They’re one of the golden couples of football, Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy have proven that football marriages aren’t just for show as the pair celebrate 11 years of marriage this year.
Pete hit headlines this week for his comments suggesting the football matches scheduled for the weekend before the Queen’s funeral should go ahead.
Whilst his comments landed him in the headlines, elsewhere the former England football player’s marriage to model and TV presenter Abbey Clancy has gone from strength to strength.
Love at first sight for Peter and Abbey
As the pair celebrate 16 years together, it’s clear it was love at first sight for the pair when they first met in a bar in Abbey’s home city of Liverpool in 2006.
At first, footballer Peter believed the model, who had appeared on Britain's Next Top Model the previous year, was out of his league and he wouldn’t stand a chance. Yet the pair hit it off and Abbey handed her number to the handsome footballer.
But it didn’t all go according to plan, as Peter explained in an interview that “She went mental” because he started talking to another woman after they spoke.
Speaking to radio DJ Chris Moyles, Peter revealed: "She gave me her number – amazingly – she went away and I just carried on with my evening, and I should have known then, but I was talking to someone else who was also female.
"She came over and said ‘Look at you! Who do you think you are?’ as if we were married already.
"She went mental! And I was like ‘I’m only talking’. I should have known then!"
Despite the initial rocky start, the pair were quickly an item and in July 2009 Peter proposed.
Model Abbey revealed she always knew she'd marry Peter one day. Speaking to Closer magazine, Abbey said: "I saw Pete and I knew he was the one for me, I knew he'd be my boyfriend.
"I still think that. I feel so lucky I have a beautiful child and a great husband."
The pair wed in 2011 in a lavish ceremony
Despite getting engaged in 2009, the pair didn’t wed until 2011 in a lavish ceremony filled with family, friends and celebrity faces.
As they celebrate their 11th anniversary since they wed in June 2011. Despite Abbey Clancy becoming Mrs Crouch, the couple revealed they nearly shunned traditional values and had Peter take the surname Clancy instead.
In an interview, Peter joked: "She [Abbey] wears the trousers, so I might as well have…"
However, the pair chose instead to keep their own surnames.
Abbey has revealed the secrets to a long and happy marriage
In previous interviews, Abbey revealed her insider secret to her happy marriage with Pete; her dislike of football.
Despite being married to the former England player, Abbey has no interest in football at all. Speaking to the Mirror in 2021, she revealed: “I’d call him at five to three and I’m like, ‘Where are you? Why aren’t you answering your phone?’
"And he’s like, 'I’m just about to go on the pitch.' I’m like, 'Oh, sorry.'
"The only thing I like is penalties. It’s surprising we’ve lasted so long."
Despite not liking football, husband Pete thinks it’s ‘refreshing’. He explained: “I’d come home from football and Ab would change the subject the minute I walked through the door. If I’d played a good game or a bad game, it was gone.
"It’s nice to be able to relax at home –straight away it’s about the kids, what they’ve done, Ab’s day… She doesn’t even ask me what the score is or if I’d played good or bad."
Parents to three children
Despite different interests in football, the pair have built a strong marriage and are now parents to three children; Sophia Ruby, Liberty Rose and Johnny.
All three children have also followed in her mum’s footsteps with modelling. Last year saw the three Crouch siblings join forces with Abbey to front the F+F clothing campaign.
When the campaign shots landed, Proud mum Abbey shared a first look on her Instagram, writing: "My little baby models doing their thing. Super proud thanks @fandfclothing #organiccotton #ad #ionlypoppedinfor".
Daughter Sophia, now 11, has previously modelled after first joining her mum in front of the camera in 2019. Mum Abbey spoke to Lorraine about Sophia’s modelling ambitions, saying: “I’ve never pushed her into it., she wanted to do it! Having four kids, spreading my time is hard, so I appreciate spending time with my daughter.
"I’ve had a great career, I have never come across a problem or been in uncomfortable situations. Life’s too short, you’ve got to do what you love. If she wants to be a vet, popstar, doctor, footballer. I just want her to be happy."
