A LIFE in football would be a dream for most, but Mike Walsh has been in paradise since he quit the game.

The former Wanderers defender and Bury manager decided he needed a complete change after being shown the door by Swindon Town two years ago.

Within six months, he and his wife, Jacquie, had sold their home in England and bought a restaurant in the port of Javea on Spain's Costa Blanca.

"We've been open for exactly 12 months and it's paradise," said the 50-year-old who was one of only two players to play every game in Wanderers' two seasons in the old First Division in the late-1970s.

"It's hard work, but I'm loving every minute of it.

"I'm up first thing, setting up the chairs and tables outside and there's plenty to keep me busy.

"But I wouldn't have it any other way. I want to work, and I have to work because we didn't make the kind of money in my day as a player as they do now."

Walsh has made a smooth transition from football to the restaurant business and is currently working on expanding the business to establishing golf and cycling packages for groups.

"We took out a 15-year lease on the place, which is called La Marina, and we've put everything we've got into it. It's a nice building in a location to die for, in a beautiful port just yards from the sea, and the weather is absolutely glorious all year round.

"Business gets a bit slow around January to March and we're trying to build it up.

"I'm enjoying it because I like to think I'm a people person and I get to meet lots of people.

"You'd be surprised how many old friends and acquaintances I've bumped into while they've been on holiday over here.

"They get the shock of their lives when they see me, because they don't expect me to be doing what I'm doing.

"And I've seen more of the kids since I've been over here than I did when I was working in football. They've been over six times in the last 18 months.

"Sam Allardyce and his wife have also been here to visit us as well as a lot of friends I made from football."

Walsh started his career with Wanderers, coming through the youth ranks with the likes of Allardyce and Peter Reid, before moving on to have a successful spell at Everton and a loan period at Norwich City before ending his career at Manchester City and Blackpool.

He looks back at his time at Burnden Park as the highlight of his career. And one game, in particular, stands out more than any other.

"Bolton was the best place to be, and the day we clinched promotion at Blackburn was the best moment," he said.

"We finally made it into the big division after suffering the agony of just missing out for two years on the trot.

"A lot of us, like Reidy, Sam, Barry Siddall, Paul Jones and Neil Whatmore, had all come through together as kids, and to get to the First Division at last was a great feeling for us all.

"That has to be my highlight. Unfortunately, we found it a bigger difficulty to stay there than today's team does now."

Walsh, goalkeeper Jim McDonough and the legendary Frank Worthington were the only players to start all 42 games in Wanderers' first season in the top flight in 1978/79 when they beat the drop with a 17th place finish, and had the satisfaction of doing the double over Manchester United.

The following season, Walsh and McDonough played every game when the team dropped back down to the old Second Division.

A Republic of Ireland international, Manchester-born Walsh moved into management as Sam Ellis's assistant, first at Blackpool and then at Bury.

After two years as number two at Gigg Lane, he took over as Bury's manager in 1990 and held the job for five years.

He then went to Swindon as assistant to Steve McMahon, before managing Barrow and Southport, coaching the Korean under-21s and returning for a second spell at Swindon as number two to Andy King.

When that job ended in February, 2005, he decided to do something completely different and spoke to his wife about running their own business in Spain.

Anyone who would like information about Walsh's new business, would like to book a golf or cycling package or enquire about a break, can log on to his website www.pensionlamarina.com or email him at mtwalshy@hotmail.com.