Although he is proud of his associations with former clubs Newcastle and Chelsea, POACHER Pastor 'Gavin Peacock has chosen a path that looks at a larger picture than which teams are eligible for the Champions League.
As a player, Peacock was the most famous Born-Again Christian of Voetbal, who conquered 'Bible-Basher' road walks of opponents to respect as an attacking midfielder with QPR, Gillingham, Bournemouth and Charlton, in addition to helping new Castle and Chelsea to transform sleeping giants in the most important giants in the most important giants in the most important givers in the Giants in Giants.
If there is something, his career after retirement is even more fascinating, far away from the High Noon-Showdown on Sunday among the top five rivals in St James' Park.
After doing well as a BBC expert and presenter, he gave up after Euro 2008 to move to Canada, where he studied theology and preached in Baptist Churches in the Calgary area.
His two adult 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 has been a trip for Peacock to discuss with Mail Sport in his favorite Cafe Melucci's, where he still regularly meets former Chelsea friends Tony Cascarino and Scott Minto.
“I became a Christian at the age of 18 when I was at QPR,” he explains.
'I lived the dream as a football player with some money in my pocket and a little admiration from fans. But because football was my God, I wondered why I felt good when I played well and low if I had done it badly.
“We didn't practice Christians at home, but one night my mother said she was going to the local church and I was going to keep her company.
'Then I went to a youth meeting. I put in my Ford XR3i and had the mul it fits together. I walked by thinking that I was part of the in-crowd, but these other young people had something that I didn't have. When they talked about Jesus Christ, there was a joy and reality that I didn't have.
“I was saved then and everything fell into place. My biggest problem was no longer worshiped by the crowd, but to be in the right relationship with God.
“It helped my career. The fears and fears disappeared. My happiness was no longer completely dependent on football. '
At the time, everyone who was outside the stereotype of the football players had to do with suspicion. But Peacock was open about his faith.
'Some people thought I could not be a Christian and still aggressive on the field, but that was not the case. Within the rules of the game I am hard to beat you.
“I was just a young boy. If the leaders of the dressing room such as Terry Fenwick and John Gregory asked what I had done at the weekend, I would tell them: “I went to church!”
'There was a little Mickey making, but they soon saw that my life could match the profession. I had some great conversations with football players that you would never think would ask about the faith.
“I held a London Christian Bible Study in my house in Bexley. Several 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 near Chelsea
“Glenn asked me to see his healer, Eileen Drewery,” Peacock reveals. “I said I didn't really want to do that because it didn't fit my faith and Glenn was respectful.”
On the field, Peacock knew that any tantrums would be used against him. “People watched to see how I behaved,” he acknowledges.
'You can't be perfect, but I wore myself as a player with self -control that came from a Christian.
“I tried to tackle the victory and beat an even keel. We lost the FA Cup final of 1994 in Chelsea against Manchester United. It was of course the lips, but while some of our players threw away their medal, I was able to keep things in perspective.
'The Grote Centrum half Craig Short once played against me in St James' Park for Derby. I caused him problems. He hit 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 at it and to nutmeg him.”
Peacock, whose characteristic dark locks have now disappeared, can use football in his sermons. “I was last talking about hope and compared the certainty of Christian hope with the hope of a football fan – as” I hope that Gillingham gets promoted “that might never happen!
“People smile, but it makes the point that there is a difference.”
After finding fame as a player and then on TV, moving to Canada where he was anonymous change was a huge change.
'Calgary is a cowboy city. 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 large belt and boots. It is also an oil city, but one where I can see the Rocky Mountains from my window.
'The winters are cheeky cold. Snow starts at the end of November and will stay until March. Our first house was in a small mountain town called Canmore. I am a boy from Suburbia who went to Calgary from the game of the day to study Hebrew and Greek, miles without seeing another car. '
The move has been worked out. Gavin's two children Jake and Ava are now mature and have built their lives there. Jake himself is a sportswoman in the martial art of Muay Thai. His performance is even more remarkable because he was born with only one hand.
Gavin has developed a reputation as an excellent speaker in public. In addition to his work in churches, he is invited to conferences around the world. His autobiography a Greater Glory has led him to organize faith and football evenings in England.
He says that his work in television helped in the religious oratory.
'My producer at Motd2 Mark Demuth taught me to think about my first line and a line to get out of VT. It is a good way to build a sermon, a good introduction and conclusion, so that people stay behind with the most important point. '
For the next two years he will be located in England, working as a pastor in the Bethersden Baptist Church near Ashford, and will help in his local church in Bexleyheath.
It enables him to be close to his parents. Papa Keith, now 80, is a legend of Charlton who wrote history in 1965 by becoming the first replacement for football.
Gavin is aware of the challenges that the younger generation of today is confronted, where football players are confronted with extra tensions.
“Social media have its own power and can be negative,” he assesses. 'People on there can present one about themselves and feel another. You can end up in a fake world that you have to strive for.
'As football players you can be bombed with admiration. It can feed an ego. Conversely, you don't want to read if someone hammers you. But it's addictive.
Peacock will be back in Canada this weekend to visit his children when Newcastle is confronted with Chelsea.
His time in the northeast coincided with the arrival of Kevin Keegan in 1992. Peacock was won promotion to the Premier League, but then joined Chelsea, who needed wider family support in the south because of the difficulties surrounding Jake's birth.
At Chelsea, Hoddle has upgraded the club. In addition to Wembley, Peacock reached a semi -final of the European Cup winners' Cup in 1995 and then played in the same team as Ruud Gullit.
“Keegan said I was going from one big club to the other,” said Peacock. 'They are similar in having a rich history with attractive teams.
'Newcastle was particularly special because it is a working area of the working class. The stadium is on a hill, like a temple.
“The fans were so passionate. I was recognized wherever I went. I remember that I went to the cinema with my wife. Fans saw me go inside and waited outside to sing my name until I came out to give them a handshake and a wave.
“My grandfather was a Geordie, so it had that connection for me. It was brilliant to see them win the Carabao Cup.
'Eddie Howe is special. He has delivered a trophy that even Kevin and Sir Bobby Robson have not reached. My cousin who is an Almanac on Newcastle and lives there, sent me an SMS to say that Eddie was the greatest of all. '
Howe has happily recovered from pneumonia. Peacock prayed for him and is happy to comfort and support those in the football community.
“I get messages from people who ask if I can pray for them,” he says. 'I sent a former teammate who was operated on not long ago that I would pray for them. That is happy with them. It is a concern and concern and I want them to know the hope that 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 the big game of this weekend.
'I thought it was great to play for Chelsea. I think their fans would agree that they did not get enough this season, “he says.
'They could still reach the Champions League and they must justify the money they have spent. If you buy players for £ 100 million, there must be an expectation.
“There is much more pressure on them. Winning a trophy is a release valve for Newcastle. For Chelsea it is as if you should get Champions League or else! '
The favorite current player of Peacock is Chelsea's Cole Palmer. “He is also an attacking midfielder, but miles better than I was,” laughs the 57-year-old.
'I was creative and could score goals, but Cole can go beyond people and has a little more pace. He has that highest trust.
'When I was at my peak, I heard that buzz from the crowd when I got on the ball. At the euro every time Cole came up, something happened. He just turned 23. I expect much more. '
Peacock's live football is nowadays in Charlton and goes with his father. He wants both Newcastle and Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League.
“I think Newcastle will come because of their momentum,” he predicts. “And Chelsea will do it because they have to!”
Comments