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<\/p>\nRICHARD LEADBEATER became a Christian while on Wolves' books in the 1990s.<\/p>\n
Ten years later, the striker would hang up his boots for good in order to take on a full-time role with the church.<\/p>\n
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The promising forward came through Wolves' academy during Graham Taylor's time at Molineux, going on to debut under the former England boss' successor Mark McGhee.<\/p>\n
Leadbeater told Wolves Heroes: "For me, it was a shame Graham left.<\/p>\n
"If Graham had stayed, I think I\u2019d have got a longer contact than the one year I was offered under McGhee.<\/p>\n
"He didn\u2019t know us, so he didn\u2019t want to commit to longer."<\/p>\n
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Leadbeater made one first team appearance for Wolves in 1996, before being loaned out to Hereford the following year.<\/p>\n
He scored seven goals in 15 games on loan at Edgar Street, including a memorable hat-trick against rivals Kidderminster in a 4-1 win.<\/p>\n
The striker had become a Christian at 16 after his older sister had revealed that she had started going to church.<\/p>\n
And following his Wolves release upon the conclusion of his loan spell at Hereford, his interest in the ministry only grew.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS<\/strong><\/p>\n After a series of trials at Football League clubs, Leadbeater joined Hereford on a permanent deal.<\/p>\n Just six months later he was on the move again, when Stevenage offered cash-strapped Hereford \u00a320,000 for his services.<\/p>\n After two-and-a-half seasons with Stevenage he moved to Hednesford Town, with his love for the professional game on the decline – partly because he was being paid to play.<\/p>\n He told the Hereford Times: "My passion for the game had started waning while my passion for being involved in the ministry was increasing.<\/p>\n "One of the things I wrestled with towards the end of my career was being paid to play sport. When you are paid to play it stops being a sport and starts becoming a business. I found the two were often an uneasy fit."<\/p>\n During later spells at Halesowen Town and Redditch United, Leadbeater began studying theology at the University of Birmingham.<\/p>\n And at just 26, he retired from football to focus on the church.<\/p>\n He spent four years as a pastoral assistant at St Stephen's Church in Selly Oak, Birmingham.<\/p>\n And after being ordained at Birmingham Cathedral in 2010, he took his first service.<\/p>\n It was a 5-6 year period where I slowed down one career and started another one<\/p>\n On his journey with the church, he later told Your Herefordshire: "It was a long process, I become a Christian at 16, the older I got, the more I wanted to work full time in the church.<\/p>\n "I began a process of dropping down the leagues and whilst doing that I took some studies and explored different avenues, it was a 5-6 year period where I slowed down one career and started another one.<\/p>\n "I was ordained in the Church of England and moved to Guildford in 2014 where I\u2019m based at the King\u2019s Church."<\/p>\n Despite the culture of "mickeytaking" in football, Leadbeater does think there are similarities between his old profession and his current one.<\/p>\n He added: "I like to think my sermons are like being in a football changing room. I feel like I\u2019m rallying the troops.<\/p>\n "I try not to mention to people about my football past, as it can come across as arrogant and it was a long time ago."<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ah-OFF-PLATFORM-billy-davies.jpg\")
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