Football crazy squaddie Dave Borrie loves the beautiful game so much he drives 1,300 miles every weekend just to play in a pub league.

Dave is stationed in Germany with the Royal Dragoon Guards and his marathon trek starts on Friday afternoon when he finishes guard duty in the barracks at Munster. The 22-year-old private spends the night driving through Germany, Holland, Belgium and France.

Arriving at Dover via the Channel Tunnel, he then spends Saturday driving to Scarborough where his family and girlfriend live.

Sunday morning sees the private on parade as centre half with pub team West Riding FC - then it's back to the pub for a Sunday dinner before heading back to Munster in time to report for duty on Monday.

The team have just won promotion to Division Two of the Scarborough and District Sunday league, and Dave's devotion is such he has missed only one weekend game this season which was after the September 11 attack when all leave was cancelled.

"It costs me about a £100 a week in petrol but I just love football and they are a great bunch of lads to play alongside," said Dave.

"My girlfriend, Liza, is expecting our first child in the summer so that's another good reason to get home an often as possible."

Dave's not the only one who makes a long trek to play for the pub. Royal Marines John Lerigo and Andrew McCarton have made the trek from bases in Arbroath and Plymouth in the past.