for a fee of £1.25m. After periods out of the team, David established himself as Liverpool's number one goalkeeper making a total of 277 appearances for the club. During his spell on Merseyside, David won the Football League Cup in the 1994/1995 season and was part of the team that finished runners-up in the 1995/1996 FA Cup. He also received his first international call-up in the 1996/97 season.

In the summer of 1999 David joined Aston Villa for a fee of £1.7m. He stayed at the Midlands club for two seasons and made 85 appearances, winning an FA Cup runners-up medal in the 1999/2000 season. David has also had spells with West Ham and Manchester City.

In August 2006 David joined Portsmouth where he spent four seasons winning the FA Cup in 2008. He remains the current record holder for the most Premier League appearances on 573 and also holding the record for the most Premier League clean sheets with 173.

In August 2010 David signed for his current club and Championship side, Bristol City. He has earned 53 caps for the England senior team in a career that has so far seen him establish himself as one of the top goalkeepers in England. He has been included in three World Cup squads; 2002 in Japan and South Korea, 2006 in Germany and 2010 in South Africa. He has also played in one European Championship; the 2004 tournament in Portugal.

Aside from his career in football, David has his own foundation. The Foundation was set up after David visited Malawi in Africa in 2005. The David James Foundation aims to help with agriculture in Malawi, giving people the opportunity to farm the land they live on which not only provides them with work but also essential materials for day to day living.

Along with his Foundation, David works as a global ambassador to the Special Olympics. He is also associated with Access Sport which provides sports provision in areas of deprivation in the UK.

David has appeared in modelling campaigns for Giorgio Armani in 1995 and H&M in 2005.

Away from football, David is an accomplished artist and takes a sketch pad away with him on away trips. In 2008 he illustrated the children's book "Harry's Magic Pockets: The Circus" by Steve Pearson.

HONOURS:

• FA Youth Cup: 1988/1989
• Football League Cup: 1994/1995
• FA Cup: 2007/2008

• The Football Extravaganza: honoured for making more than 500 appearances in the Premier League

   

   

USEFUL LINKS:

Bristol City FC (www.bcfc.co.uk)

The David James Foundation (www.djf.org.uk)

Access Sport (www.accesssport.co.uk)

PUBLICATIONS:

Please click on publication to see entire article.