Ex-Chelsea star ditched Match of the Day to become a PASTOR, supports Joey Barton, and claims women should be the ‘submissive helper’ in relationships

The transition from playing to punditry is a well-trodden path in football, and was the one Gavin Peacock initially looked set to master when he hung up his boots in 2002.

The versatile footballer enjoyed a fine 18-year career at the top level, most notably helping Newcastle gain promotion to the Premier League in 1993, and then playing for Chelsea for three years after being signed by Glenn Hoddle.

He was swiftly handed a role with the BBC following retirement, and Peacock regularly appeared on flagship shows including Match of the Day, Football Focus and Score, impressing fans with his knowledge of the game.

He also proved Chelsea remained close to his heart by hosting a weekly podcast on their official club website.

But then his career path took a dramatic twist.

Peacock (third left) appeared on Match of the Day and Football Focus as a pundit

Peacock (pictured outside his childhood church in Bexley, London) has had a dramatic career change, and is now a pastor at a church in Calgary, Canada

Perhaps we should have seen it coming. Peacock began preaching in his local church towards the end of his playing career after becoming a Christian as a teenager, and then presented a feature on Football Focus about faith in the game in 2006. 

The signs were there that he was thinking of spreading his wings away from football.

Two years later, he left the BBC to embark on a masters degree in divinity at Ambrose Seminary in Canada, and he has remained in North America ever since.

Peacock, 56, now lives with his wife of 35 years, Amanda, in Calgary where he works as a pastor at Calvary Grace Church. 

Living on the other side of the world, it would be reasonable to assume that we would not hear much from him anymore. 

But Peacock threw himself back into the spotlight last month when he showed support to Joey Barton after his rant about female pundits and commentators working in the men’s game.

Barton hit out at the number of females being hired to cover men’s football, while also ridiculing the quality of women’s football by claiming he could score 100 out of 100 penalties against England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Joey Barton has been hitting out at women working in the men’s game on social media

Barton claimed he would score 100 out of 100 penalties against England goalkeeper Mary Earps following her Sports Personality of the Year triumph last month

Peacock has also claimed there is a major difference between men’s and women’s football

He posted a supportive message to Barton after his online rant in early December

Peacock was only too happy to jump on board as he posted on X: ‘Many people ask me what UK professional division would the England women’s team be able to play in. 

‘My answer is always “none”. The physical power & aggression of any men’s pro league would be overwhelming. 

‘That’s not sexist it’s just a simple fact of biological difference.’

He then messaged Barton directly, adding: ‘Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) has put his finger on an issue others are afraid to speak on. 

‘I agree with him on female pundits & co comm. Presenting & interviewing is different. 

‘The whole thing is indicative of a wider societal woke malaise that will not hear opposing opinion.’

Having made his views on women in football abundantly clear, it doesn’t take a lengthy scroll through Peacock’s social media to learn his opinion on them in society.

He co-authored The Grand Design, a book presenting a theological view on gender roles in 2016, and regularly spreads the message online to his 20,000 X followers.

On November 13 last year, Peacock wrote on X: ‘A well-ordered home for unity and fruitfulness: A husband as loving head. A wife as submissive helper. Children who are obedient to parents.’

Peacock has posted his controversial views about gender roles on social media

Peacock also believes ‘marriage is between one man & one woman’

He followed that up a week later by declaring: ‘Husbands set the tone and direction of the marriage.’

Peacock went a step further last weekend when he posted: ‘Marriage is between one man & one woman. 

‘A husband is the head of his wife & loves her like Christ loves the church. A wife respects her husband & submits to him in all things like the church submits to Christ. 

‘Children obey their parents in the Lord. A biblical family.’

He expressed his controversial view despite legislation allowing same-sex marriage being passed in England and Wales in 2013, and coming into effect the following year.

Indeed, same-sex marriage was legalised in Canada back in 2005, meaning it has been permitted in the country Peacock currently resides for almost two decades.

Peacock (pictured with his wife Amanda) has expressed controversial views when it comes to gender roles in relationships

If Peacock did have any ambitions of getting back into punditry, his chances of achieving that dream seem to be slimming by the day.

With every misogynistic post that appears on their timelines, Peacock and Barton can see their media careers moving further into the distance.

But maybe Peacock is perfectly happy with that. The man who once regularly appeared alongside Gary Lineker and co. on Saturday nights looks to have changed beyond recognition.

It has been a remarkable career switch for the ex-Premier League footballer, and one that now looks almost impossible to be reversed.