He later added: 'Some people seem to think I changed my job. No I didn't. Luckily my job is as the technical and performance advisor at Chelsea FC doesn't stop me in my spare time from playing the game I loved as a kid which I've been playing for years.

'While being a professional footballer I couldn't play the game for obvious reasons. Now I can.'

Guildford’s head coach Milos Melicherik added: ‘We are very excited to have Petr join the Phoenix team and we are looking forward to seeing him in action this weekend. He has improved a lot since I first saw him on the ice and I am excited to see him play.’

That first game is a home one this Sunday when Swindon Wildcats 2 will be the first side Cech will be trying to keep out of his goal.