Snippets: Gavin Peacock Pursuing Very Different Post-Football Career...Transfer Gossip

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The article notes he collaborated on a book with Alan Comfort (who also was a one-time QPR winger).

The Times/Tom Dart May 27, 2008 - Gavin Peacock departs for religious journey
The end of Euro 2008 will mark the beginning of a new life for Gavin Peacock. The BBC pundit and former Chelsea and Newcastle United midfield player is moving to Canada to study religion in preparation for a career in the church.
After finishing work at the tournament in Austria and Switzerland next month, the 40-year-old will emigrate with his wife and two children to Calgary in July to begin a three-year Masters course in Divinity at Ambrose Seminary, a leading theological college. Peacock will become a pastor, vicar or minister, depending on which denomination he chooses to follow.
Peacock is a frequent visitor to Canada and has said that he finds the Rocky Mountains to be a deeply spiritual place. Since last September, he has studied for a BA in Theology at Ridley Hall, a college in Cambridge that trains future ministers.
The pundit has been a Christian since the age of 19, when he was with Queens Park Rangers, and hosted a Bible study group for footballers. A frequent speaker at church events, he has preached at his Anglican church in Kent and this year he has combined his football broadcasting duties with presenting Songs of Praise.
Peacock’s faith is far from unusual in football — a number of prominent players are Christians, such as Jermain Defoe and Linvoy Primus, of Portsmouth. Kaká, the AC Milan playmaker, has made no secret of his beliefs. After Milan’s Champions League final victory over Liverpool last year, he unveiled a vest emblazoned with the words “I belong to Jesus”.
In 1994, the year that Peacock famously hit the bar as Chelsea lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup Final, he collaborated on a book — Never Walk Alone — with Alan Comfort, a winger-turned-reverend who is club chaplain at Leyton Orient. The Times


Telegraph - Gavin Peacock departs for religious journey
Gavin Peacock will quit his role as a football pundit with the BBC to pursue a career in the church at the conclusion to this summer's Euro 2008 finals.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder is emigrating to Canada later this year to begin a three-year Masters course in Divinity at Ambrose Seminary.
The 40-year-old will then decide whether to become a pastor, vicar or minister at the end of his studies.
Since last September Peacock has been studying for a BA in Theology at a college in Cambridge.
The TV pundit, who is a regular on Football Focus and Match of the Day 2, has been a Christian since he was 19 and has combined his religious studies during his footballing career.
While at QPR, Peacock hosted a Bible study group for footballers. More recently he combined his punditry duties with hosting Songs of Praise.
Peacock, however, has decided to begin a new life away from football at the end of Euro 2008 to dedicate more of his time to the church.
After working on the championship in Austria and Switzerland, Peacock, his wife and two children will move to Calgary in July.
Peacock's dedication to his faith is nothing unusual in football. There are plenty of Premier League players who have said that faith has played a part in their careers, including Middlesbrough's George Boateng and Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe.
AC Milan playmaker Kaka, meanwhile, has openly admitted he wants to become a priest when he retires.
After Milan's Champions League final success over Liverpool last year, he unveiled a vest will the words "I belong to Jesus".
Kaka said he become deeply religious when he was 12 and it was strengthened in October 2000 when he slipped on a swimming pool slide and broke a vertebrae.
"The doctors said that I was lucky to be able to walk normally," he said.
"They were talking about luck and my family was talking about God. We knew that it was His hand that had saved me." Telegraph



TRANSFER GOSSIP
BBC Gossip - Norwich are leading the race to sign Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford but Ipswich, QPR and Reading are also interested. (Daily Star)" BBC

Various rumours about QPR/Crystal Palace's Clint Morrison:
From a couple of days ago: Ealing Times - Simon Mail - Morrison linked with QPR switch
Clinton Morrison could be set for a move to Queens Park Rangers after turning down a new contract.
The Crystal Palace striker can leave on a free transfer this summer and would be tempted by a move across London to link up with old boss Iain Dowie again.
Dowie brought Morrison back to Selhurst Park in 2005 and a striker is likely to be at the top of his shopping list this summer.
Reading are also thought to be leading the chase for the Republic of Ireland striker. Ealing Times