Though proud of his associations to former clubs Newcastle and Chelsea, ‘poacher turned pastor’ Gavin Peacock has chosen a path that looks at a bigger picture than which teams qualify for the Champions League.
As a player, Peacock was football’s most famous born-again Christian, overcoming ‘Bible-basher’ wind-ups from opponents to gain respect as an attacking midfielder with QPR, Gillingham, Bournemouth and Charlton, in addition to helping Newcastle and Chelsea transform from sleeping giants into the major forces they are today.
If anything, his career following retirement is even more fascinating, a far cry from Sunday’s High Noon showdown between the top five-rivals at St James’ Park.
Having done well as a BBC pundit and presenter, he gave it all up after Euro 2008 to move to Canada where he studied theology and preached in Baptist churches in the Calgary area.
His two grown-up children still live there but Gavin and his wife Amanda have recently returned to England to work in churches in Kent, the county where he grew up.
It’s been some journey for Peacock to discuss with Mail Sport in his favourite cafe Melucci’s, where he still regularly meets former Chelsea pals Tony Cascarino and Scott Minto.
Former Chelsea and Newcastle star Gavin Peacock was football’s most famous born-again Christian during his playing career
Peacock overcame ‘Bible-basher’ wind-ups from opponents during his playing career, while he took the major step to walk away from his role at the BBC to preach in Calgary, Canada
Peacock sat down with Mail Sport at his favourite cafe Melucci’s to discuss his two careers
‘I became a Christian at 18 when I was at QPR,’ he explains.
‘I was living the dream as a footballer with some money in my pocket and a bit of adulation from fans. But, because football was my God, I questioned why I felt good if I played well and low if I’d done badly.
‘We weren’t practising Christians at home but one night my Mum said she was going to the local church and I went to keep her company.
‘Afterwards, I went to a youth meeting. I pulled up in my Ford XR3i and had the mullet to match. I walked in thinking I was part of the in-crowd but these other young people had something I didn’t. When they spoke about Jesus Christ and prayed, there was a joy and reality I didn’t have.
‘I was saved then and everything fell into place. My biggest issue was no longer being adored by the crowd but to be in the right relationship with God.
‘It helped my career. The fears and anxieties dissipated. My happiness was no longer completely dependent on football.’
Back then, anyone who stood outside the footballers’ stereotype could have been treated with suspicion. But Peacock was open about his faith.
‘Some people thought I couldn’t be a Christian and still aggressive on the pitch but that wasn’t the case. Within the rules of the game, I am going hard to beat you.
Peacock recently returned to England to work in churches in Kent, the county he grew up in
Peacock believes his faith helped his career and that team-mates quickly realised his life could make the profession, despite some mickey-taking
‘I was only a young lad. If the dressing-room leaders like Terry Fenwick and John Gregory asked what I’d got up to over the weekend, I’d tell them: ‘I went to church!’
‘There was a bit of mickey-taking but they quickly saw my life could match the profession. I had some amazing conversations with footballers you’d never think would ask about faith.
‘I held a London Christian bible study at my house in Bexley. Different players came; Chris Powell, Carl Leaburn, Matt Jansen. It was a good opportunity to talk about deeper things in life.’
Peacock found his managers understanding, including Glenn Hoddle at Chelsea
‘Glenn asked me to go and see his healer, Eileen Drewery,’ reveals Peacock. ‘I said I didn’t really want to do that because it didn’t fit with my faith and Glenn was respectful.’
On the pitch, Peacock knew any tantrums would be used against him. ‘People watched to see how I behaved,’ he acknowledges.
‘You can’t be perfect but I carried myself as a player with self-control that came from being a Christian.
‘I tried to deal with victory and defeat on an even keel. We lost the 1994 FA Cup final at Chelsea against Manchester United. It was gutting of course but whereas some of our players threw their medal away, I was able to keep things in perspective.
Peacock believes being a Christian helped him to keep things in perspective during his career
Peacock knew any tantrums would be used against him and that his behaviour was watched
‘The big centre-half Craig Short once played against me at St James’ Park for Derby. I was causing him problems. He smacked me on the back of the head and called me a Bible-basher!
‘My way of reacting was not to get angry but to laugh it off and nutmeg him.’
Peacock, whose trademark dark locks have now disappeared, can use football in his sermons.’ I was talking about hope the other day and compared the certainty of Christian hope to a football fan’s hope – as in “I hope that Gillingham get promotion” which may never happen!
‘People smile but it makes the point there is a difference.’
Having found fame as a player and then on TV, moving to Canada where he was anonymous was a huge change.
‘Calgary is a cowboy town. They call it the Texas of Canada,’ he says.
‘When I first met the senior pastor, he walked in with a Stetson and an equally big belt and boots. It’s also an oil town but one where I can see the Rocky Mountains from my window.
‘The winters are brutally cold. Snow starts at the end of November and stays until March. Our first home was in a little mountain town called Canmore. I’m a boy from suburbia who went from Match of the Day to driving into Calgary to study Hebrew and Greek, driving miles without seeing another car.’
Peacock began a career in broadcasting after his retirement – seen as part of a BBC commentary team for a match in September 2006
He has gained a reputation for being an excellent public speaker and believes his work in television helped
Gavin’s son Jake has become a sports star himself in the martial art of Muay Thai, despite being born with only one hand
The move worked out. Gavin’s two children Jake and Ava are now grown-up and have built their lives there. Jake is a sports star himself in the martial art of Muay Thai. His achievement is even more remarkable because he was born with only one hand.
Gavin has developed a reputation for being an excellent public speaker. Besides his work in churches, he is invited to conferences around the world. His autobiography A Greater Glory has led to him hosting faith and football evenings around England.
He says his work in television helped has helped with the religious oratory.
‘My producer on MOTD2 Mark Demuth taught me to think about my first line and a line to come out of VT. It’s a good way to construct a sermon, a good introduction and conclusion so people are left with the main point.’
For the next two years, he will be based in England, working as a pastor at the Bethersden Baptist Church near Ashford, and helping at his local church in Bexleyheath.
It enables him to be close to his parents. Dad Keith, now 80, is a Charlton legend who made history in 1965 by becoming football’s first substitute.
Gavin is aware of the challenges faced by today’s younger generation, with footballers facing additional strains.
‘Social media has its own power and can be negative,’ he assesses. ‘People on there can be presenting one thing about themselves and feeling another. You can end up in a fake world you’re supposed to aspire to.
For the next two years, Peacock will work as a pastor at the Bethersden Baptist Church near Ashford, and help at his local church in Bexleyheath
Peacock is aware of the additional strain on the younger generation, with social media adding to the pressure on footballers
‘As footballers, you can be bombarded with adulation. It can feed an ego. Conversely, you don’t want to be reading if someone is hammering you. But it’s addictive.
Peacock will be back in Canada this weekend visiting his children when Newcastle face Chelsea.
His time in the north-east coincided with the arrival of Kevin Keegan as manager in 1992. Peacock was won promotion to the Premier League but then joined Chelsea, needing wider family support down south due to the difficulties surrounding Jake’s birth.
At Chelsea, Hoddle upgraded the club. Besides Wembley, Peacock reached a European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final in 1995 and then played in the same team as Ruud Gullit.
‘Keegan said I was going from one big club to another,’ said Peacock. ‘They are similar in having a rich history with attractive teams.
‘Newcastle was particularly special because it’s a working-class, mining area. The stadium sits on top of a hill, like a temple.
‘The fans were so passionate. I was recognised wherever I went. I remember going to the cinema with my wife. Fans saw me go in and waited outside chanting my name until I came out to give them a handshake and a wave.
‘My grand-dad was a Geordie so it had that connection for me. It was brilliant to see them win the Carabao Cup.
Peacock was part of the Newcastle side promoted to the top flight under Kevin Keegan in 1993
The former Newcastle midfielder believes Eddie Howe is special having led the club to a trophy
‘Eddie Howe is special. He’s delivered a trophy which even Kevin and Sir Bobby Robson didn’t achieve. My cousin who is an almanac on Newcastle and lives there texted me to say Eddie was the greatest of them all.’
Howe has thankfully recovered from pneumonia. Peacock prayed for him and is happy to comfort and support those in the football community.
‘I will get messages from people who ask if I can pray for them,’ he says. ‘I messaged a former team-mate who went in for surgery not long ago that I would pray for them. They are glad of that. It’s a care and concern and I want them to know the hope I have in Jesus Christ.’
Football was once described as the most important of the unimportant things in life and Peacock is happy to discuss this weekend’s big match.
‘I loved playing for Chelsea. I think their fans would agree they’ve underachieved this season,’ he says.
‘They could still make it into the Champions League and they should to warrant the money they have spent. If you buy players for £100million, there has to be an expectation.
‘There is much more pressure on them. Winning a trophy is a release valve for Newcastle. For Chelsea, it’s like you have to get Champions League or else!’
Peacock’s favourite current player is Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. ‘He is also an attacking midfielder but miles better than I was,’ laughs the 57-year-old.
Peacock believes Chelsea are under more pressure than Newcastle to secure Champions League football, but hopes both his former sides reach Europe’s elite club competition
His favourite current Chelsea player is Cole Palmer, who believes there is a lot more to come from
‘I was creative and could score goals but Cole can go past people and has a bit more pace. He has that supreme confidence.
‘When I was at my peak, I heard that buzz from the crowd when I got on the ball. At the Euros, every time Cole came on, something happened. He’s just turned 23. I expect a lot more to come.’
Peacock’s live football these days is at Charlton, going with his Dad. He wants both Newcastle and Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League.
‘I think Newcastle will get there because of their momentum,’ he predicts. ‘And Chelsea will because they must!’
