When Gordon Brown and a Football Manager Walked Into an Exorcism

How far would you go to sign a football player? It turns out that in Scotland, even an exorcism can become part of the negotiations. Craig Levein, the former Scotland national team manager, revealed in an interview on the 'Undr the Cosh' podcast an extraordinary story from 2006. Alongside Gordon Brown, who later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Levein visited a church in the town of Kirkcaldy to try and persuade central defender Marvin Andrews to sign for Raith Rovers.

Instead of a routine meeting with the player, the two found themselves watching a ceremony where a pastor attempted to drive demons out of churchgoers. Brown, who at the time served as the British Chancellor of the Exchequer and was a longtime fan of Raith Rovers, was involved in efforts to strengthen the team and even persuaded Levein to join as manager. One of the main goals was to bring back Andrews, a Trinidad and Tobago international who previously played for the club and became a free agent after leaving Rangers.

An Unusual Encounter in Kirkcaldy

Because the player was a devout Christian with a close relationship to his spiritual leader, Pastor Joe Nwokoye, the meeting was scheduled at the religious center. Levein recalled the dramatic arrival: 'Gordon Brown called me and asked me to meet him in Kirkcaldy. I drove there, parked my car, and suddenly three Range Rovers sped into the parking lot with lights flashing and sirens wailing. I thought to myself, what on earth? The window rolled down and it was Gordon. He told me to get in his car, we are going to see Marvin.'

However, the visit took an entirely unexpected turn. 'We went inside, and it turned out we picked the very evening when they were doing exorcisms,' Levein remembered. 'People were going up on stage, Pastor Joe placed his hands on their heads, and there were all sorts of wailing and shouting sounds. Then he pushed them and they fell backward. I sat there thinking, what on earth is going on here? I came to meet Marvin, and meanwhile people are falling everywhere.'

'I came to meet Marvin, and meanwhile people are falling everywhere. There were about six people lying on the floor. It was the weirdest night of my life.'

Divine Intervention and Career Path

Despite the bizarre experience, the mission was accomplished and Andrews agreed to return to Raith Rovers. The defender, who won the Scottish championship with Rangers in 2005, made it clear after signing that his decision was driven by spiritual conviction rather than political persuasion. 'I am very happy to return to Stark's Park, but I am not here because of what Gordon Brown said. I am here because of what God said,' he declared.

Even after retiring from football, Andrews continued his religious pursuits, becoming a full-time Christian preacher. In 2017, he even offered his services to expel demons from a haunted house in Scotland after five caretakers abandoned the property within a year due to paranormal fears.