Footballer prefers law to the beautiful game

A former professional footballer has hung up his boots to turn his hands to law.

David Winnie, who spent 17 years as a professional footballer in Scotland, has joined Hertfordshire-based SA Law as a trainee in the family department.

Winnie joined Scottish Premier League team St Mirren FC as a teenager in 1984 and was an under-21 international player. During his time north of the border he also played for Hearts FC and Aberdeen FC and played alongside current Scotland manager Alex McLeish and against the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Terry Butcher. Winnie then enjoyed a stint managing FC Reykjavik.

Winnie told Lawyer2B.com that he decided to study law and economics because he knew that a career in football would not last forever.

Although Winnie still plays football for his local team, he said that at this stage of his life he preferred working as a lawyer. My mind is willing by my body hasnt got what it takes anymore, he added.

In the December 2007 issue of Lawyer 2B we catch up with more trainees who have taken a less conventional route into the law.