It will be such an honour to watch my Jofra today
England cricket hero’s stepdad flies in thanks to Sunday Mirror
The 29-year-old wed childhood sweetheart Ben Stokes, 28, in 2017. He was 21 when son Layton came in 2012, and says it turned him into a family man. The couple, of County Durham, also have a girl, Libby, four. She married Liam Dawson, 29, in October 2017 after a long-term romance. The couple welcomed son Ralphie last July. They holidayed in Dubai for a glamorous Mother’s Day celebration. Sarah married bowler Mark Wood, 29, in their home county of Northumberland in December. Sarah joins Mark on his tours when she can, sharing glamorous pictures from farflung countries including Australia. ENGLAND cricket ace Jofra Archer’s stepdad yesterday flew to the UK to watch his adopted son play in the World Cup Final – thanks to the Sunday Mirror.
We stepped in to help as Patrick Waithe made a last-minute decision to come to London after watching Jofra’s demon bowling help to destroy Australia in Thursday’s semi-final
Now he’ll be cheering him on today at Lord’s with the star’s mum Joelle as England face New Zealand. “It’ll be an honour for me,” said Patrick, 52, who works for a Barbados bus firm. “I’m always so proud seeing him play.”
DELIGHTED
He had to return to his job in May after only seeing his stepson in a warm-up game. But he’s been getting up at 5am at their home near Bridgetown to follow England’s road to glory.
Last night, Jofra, 24, was delighted to greet Patrick – the man who helped him hone his cricketing skills as a boy – as the family had a meal together. Joelle told us the pace bowler – who has now taken more World Aussie Tara, 25, works in PR for high-end fashion brand Burberry and previous employers include Harrods and top shoe designer Rupert Sanderson.
She was just 17 when she met a fresh-faced Eoin Morgan in Adelaide in 2010 – but she moved to the other side of the world to be with him in the UK.
It turned out to be a good move. Tara and Eoin, 32, were married at Babbington House in Somerset last November.
Tara is well connected. Her father David is the South Australia State Liberal minister. Cup wickets than any other England bowler, breaking bre Sir Ian Botham’s record of 16 – has been helping her with shopp shopping in the run-up to the game, trying to settle his nerves.
And she r revealed how the seeds of West Indies-born Jofra’s dream of pla playing for England one day wer were sown in long summer visi visits to see his dad Frank in Peckham, Pe South London, se seven miles from where h he’ll be trying to make history today. “He has nice memories of playing cricket there as a child. We passed the pitch yesterday and he said he’d like to go back,” said Joelle.
But it was in Barbados where the talent that may bring England a first World Cup win in their first final for 27 years blossomed.
Patrick, who has brought Jofra up since he was nine, coached him on a wicket next to their house.
He said: “From where he’s come from to where he is, it’s amazing.” Jofra Pilates instructor Louise, 25, wed vice-captain Jos Buttler, 28, in a glittering ceremony in 2017. Jos cut his stint in the Indian Premier League for the birth of their daughter Georgia-Rose in April. Batsman Jason Roy, 28, wed Elle in a French chateau in 2017. They welcomed their first child, Everley, in March. She fell ill aged eight weeks, but the “lifeless” baby recovered. Amie married her longterm love Chris Woakes in February 2017 and gave birth to their first child last July – a daughter named Laila Louise. The couple enjoy exotic holidays to Barbados. American Emeleah wed Liam Plunkett, 34, in the Cotswolds last October, but with both of their Instagram accounts set to private, not much is known about this intensely secretive couple. made the West Indies Under-19s but headed to England after losing his place in their 2014 World Cup squad.
He has played for Sussex since 2016 and got into the England team through his UK passport from his ex-London Underground drivßer dad.
Today he and his team-mates will be cheered on by 30,000 fans at Lord’s – and millions watching at home.
“I think we’ll probably both cry,” said Joelle. “Especially Patrick.”