Pro footballer: Faith is 24/7

Standing at 6ft 3” and weighing more than 15 stone, you would be foolish to argue with solid defender Darren Moore.

In fact, the Burton Albion star jokes that his teammates never question his Christian beliefs because of his huge size.

Darren, who has played for clubs such as Portsmouth, West Brom and Derby during an impressive career, revealed he converted to Christianity after Bradford City assistant boss Wayne Jacobs invited him to a Christians in Sport meeting back in 1999.

He recalls: “I had grown up in a Christian household and would go to Sunday School but didn’t understand the true meaning of God and Jesus. As I progressed in football, I didn’t give it much thought.

“Even though I had become a professional footballer, I had doubts that I wasn’t good enough. But after I attended that meeting I became a Christian and I realised that God loved me, it was an amazing experience.

“I learned that God loved the world so much that he gave his own son to die for me, and I am apart of that world. It struck a chord in me. I couldn’t believe that someone loved me that much.”

After finding God, Darren enjoyed a successful campaign at Bradford, even being selected in the Professional Footballers’ Association team of the season.

And whilst Darren is a regular at Renewal Christian Centre in Solihull, his faith means much more than turning out on a Sunday.

He said: “This is a 24-7 thing for me. Just as you build a relationship with your partner or your wife, you have to build one with the Lord. He wants to be with you through the good and the bad times.”

Like any professional footballer, Darren suffers knocks and injuries, but he revealed that the physio’s table isn’t always his first port of call.

He added: “The Bible says that because Jesus died we can be healed. I’m a firm believer in healing. Even in football, injuries can occur but at the same time we have the Greatest Physician and his name is Jesus Christ.”

In his spare time, as well as being a regular at church, he also is active in Christian charity Faith in Football along with fellow stars Linvoy Primus and Lomana Lua-Lua.

He has raised thousands of pounds for Christian Aid and Oxfam through charity ventures.