A FORMER professional footballer has spoken about how his faith helped his career during a visit to a Dengie church.

Ex-Portsmouth player Linvoy Primus gave a talk on Christianity at Purleigh Village Hall on Saturday.

Linvoy has been asked to speak about his book and about faith and religion in football by All Saints Church in the village.

The Rev Susan Cooper said: “Everybody was absolutely rapt listening to him and there were a number of questions afterwards.

“People were inspired to go and talk to him and buy his book. It was a memorable morning and most successful.”

Linvoy, who was awarded an MBE for his services to football and charity in 2012, became a regular churchgoer in 2001.

Rev Cooper, who introduced Linvoy, said he was “very personable”.

She added: “Before his faith really took over he said he had got more or less everything but he felt empty.

“He spoke about how having Christ in his life changed all that.”