PETER KNOWLES was a future star of English football with the world at his feet – but he gave it all up to become a Jehovah’s Witness.

It was the summer of 1969 and the 23-year-old Wolves striker was one of the brightest young stars in England.

8 Peter Knowles was set for stardom before shockingly quitting football aged just 23 to become a Jehovah's Witness Credit: PA:Empics Sport

8 Knowles said the decision was the 'best' of his life and that he'd 'never regretted it'

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He was fast and skilful, and pundits compared him to Manchester United’s superstar George Best.

Knowles even had an outside chance of making Sir Alf Ramsey’s England squad preparing to defend their World Cup crown in 1970.

But on September 6, 1969, having just played against Nottingham Forest in a 3-3 draw, Knowles shocked the game by suddenly quitting.

He gave it all up to become a Jehovah’s Witness, after being converted on his doorstep.

Peter Knowles Born: 30 Sept 1945 Wolves: 174 games, 61 goals England U23: 4 games, 1 goal Retired: 6 Sept, 1969 Other jobs: Milkman, window cleaner, tile salesman, M&S warehouseman

8 Peter Knowles with his wife Jean, to whom he has been married for more than 50 years Credit: Rex Features

8 Knowles, right, played almost 200 games for Wolves in the 1960s Credit: PA:Empics Sport

Knowles said: “At the time, I was an atheist. I didn’t believe in a God.

“I was happy to be a professional footballer, to play for Wolves.

“I am not bragging here. But I loved it and I was good at it.

“One day, two Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on my door.

“I said to them: ‘Why did my dad and my two sisters, who’d done nowt wrong, die?’

“They came in and answered that question.

“They answered another question and then another I had never got an answer to.

“That’s how I became a Jehovah’s Witness. If I hadn’t met them I’d have carried on playing football.

8 Knowles had numerous jobs after retirement, including as a milkman, window cleaner and tile salesman Credit: PA:Empics Sport

“You know, I could have turned round to those Witnesses and said: ‘Look, push off. I don’t agree with what you’ve said.’

“But I listened and I thought: ‘Yes, that makes sense.”

Knowles was in Kansas, at the time of his conversion, on a trip to the States playing exhibition games for a team called Kansas City Spurs.

He returned to the UK but his heart wasn’t in it. Although he scored in the first three games of the season, he decided to quit after playing Forest in September.

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8 Knowles was on the brink of the England squad in the late-60s Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty

Wolves manager Bill McGarry couldn’t believe it and laid out Knowles’ training kit for him on Monday morning.

But Knowles didn’t turn up. And he has not regretted it since.

Knowles said: “Everybody - the manager, the players, my family, all the Wolves supporters - they all said, ‘He’ll be back in six months.’

“My family couldn’t cope. My mum was upset, so angry. My brother Cyril (who played for Spurs) said: ‘Give him six months.’ They couldn’t cope.

“Wolves put my strip out for about a year. Contracts were sent to me for ten years. They thought I’d sign it.

“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I’ve never regretted it. Not once.”

8 Knowles working as a window cleaner in the 1970s Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Knowles, now aged 72, described himself as a “very arrogant individual” growing up, especially because he had broken into the Wolves first-team aged 18.

He said his new-found religion was irreconcilable with the rock-star lifestyle of a famous footballer.

Knowles said: “The Bible says ‘All men are created equal’.

“But when I put a football shirt on, there was a difference. People began to worship me. They idolised me.

“They treated me differently to an ordinary person. So, I thought: ‘What am I going to do?’

“The biggest problem as well was becoming a Jehovah’s Witness.

“People would say: ‘Why don’t you mix the two?’ I said to them: ‘I can’t. I’ve got to give one up or the other.’ And I decided to give up football.”

8 Knowles admitted he was a 'very arrogant' youngster, before turning to God Credit: Jean Knowles

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After quitting, Knowles settled into normal life in Wolverhampton, working as a milkman, a tile seller and a window cleaner.

His final job was in the warehouse of a local Marks & Spencer until he retired in 2010.

Some older, intrepid Wolves fans often visited the store en route to home games at Molineux for a rare autograph.

Childless Knowles, married to wife Jean for more than 50 years, spends his free time preaching the word of God.

“When I was younger I used to do all that, the nightlife, the cars. Well, I’ve done all that,” he said.

“Basically I work, preach, read the Bible and go to meetings – that’s my life. And I am dead chuffed with it.”