AS a striker with Hereford United, Richard Leadbeater dreamed about firing the Bulls back into the Football League.

But the 32-year-old has now ventured into his own promised land by becoming a vicar.

He was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral last weekend, just over a decade after taking centre stage at Edgar Street.

“My passion for the game had started waning while my passion for being involved in the ministry was increasing,” he said.

“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.”

But Rev Leadbeater, who became a Christian at the age of 16, now has a new goal in life and takes his first service as assistant minister at St Stephen’s Church in Selly Oak, Birmingham, this Sunday, having spent four years there as a pastoral assistant.

He began a theology degree at the nearby University of Birmingham while playing for Halesowen Town and latterly Redditch United towards the end of a career which finished when he was just 26.

But one of the highlights was undoubtedly his spell with Hereford, during which time he won the hearts of Bulls fans who witnessed his hat-trick in a 4-1 demolition of rivals Kidderminster Harriers on New Year’s Day, 1998.

He scored 13 goals for United in 33 appearances over two spells.

“I really enjoyed my time at Hereford,” he added.

“Graham Turner brought me here on loan from Wolves and I scored a few goals.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t really repeat that during my second spell which followed my permanent transfer here.”

He says Wolves legend Brian Law helped give him the confidence to tell people he was a Christian after taking him under his wing during his apprentice years at the Black Country club.

He said: “I was shocked that he knew I was a Christian but it gave me confidence because he was such a well respected person and a Christian too.

“It was pretty tough, though, being a Christian footballer because of the culture that surrounds the sport. But it was generally just mickeytaking and banter.”

The new reverend says he still keeps in contact with former Hereford United teammates and last year went to a reunion with the likes of Mark Taylor, John Snape, Matt Clarke and Tony James.

“I still follow football and wish Hereford all the best,”

he added.

And Rev Leadbeater said he is not the only member of the clergy who has a gift for football.

While undertaking his postdegree study in Oxford he was a member of a successful team of trainee vicars who beat all before them, clinching their local league two years in a row.