Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
To Russia with love
Childhood sweethearts behind England stars
THEY may not have the celebrity status of Victoria Beckham and crew but England’s latest generation of WAGS certainly have something special – staying power.
Many of the well-grounded wives and girlfriends were childhood sweethearts of our international stars.
So their stay in Russia is likely to be a world away from the glamorous invasion of Germany for the 2006 World Cup led by Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole.
In the spa town of Baden Baden, where England was based, six of the WAGS spent £57,000 on clothes and shoes in just one day.
Another racked up a £25,000 bill for fizz, including 60 bottles of pink champagne, at the team hotel.
In Russia, England captain Harry Kane and his fiancee Katie Goodland epitomise the new generation of WAGS.
Ironically, Katie’s first public appearance alongside Harry was with David Beckham – but it was at London’s newly opened Greenwich Academy in 2005, when she was just 12 and he was 11.
With the England legend’s arm around his shoulder, the young Harry could only dream that he would one day follow in superstar Becks’ footsteps and lead his country into a tournament.
Fast-forward 13 years and fitness instructor Katie is now mother of Harry’s 18-month-old daughter.
The striker, who last week signed a new £200,000-a-week deal with Spurs, said: “If I was single now and meeting people, you’d never know if they were with you for the right reasons. Is it the money? You’d never really know. So I’m lucky that I’ve got a childhood sweetheart.”
But, sadly, Katie may decide not to cheer on Harry in Russia because she is expecting their second child.
Keeper Jordan Pickford, 24, is another star with a childhood sweetheart. He has been dating Megan Davison since he was 14. They met at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in
their home town of Washington, Tyne & Wear, long before he became Britain’s most expensive goalkeeper when he signed for Everton for £30million.
Manchester City star John Stones has been with Millie Savage since they were 12. She has seen him go from the school team to the Premier League champions. As his salary rocketed to around £100,000-a-week the couple went through a rocky patch though they are now firmly together again.
Ashley Young, the Man Utd wing-back, met wife Nicky in their teens while Gary Cahill, Chelsea’s captain, went to school with wife Gemma.
Raheem Sterling’s long-term partner Paige Milian, a former shopworker, could soon be heading to Russia to see the Man City star play at the finals.
Like the WAGS of 2006, she may be tempted to try a little retail therapy in the shops of St Petersburg. But she is not one for the designer labels alone.
“We literally shop anywhere,” explained Paige earlier this year.
“Primark is my favourite shop, it has been since I was a kid. I know I’m wearing Gucci on my feet now but
Primark, that’s my life.” By contrast, Spurs star Dele Alli, 22, and his model girlfriend Ruby Mae, 23, are rapidly turning into fashion icons, and could be the new golden couple for the Three Lions.
Alli launched his first fashion range on Boohooman last month and Sterling couldn’t resist a little ribbing, asking him on Instagram: “What have they done to you, bro?”
Alli’s former Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker, 27, now at Man City, is likely to have a visit from partner Annie Kilner, also a model.
Leicester star striker Jamie Vardy, 31, is also expecting his wife Rebekah, 36, to join him but there won’t be any OTT behaviour. Jamie said: “The current squad does not have any big celebname wives. I think Baden Baden was a good lesson.”
England manager Gareth Southgate, 47, is likely to allow players to see their families in free time as the tournament progresses. He met wife Alison when he was a trainee at Crystal Palace. The couple have stayed together since they were teenagers, marrying 21 years ago, and now have two children.