Former England star Dion Dublin launches new business venture alongside presenting Homes Under The Hammer

PREMIER LEAGUE icon Dion Dublin has taken on another shock role away from football – after becoming the co-owner of a spirits producer. The former England striker, 57, has been among Match of the Day’s star-studded pundits for a number of years since hanging up his boots. Dion Dublin is the new co-owner of spirits producer 52North Credit: Getty The former striker featured for the likes of Aston Villa during his career Credit: Getty And Dublin raised eyebrows when he was announced as the surprise new co-presenter of BBC property show Homes Under the Hammer in 2015. But the one-time Premier League title winner has launched a fresh business venture. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Dublin – who featured for the likes of Manchester United, Coventry City and Aston Villa before retiring 18 years ago – now co-owns 52North. The former marksman is set to combine his role with his existing on-screen gigs at the BBC. Cambridge United club director Dublin said: “What attracted me to 52North was the ambition behind it. “They have built something really exciting and I could see the potential straight away. “This isn’t about putting my name on a bottle. I’m becoming part of the business because I believe in the brand, the products and where we can take it. “We’ve got big ambitions and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.” Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Gemma Taylor, who co-founded the Surrey-based spirits producer two years ago, hopes Dublin will help to grow the brand with his network of contacts in sport and broadcasting. She said: “We’ve always wanted to build 52North for the long-term. We’ve worked incredibly hard to get the brand to where it is today, and bringing Dion on board gives us an opportunity to take that ambition even further. “Dion and I bring very different experiences to the table, which is exactly why we make a great partnership. “He genuinely believes in what we’re building and I’m really excited about what we can achieve together. “We’re now at the stage where we’re looking for the right distribution partner to help us take that next step and make 52North more widely available across the UK. “It’s important to us that any partner shares our passion for the brand and our ambitions for where 52North can go.” Dublin is a regular pundit on Match of the Day Credit: Getty The iconic marksman won four England caps Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd The award-winning company specialises in producing triple-distilled rum and liqueurs. Dublin, who won four England caps, notched 111 Premier League goals during his stunning career and bagged the top-flight’s Golden Boot in 1998. Comment now