England Players Trade Football Boots for Western Flair in Kansas
As the England squad takes a well-deserved break in Kansas over the Father’s Day weekend, several players have embraced the local culture, swapping their football boots for cowboy attire.
Bellingham Enjoys Family Outing, Burn and Kane Experience Country Music
Jude Bellingham, the team’s prominent midfielder, was seen treating his influencer girlfriend and parents to lunch at a popular Middle Eastern restaurant. Meanwhile, defender Dan Burn and captain Harry Kane opted for a night out at a country music concert.
Burn shared his experience, describing how he donned new cowboy boots, a Stetson hat, and jeans for the Ella Langley country music performance. The team was granted a day off on Friday following their impressive 4-2 victory against Croatia in their opening World Cup match. This allowed them to spend time with their wives and children.
Sunday was dedicated to fathers within the squad, who received presents and cards from their children.
Player Reflections on Downtime and Team Performance
Reflecting on the team’s recent success, Burn commented, “I knew that my family was watching and going through that experience at the same time as me. It was such a good performance, a big win against a good team in Croatia.”
Discussing the team’s downtime activities, Burn added, “We did the baseball the other night, had a friends and family day on Friday and my wife and children flew in from Dallas. Then last night we went to see Ella Langley. I like country music, so I put on the cowboy hat and boots.”
He humorously noted, “Hopefully there are no photographs knocking about. I bought the hats and boots yesterday. I got kitted out, I thought if you are going to do it, then do it properly. So it was a good night and today it was back to the football.”
Bellingham’s Restaurant Visit and Fan Encounters
Jude Bellingham visited Clay and Fire, a Kansas City restaurant, with his girlfriend Ashlyn Castro and his parents, Mark and Denise Bellingham. The owner, Adam Jones, shared that he was initially unaware of Bellingham’s celebrity status until some Brazilian customers recognized him. “They told me he was a famous footballer, and they were very nice when I did go up and introduced myself as the owner,” Jones recounted. “I told him to come back, and Jude said he’d enjoyed his meal and said he would bring the lads as he was going to be in Kansas a while.”
Video footage showed Bellingham and Castro engaged in conversation while browsing their phones. Bellingham later posed for photos with the restaurant owner and other guests.
Family Reunions and Diverse Activities
Earlier in the day, Bellingham was seen at Top Golf, a Kansas City entertainment venue. Teammates Ivan Toney, Ezri Konsa, Trevoh Chalobah, and Djed Spence were observed playing a padel match.
The team’s manager granted permission for wives, children, and girlfriends to join the squad, allowing them to spend time with loved ones following their demanding schedule. Many families opted for a walk in a nearby park or visited a local children’s park. Some partners, including the wife of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, Megan, and their children, had traveled from Dallas to Kansas.
Megan Pickford, who had experienced a luggage issue earlier in the tournament, celebrated her wedding anniversary with her husband, Jordan, during this family reunion. Jordan sent her a bouquet of roses with a heartfelt note expressing his love.
A source close to the team commented, “The gaffer said they deserved the time off and so the families were invited to the hotel to be with their players. It was the chance to spend some quality time which is important for mindset and the first real chance they had to spend some quality time together since leaving pre-tournament camp.”
The source added, “They did see their families after the Croatia game but it was in the stands and over very quickly. Some of those with kids went to a local theme park while others stayed in and around the hotel, the key thing was just to be together and it was great to see.”
Bukayo Saka’s partner, Tolami Benson, shared updates from Kansas City, indicating her arrival. Other players’ families, including those of Dan Burn and Ollie Watkins, were also part of these reunions, with reports of a group bonding dinner, similar to previous team gatherings.
Harry Kane’s wife, Kate, and their children are believed to have returned to Germany after she posted images from a plane window and of enjoying a rodeo event in Dallas. The team’s partners are expected to return to their Miami base before traveling to Boston for England’s next match.
Contrast with Past Squads
The current generation of players’ partners appears to maintain a lower profile compared to those from two decades ago, who were notably associated with extensive partying and shopping during the 2006 World Cup. Back then, high-profile figures like Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Tweedy, and Nancy Dell’Olio were prominent. Today’s partners are more inclined to share fashion and makeup tips on social media.
While some families are based in Miami, a significant distance from the team’s current location, others are planning to join after the group stages conclude. The players’ families were accommodated in a separate five-star spa establishment, not at the team hotel. Despite the logistical challenges posed by extensive travel distances and tight schedules, the manager is reportedly supportive of family time.
This approach contrasts with the practices of former manager Gareth Southgate, who typically allowed players to meet with their families after matches and on the following day.
