Sir Ferguson 'buys £1.2million five-bed house to be closer to his grandchildren'

Sir Alex Ferguson has bought a £1.2million house in an idyllic village next door to his son Darren so he can be close to his grandchildren.

The Man Utd legend snapped up the five-bedroom property in Goostrey, Cheshire after putting his former family home on the market for £3.5million following the death of his beloved wife, Cathy.

Sir Alex and Lady Cathy had three sons, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Darren is also a football manager and currently works at League One club Peterborough United.

Goostrey, his new home, first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 and has become a base for footballers including Raheem Sterling - who lived there when he was at Manchester City.

It has two pubs, the Crown Inn and the Space Invader - previously known as the Red Lion - and several local shops, a post office and a cafe. His move was reported by The Mirror.

Earlier this month it emerged Sir Alex had put the Cheshire house he shared with his wife of 60 years up for sale following her death in October aged 84.

The football legend has described Lady Cathy, who he met in 1964, as a 'bedrock' in his life. Last week, he joked she 'would've gone mad' after he spent £650,000 on two horses before winning the Bahrain International Trophy.

Their former detached home is situated on what estate agents are hailing as 'one of Cheshire's most desirable roads' and is positioned within a 'very private, gated and secure' plot.

The home is 'deceptively spacious,' according to the property listing, and has a stunning reception area that is outfitted with a wrap-around staircase and grand chandelier. It was last sold for £2.3m in 2007 and is being offered without a chain.

Sir Alex was one of the well known faces to attended Sir Bobby Charlton's