David Barlow David Barlow was the younger brother of Ken Barlow . Born in 1942 , he followed quite a different career path from Ken , getting his first major break as a professional footballer for a club in London before returning to Weatherfield in 1965 and marrying Irma Ogden . After sustaining an injury which ended his football career , David bought the Coronation Street Corner Shop and ran it with Irma until 1968 when they moved to Australia so he could resume his footballing . David and Irma settled down in Australia with baby Darren but in 1970 both David and Darren were killed in a car crash . Biography . 1942 - 1963 : Early life and football career . David was born on 4th July 1942 in Weatherfield , Greater Manchester . The Barlow family at 3 Coronation Street consisted of David , his older brother Ken , his mum Ida and his absent dad Frank , who was away fighting in World War II until 1945 . In 1961 , David was an apprentice engineer but he wanted to pursue a career in football . He signed for Weatherfield County FC and in his first match he scored the only goal . He was one of the team ' s best players and in June a second division London team wanted to transfer David and offered £1 , 000 to sign him . David left Weatherfield to play for the team and didn ' t return until 1963 , except for a brief trip up for Ida ' s funeral which he watched from afar . By 1963 , he was quite well off financially and didn ' t fit in with the locals . 1964 - 1967 : Irma and the shop . He next visited over Christmas 1964 and stayed with Ken and his wife Val . He didn ' t tell them that he was suspended from playing for accepting a bribe , but by February was cleared . He was off the field again in April after tearing a ligament , and stayed with the Barlows so he could date Irma Ogden , who he started seeing during his previous visit . By now , Frank had moved away , and Ken was David ' s only family in the area . David announced he was retiring from football but took a job as player coach for Weatherfield Athletic . He was also contracted to write for a football gossip column in Weatherfield Advertiser . Fun - loving Irma was flattered by David ' s interest in her and was receptive to his advances . He wanted to move the relationship to the next level and asked her to marry him when the street residents went a trip to the Blue John Mines . Irma accepted . David had big plans for them to move to Cheshire and Irma ' s parents were keen for her to have a well - off lifestyle as the Ogdens had always struggled with money . Irma ' s parents were an old - fashioned couple and Stan Ogden hit Irma when he found David in Irma ' s bedroom . David convinced Irma they should marry quietly and without telling their families , but everybody found out anyway and surprised them by showing up for a reception . While playing at a charity football match , David was injured and rushed to hospital , where he was told by the Doctor that he wouldn ' t be able to play football again . The newlyweds had to cancel their plans to buy a house as he couldn ' t continue at the club . His football career over , he considered a factory job but hesitated as it was such a step down . Irma convinced him it might be a better idea to buy the Corner Shop in Coronation Street as owner Lionel Petty was selling . At first he was too proud to accept living in Coronation Street , which caused a brief split between him and Irma . Ken ' s wife Val talked David round , telling him marriage is sometimes difficult and he has to put the effort in . David had trouble getting to know the Ogdens . In 1966 , Irma left the shop to work in the PVC factory across the street as shop work bored her , and David was lumbered with free - loading Hilda Ogden as shop assistant . David was never happy in the shop as it was typically where the women of the Street went to share gossip . Irma soon returned to work in the shop . In 1967 , David considered standing for Council elections , but Irma hated the idea and he eventually decided not to go through with it . 1967 - 1970 : A new start and a tragic end . Irma told David she wanted to have a baby . She got pregnant the same year , but had a miscarriage . David reminded Irma that they could try again but Irma was devastated and was convinced this meant she couldn ' t have children . David was fraught about how to make Irma happy , and went to an adoption agency to see if that was an option for them . David still hoped Irma would change her mind but at Christmas the couple fostered Jill Morris for a few days . In 1968 , David was rapidly growing tired of the shop , and aspired to return to football , still being young enough to have a good career ahead of him . Despite his earlier injury , he played a game , and his leg was fine . He took this as a sign that he might just be able to return to the sport full - time , for a team in Australia , but Irma was dead against it - the prospect of living somewhere where they didn ' t know anyone appealed to David much more than it did to Irma . However , when David was offered the position he wanted he took it and set about selling the shop . To interest potential buyers , he had an article published in the " Gazette " but the article made it seem as though David and Irma were emigrating because streets like Coronation Street were beneath them . Maggie Clegg eventually bought the shop . In 1970 , the Barlows and their son Darren were involved in a car crash . David and Darren were both killed , but Irma survived and returned to Weatherfield shortly after the crash . Relationships . Ken Barlow . David and his brother Ken Barlow had something in common - they both married someone who wasn ' t much like them at all . Ken and his wife Valerie had many more ups and downs than David and Irma , and Ken usually ignored David ' s advice when it was offered . As a teacher who put his principles above his family sometimes , Ken was even willing to go to prison for seven days in 1967 by joining a student demo and refusing to pay a fine after being caught by the police . David and Val considered paying the fine behind Ken ' s back but Val refused as it would undoubtably be a massive betrayal to Ken . Despite their different interests the brothers got along well . Quotes . " ' ello , Ma " ( First line ) " You ' re the same as the Ogdens underneath and you know it . You were born ' ere , Coronation Street , a two - up , two - down terrace with a backyard and an outside lav . Our dad was a postman and our mam was a cleaner in a hotel . Not much to be proud about that , is there ? " ( to brother Ken )