Being a glamorous football WAG may sound idyllic – but it is probably not as plain sailing as people think. Abbie Orchard, 26, said she sacrificed everything to be with her footballer fiancé and she gave a candid insight into the reality of her life.
She will marry Carlisle United midfielder Callum Guy, 27, this summer and the couple have two young children together called Ava and George. She spoke to us about the emotional impact of moving homes, her children not trusting family members, forfeiting her own career aspirations and at one stage even feeling too ashamed to spend her partner’s money.
“I have made so many sacrifices so that Callum can live out his dream.”
Abbie is from Nottingham and Callum was a first-year scholar at Derby County’s academy when they first met. But since then he has been on loan to Port Vale and Bradford before moving to Blackpool – and he is now at Carlisle United.
They are based in Preston – a two-hour drive from Nottingham. Asked about upping sticks, Abbie said: “To move to a new area completely is extremely lonely and not knowing anyone or where anything is is hard.
It was made harder by having my first daughter and I had no village or help as a young mum who didn’t have a clue. I could really have done with some help from family.
They didn’t trust other people for a very long time and their own family members would hold them, and they wouldn’t remember who they were. As a result, my children refused to say goodbye to people and they get really upset about it.
I believe this is because they don’t know how long it will be until they next see them.”
But she heaped praise on her supportive husband to be who she described as completely understanding. She also said that if she is ever feeling down he drives the four-hour round trip so she can see her family back home.
But while the footballer makes life as comfortable as he can for his loved ones, it took Abbie a long time to be okay with relying on his finances. She explained: “From 16 I have always had a job and made my own money.
So to all of a sudden have that stopped is a huge adjustment. I would buy the children things as Callum is just as responsible for them as I am.
However, when it came to myself, I would always question if it was a need and not a want. So when I went to buy a £10 top I would talk myself out of it but if it was £10 on the children I wouldn’t even think twice.
I realized it was okay when I listened to Callum. He suggested a joint bank account so I would feel more comfortable with access to our money.
But also Callum would repeatedly tell me to buy the top and repeatedly let me know that it is our money and not his.”
Abbie is also adamant that she wants to one day return to employment so she can do something for her own sense of achievement. “We are a young family and would like to continue to grow that family after our wedding,” she said.
“With Callum’s job being unpredictable it’s really hard to get a job when there’s no help. For example, Callum can’t take the day off if our children are sick, or book the school holidays off or attend doctors’ appointments.
I feel privileged that I can raise our children and Callum makes that happen for us.”
