Former Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers player Gavin Peacock is a football speaker and Christian minister currently located in Calgary, Canada. Known for his career as a striker and as a BBC sports speaker Peacock played professional football throughout the 80’s and 90’s.
Embarking on his career as a professional football speaker and player in 1984 Gavin Peacock began playing for Queens Park Rangers, leaving the club in 1987, only to return less than ten years later. Peacock left Queens Park Rangers in order to move to Third Division Gillingham in 1987 in a move which was started by his father, Keith, Gillingham’s manager. Shortly after joining, his father was sacked by the club but Gavin remained on as a player until after their relegation to the Fourth Division in 1989. He was signed by Harry Redknapp for Bournemouth in a £250,000 deal in August 1989.
Having moved to Newcastle in 1990, The Magpies were in the Second Division at the time and were founder members of the new Division One on the creation of the new FA Premier League in 1992, and in the 1992-93 season he helped them win the Division One title. His goal scoring record for the Magpies was impressive, as their top scorer in 1991-92 with 16 goals and one of their best scorers in the promotion season with 12 goals. Having briefly moved to Chelsea for £1.5million before returning to QPR. In total, he scored more than 100 goals in over 540 league appearances.
Peacock retired as a player after almost twenty years on the pitch and began a career as a football speaker and pundit for the BBC, during his broadcasting career Peacock appeared on Football Focus, Score and Match of the Day 2 as well as working as a sports speaker for Radio 5 Live. During this period Gavin Peacock also began working as a football speaker, focusing on the intersection between religious belief and football; notably presenting an episode of Songs of Praise as well as a BBC special on the subject.
In 2008 Gavin Peacock, having achieved a Theology degree from Ridley Hall, Cambridge Gavin relocated to Canada where he embarked up on a three years Masters at the Ambrose Seminary. Peacock continues to work as a football speaker as well as acting as an Elder and Pastor at Calvary Grace Church in Calgary.
Peacock played schoolboy international football for England however agonisingly missed out on full international honours despite being called to a number of training camps and being involved in various squads, a feat he says he has no regrets over as it was not meant to be. Peacock is also eternally grateful not to suffer any significant injuries during a career that spanned over 400 games.
A hugely talented player and pundit who has a wonderful knowledge about the game of football and felt a calling to pursue a different career and seek a path to God through his role as a pastor. In both walks of life Peacock has inspired many people and brought joy, happiness and hope to people around the world. A truly fascinating personality who captures the imagination and hearts of his audience through his heartfelt delivery of stories from his career, a football speaker certain to be a wonderful addition to any event.
