HIS name is synonymous with Portsmouth Football Club but now he has happily traded the glitz and glamour of professional football for a life of God.

Linvoy Primus has gone down in Portsmouth folklore as a legendary defensive stalwart who was an influential figure during the club’s time in the Premier League.

Since retiring from Portsmouth in 2010, Linvoy has achieved a sense of happiness that he never managed through football.

He spends much of his time speaking at churches, where through describing his conversion to Christianity he encourages people to reach their potential in Jesus Christ.

Linvoy, 40, will be giving a talk on Wednesday, March 5, as part of a series of Lent talks at Prior Park School in Cricklade, which have been organised by Cricklade Churches Together.

As part of the talk, which takes place at the school on Calcutt Street, he will be describing how through his conversion to Christianity he was able to overcome disillusionment, low self-esteem and rejections, which led to a life that was completely transformed.

He said: “I had the life of a footballer but I wasn’t happy.At 29 I went back to church again after not going since I was a child. Becoming a Christian again was a memorable part of my life.Most of my time playing I still wasn’t happy.

”Since I retired from playing for Portsmouth I decided to contact churches to talk about the ups and downs of football and my journey as a Christian during the course of my football days.

“My faith has been my balance and focus and when there is tough and good times it is my faith that helps bring me through.”

Linvoy, who also played for Charlton, Barnet and Reading, helped set up the charity Faith in Football, which uses football to build relationships in a range of community, educational and overseas programmes.

Whilst playing for Portsmouth, Linvoy won fan’s Player of the Year three times as well as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Fans’ Player of the Year.

Among the other lists of speakers taking part in the Churches Together talks, which are taking place throughout March, will be fitness and diet guru Rosemary Conley CBE.

Tickets for Linvoy’s talk, which starts at 7pm, are available from Graham Light on 01793 752671.

For a full list of speakers at the Churches Together Lent talks visit www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk