In this article, Matt Allen speaks to former Premier League footballer, Marc Pugh. Matt reflects on how Marc’s story of faith can inform preaching.

BACKGROUND AND EARLY LIFE

Marc: Growing up, my dad used to take me to a Catholic church every Saturday night. I don’t remember particularly enjoying it, and if I am being honest, the only reason I agreed to go each week was because we went to play darts and snooker at the pub afterwards. So, I hadn’t really given my faith much thought when I was younger. Going to church on a Saturday night was just something we did, part of the routine. Then, at 15, I met my wife Laura, at school. With Laura and her family came a whole different experience of faith. I started going to church with her and instantly it felt different. Church was warm, friendly, and full of life. Kids were involved, they had puppet shows, carol concerts, laughter, music - it was a place where faith felt joyful. For the first time, I saw how church could be a community, not just a building or a routine.

I am grateful for this time as part of Laura’s church and am glad that I was already exploring my faith and had a belief and trust in God before I moved away from home at 19. Over the following few years, I was told numerous times I wasn’t good enough to make it as a footballer. I was released from clubs twice. I had to dig really deep to keep believing in myself. I worked hard not just on my physical attributes but also on my mentality and mindset. My faith played a big part in this. I just had this sense that God was protecting me and that everything would work out for the best.

Even in the hardest times, I never stopped praying. I never stopped believing that God had a plan, even when I couldn’t see it, even when it hurt, even when every door seemed to close. My faith kept me standing strong. It reminded me that everything happening was for a reason, even if that reason didn’t make sense yet. And I wasn’t alone. Laura was by my side through all of it – steady, positive, encouraging, reminding me of who I was even when I’d forgotten. Her faith, her belief in me, and her love were huge parts of what kept me going.

When I look back now, I realise that those difficult years weren’t wasted years. They were shaping me. Strengthening me. Preparing me. God wasn’t saying ‘no’, He was saying ‘not yet’. He was teaching me perseverance, humility, gratitude, and trust.

Faith didn’t remove the challenges; it carried me through them. And that’s why,

today, I have a heart full of gratitude for my faith journey so far: for my dad who planted the seed; for my wife’s church showing me the joy of faith; for Laura, whose influence and positivity kept me going. And for God, who was working long before I understood His timing.

Because every setback, every disappointment, every moment of doubt… It was all part of the journey that shaped who I am today.

Matt: I was fascinated by your mention of the importance of discovering the joy of faith. I think that this is helpful for preachers to note. One of my preaching heroes, Phillips Brooks, who was a nineteenth century clergyman (most famous for penning the carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’), wrote a book called The Joy of Preaching. In his book, Brooks highlights how truth and personality are foundational to preaching. Whatever our denomination, tradition, or style of church, joyful faith expressed through truth and personality in preaching is vital.

TRUSTING THAT GOD KNOWS BEST: KEY CAREER MOMENTS

Marc: Playing for AFC Bournemouth was an important part of my football career. However, I nearly moved on from Bournemouth a few times before we got promoted to the Premier League. In fact, I very nearly didn’t sign for them in the first place.

In 2010, after a successful season with Hereford United, I was in the position to take the next step in my career. There was talk of a few bigger clubs being interested and ideally I wanted to stay up North, close to family. However, in the end, there was only real interest from AFC Bournemouth on the table. I reluctantly took a trip to the South Coast with my wife to meet their young management team – Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall. I instantly felt that I was supposed to work with them. Their ambition and enthusiasm were contagious.

I had a fantastic start that first season and my agent said there was talks of bigger clubs interested in signing me. Unfortunately, in late November 2010, during our away game against Leyton Orient FC, after scoring two goals, I slid of the pitch and sliced open my knee on a raised sprinkler. The specialist who treated me said I was millimetres from ending my career, I thanked God that I was protected in that moment.

Then in the January, only a few months after I had moved to the other side of the country with my pregnant wife Laura, Eddie and Jason left Bournemouth to manage Burnley FC – my hometown and the club I had supported since being a young boy.

Without their leadership, as a squad we lost our way. Players left and I felt that we lacked identity as a team. I too was tempted to look elsewhere. Unfortunately for me, I was struggling with confidence after my knee injury, and any interest that there had been in me disappeared. At the time I was frustrated and upset, but I look back now and see God’s hand all over this situation. God knew what I was destined to achieve with Bournemouth, even when it was so out of reach and unbelievable at that time. We were struggling in League One and losing all our best players. I thank God that he organised things so that I had no choice but to stay and fulfil his plans for me. Only a few seasons later I was celebrating scoring goals and winning games in the Premier League. God really can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

Matt: One of the themes emerging as you share you story is how often you refer to prayer as foundational to your faith. It made me wonder how often my preaching specifically leads or encourages people into deeper prayer. Anecdotally, many of the sermons I have heard over the years have sought to inspire practical action, usually based on a biblical injunction. Not many have highlighted or foregrounded the deepening of one’s prayer life. I feel challenged about this as we think about the goal of preaching.

FAITH AND CERTAIN HOPE: A PIVOTAL MOMENT

Marc: Standing in the tunnel waiting to go out on the pitch, I try to focus my mind and ask God for protection and blessing.

‘Thank you, God, that your will be done.’

‘Thank you that you have great plans for me, Lord.’

This is the most important football match of my career to date. I am a mixture of nerves and excitement.

It is April 27th 2015. We are playing at home against Bolton Wanderers. If we win this game then AFC Bournemouth are promoted to the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history. Before the match, a group of players had our usual prayer meeting with the club Chaplain, Andy Rimmer. We prayed for God’s will to be done and for protection over all the players on the pitch. A wave of peace and acceptance came over me as I made my way out on to the pitch. I can’t explain it, but I just knew everything was going to be okay.

I was blessed to score the first goal that game and I can’t even describe the emotion of that moment. I am so grateful, and I thank God for every experience, good and bad, that led to that one. In the weeks after my Premier League debut, many people said to me ‘I bet you can’t believe that you’re playing in the Premier League against some of the best players in the world?’ The truth is, I could believe it. I believe that God placed that dream and desire in my heart at an early age, I had this deep sense of knowing that it would come to pass if I put in the work, stayed focused and believed in God’s promises for my life.

Matt: I love the video you posted online recently of that moment when you scored that first goal. The sheer joy was palpable as you ran to celebrate with the crowd. The extent to which preachers express joy and passion differs across preaching traditions. Nonetheless, I wonder whether the clarity of the celebration at scoring a goal in football can inform preaching, particularly the highlighting of key and important shared moments in a sermon.

It has been great to hear some of your story, Marc. What are you up to now, workwise?

LIFE AFTER PLAYING

Marc: I always thought I would be playing football into my 40s. I keep myself fit, I eat well, I prioritised recovery and had no plans to walk away from the game. Then Covid happened. I was playing for QPR in the Championship and having a great season. My contract was written in a way that if I started 26 games then I would trigger another 12 month contract on the same terms. I was due to start my 26th game on the Saturday, but just the day before, the FA made the decision to suspend all games until further notice. At the time I wasn’t concerned. I just assumed that I would start the next game whenever it was finally played. However, a couple of months later, I was told by the club that I wouldn’t be able to play for the club unless I signed a new agreement on lesser terms. I was let go and suddenly without a club. At that time football clubs were so concerned about their finances they weren’t bringing in new players so I had quite a few months at home. I allowed myself a few hours to be upset and angry at the situation and the timing of it all, ‘Why couldn’t they have cancelled the games just a few days later when I had my new contract?’ But I realised early on that wasn’t going to serve me and I needed to let it go and trust God’s plan. I did eventually get another contract with Shrewsbury FC for three months.

Soon after returning to full time football, I realised I had lost the spark I’d once had about the game. I wasn’t enjoying it and it just didn’t feel right. I spent those three months agonising over what to do next. Football was all I had ever known, I didn’t have any other prospects for work and no ideas what I would do if I wasn’t a footballer. I prayed on it for weeks and finally came to the conclusion that I needed to let it go and see what would happen next. When I made the decision to retire, I had no Plan B or idea of what would come next, just a sense of peace that God knew what he was leading me into. At this time, I also moved my wife and two daughters back to the Northwest, as I felt that was where we were supposed to be. It was a massive period of transition for all of us.

I had previously done a nutrition diploma with the aim to improve my fitness on the football field and had started an Instagram page, The Foodie Footballer, with the only intention of sharing what I had learnt with others so they too could feel healthier. After I decided to retire, I spent the next six months educating myself further on fitness and nutrition as that is my main passion outside of football. I became a qualified personal trainer and nutrition advisor specialising in athletic performance and fat loss. I was documenting what I was doing on my social media and started to get enquires from followers about working with me 1-1. God was working it all out in my favour once again. I have since started my own business and now have the pleasure of working with private clients, businesses and all 72 of the EFL football clubs, teaching others how to properly fuel their bodies for health and optimal performance. I believe that God has great plans for my future, and he has it all mapped out for me. It may not look how I had envisioned, but I will continue to pray for guidance and hope that with his help I can reach my full potential and live the great life he has planned for me.

Matt: Thanks, Marc!