The player in question quit his media role with the BBC after Euro 2008 (Image: Getty)
Former footballer Gavin Peacock initially headed down a traditional career path for a retired player. But he would later make a sudden change of direction.
A talented midfielder with an eye for goal, Peacock played for the likes of , and before hanging up his boots in 2002. He moved swiftly into the media, making appearances on , Football Focus and Radio 5 Live to provide punditry and expertise.
Peacock was even part of the ‘s coverage of Euro 2008. But in the wake of the tournament, he took the plunge and moved to Canada, where he studied theology and served as a church pastor in Calgary.
“[The TV work] was all going very well,” said Peacock. “So when I gave everything up, it did surprise a number of people. It’s been the hardest few years of my life – but coming away from the UK has given me some anonymity. Here in Canada, they consider me a preacher, not a footballer or pundit.”
Peacock finished his football career with more than a century of professional goals and over 500 first-team appearances. Among his accolades are the 1991/92 Player of the Year award, and becoming ‘s top scorer in the 1993/94 season.
He has been a Christian since his teenage years, and has taken part in a number of ventures to discuss links between football – his first career – and religion, which has been the story of his retirement.
Gavin Peacock was Chelsea’s top scorer in the 1993/94 season (Image: Getty)
The 57-year-old once presented a feature on Football Focus about faith in sport, published an autobiography titled A Greater Glory: From Pitch to Pulpit, and now attracts audiences with his ‘faith and football’ talks.
After spending more than a decade in Canada, Peacock is preparing to return to the UK, where he will spend a year as pastor at Bethersden Baptist Church in Kent.
Explaining the decision to quit his high-profile media role and perform a dramatic U-turn, Peacock said: “In 2006, my wife got an illness and was in hospital for a couple of weeks.
“That recalibrated my thinking and I thought about going into church leadership, and eventually gave up my media career. Being a pastor really is calling to me. I’ve played at Wembley in an FA Cup final but feel a stronger sense of responsibility when I’m giving a service to 30 people.”