An ex-football player has tried his hand as a chef on national TV.

But Solomon Taiwo, who played for Dover and Margate, was knocked out of the first episode of the new series of MasterChef.

The former professional, now, 31, appeared on the BBC competition show on Wednesday.

But he was one of three out of eight amateur chefs eliminated on that episode.

Taiwo had tried to spice up the staple footballers’ dieter of chicken and pasta with tomato-based sauce and herbs.

He explained that players became bored with this dish as they had to eat it so often for energy so he wanted to spice it up.

But he couldn’t get it in the back of the net and was the second contestant to be eliminated.

He said on the show: “You’ve really only got yourself to blame when you know the standard they are setting. I played it too safe.”

The Nigerian-born Londoner was a midfielder who now coaches for a living.

He explained that he had learned to enjoyed cooking from an early age.

His mother was a single parent who had to go out to work so he learned to cook for himself.

Taiwo played for Dover Athletic in the 2014/15 season.

He was loaned to the Conference Premier side from Luton Town in September 2014, at first for a month and then permanently.

After appearing for a number of non-league clubs, also including Margate, Taiwo signed for Craw Wanderers for the 2016/17 and was released this February.