HE is one of the fastest players on the football pitch but home life takes a very different pace for the flying winger from Panathinaikos.

New Blackburn Rovers recruit Georgios Donis is a family man at heart. Despite his pacey dribbles and energetic tackles, behind the closed doors of his Ribble Valley home The Athens Express loves to put on the brakes and let off steam. The favourite pastime of Greek lightning Georgios, known to fans as "George", is relaxing and playing with his son Chris and baby Anastasios.

"In Greece many footballers get married early. When they get back from their playground they want to have a peaceful and relaxing family home," said his wife Despina.

George still holds traditional beliefs that a woman's place is in the home - and his wife Despina agrees.

She said: "I am happy doing this. I'm not going to go to work. I want to concentrate on bringing up the children. I want to be with them all the time." George strode into the room and waded through stacks of toys with a crying infant over his shoulder and looked every inch a "New Man".

"George is a family man. He helps out a lot with the children. He baths them and changes nappies. He misses his family very much when he goes to away games," said Despina.

Being a footballer's wife is a full-time job for Despina. Like her husband, she experiences the peaks and troughs of the profession.

She shares her husband's pre-match nerves, his elation when he wins, his depression when he brings home a bad result.

"It is very difficult being a footballer's wife," she said. "He is away from home a lot and we all miss him very much and he misses us.

"Before a match I get nervous. Georgios never shows that he is nervous. Before a match I just tell him good luck and to be careful. I always tell him everything is going to be fine.

"When he gets a bad result he gets irritated and does not want to talk about it. He always tries to forget it by playing with his children." Clad in tracksuit, t-shirt and trainers Despina looks deceptively sporty but she revealed: "Until I met George I didn't like football at all. Now I only watch it if George is playing. I haven't been to see him play for Rovers yet because I have been pregnant but I will go soon."

Despite not taking a seat in the stands, Rovers have still played a big part in Despina's life.

At 15 when Despina began a phone relationship with one of her sister Corinna's friends called "Georgios" little did she now that in eight years she would be living in East Lancashire.

"I always knew that George was good enough to go a long way. He was talented and everything he did he seemed to be successful. I knew with a little luck he would be a big star but I never dreamed I would be here," she said.

The decision to sign the Rovers contract was a family one. Despina was pregnant when she left behind her family and friends in Athens, to move to a country and a home she had only seen on photographs. Unlike her husband and children she was the only person in the family who could speak English.

She was told that the people, like the weather, were cold so along with the jumpers and the cardigans she packed a great deal of courage. And although the meteorological reports rang true she found the people of Lancashire positively friendly!

"I love it here. The countryside is beautiful. It is like we are on holiday. The people have been very friendly."

Wherever Despina and Georgios go they are swamped by adoring fans desperate for autographs and a quick chat and fan mail has been pouring through the letter-box since their arrival.

"Georgios is famous here like back home. Because he has come to England and is the first to play for a premier side, everyone is talking about him in Greece. They are very proud of him."

The pair have not had time to miss their native country and both their parents, along with other relatives, have formed a steady stream of visitors to the Donis family home. And how does life in East Lancashire compare to their home country?

"I find a few things strange in England. There are so many green and blue eyes and blond hair. Everyone is dark haired with brown eyes in Greece. And I just can't get used to driving on the left. I feel that everyone is driving right at me," she said.

And adjustments to their social life are still needed. "We like live entertainment when we go out but in Greece the night does not start until midnight or 1pm. Here they go out far too early!" she said.

She added: "I like the pace of life here. It is much slower than in Athens which is very fast and noisy. I like it for now in Lancashire but I don't want to stay forever. I want to go back home one day."

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