Eniola Aluko column: England striker on faith in footbal

I've grown up believing in God and I believe that being an England international and a lawyer has not just happened by accident. Very recently I've come to realise that it can help take the pressure off me when I am feeling very anxious and nervous, and I have a lot to thank former Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus for in recognising that. I got to know Linvoy because his daughter, Atlanta, plays for Chelsea's development team and it was while we were discussing our faith one day that she suggested I speak to him. If you haven't heard of Linvoy, he was a no-nonsense defender who played for Portsmouth between 2000 and 2009. He wasn't always a Christian and when he decided to take that path, a lot of players at the club in the macho world of the dressing room didn't understand it. But in the end, they came round, to the extent that there were five or six players at Portsmouth who joined him in praying before games. Having spoken to Atlanta about this, I sought out Linvoy after a period where I had questioned my faith.