A FORMER Chelsea and Newcastle star looks completely unrecognisable as a pastor after leaving his Match of the Day punditry job.
The 55-year-old enjoyed 18 successful years as a footballer.
The Canadian PressThe ex-Prem star is now a pastor in Canada[/caption]
Phil Shephard-Lewis – The TimesThe former midfielder and striker scored 17 Prem goals[/caption]
PAHe quit England for Canada following Euro 2008[/caption]
He began and ended his career with Queen’s Park Rangers.
In between that he played in the Premier League for Chelsea and Charlton Athletic, while also playing for Newcastle in the First Division.
Short spells also came in the Football League for Gillingham and Bournemouth.
The Eltham-born ace played in both midfield and attack and could be recognised for his clean shaven look with a full head of brown hair.
After retiring, he moved into punditry, working across TV and radio for the BBC.
The Match of the Day 2 regular then ditched punditry to become a pastor after working at Euro 2008.
He moved to Canada for a three-year theology masters course with his wife Amanda, and their two children, Jake and Ava.
Now bald and rocking a beard, looking completely unrecognisable, the ex-footie ace is the associate pastor of Calvary Grace Church in Calgary.
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And the mystery footballer can be revealed as… Gavin Peacock.
Peacock also writes books on marriage and the family, and has an autobiography called A Greater Glory.
The pastor has been a Christian since he was a teenager.
He told the Independent in 2010: “I left England after Euro 2008, when I had been working as part of the TV team for the BBC.
“And not long after I was living in a small town in a strange country, getting up at seven in the morning to study Hebrew at eight, followed by ancient Greek at 10. And I wondered, ‘What have I got myself into?’”
Peacock continued: “When I got the call to enter the ministry I just felt like that what I was meant to do. I feel compelled to do it.
“I was in my study reading my Bible when it seemed someone had highlighted the words on the pages. I suddenly felt the calling to preach.”
Peacock was a Prem footballer for Chelsea and CharltonNews Group Newspapers Ltd
News Group Newspapers LtdPeacock looks unrecognisable decades after his playing days[/caption]
GettyPeacock played for Newcastle in the First Division[/caption] Read More