Tanya Bardsley might now be happily married to former Premier League footballer Phil Bardsley, but their love story kicked off about as smoothly as the punch he knocked out Wayne Rooney with.
In fact, their romantic journey started with rejection, thanks to a seven-word text message that Tanya couldn't help but turn her nose up at. At the time, she was a regular for iconic lad mag FHM and had just been featured on the cover.
Bardsley, meanwhile, was a starry-eyed Manchester United prospect, fuelled by dreams of landing both a spot in the first team, and, apparently, a pin-up model girlfriend.
Determined to connect with Tanya, who was the epitome of early-2000s glam, Bardsley tracked down her phone number and sent what he must have thought was a sure-fire opening line.
"I'm Phil, I play for Man U," read the text, which, in the world of sliding into DMs, was caveman-levels of creative. Unimpressed, Tanya fired an ego-piecing response back: "Never heard of you."
Tanya Robinson, now Tanya Bardsley, was an FHM cover girl
For most, that would have been game over. But Bardsley showing the kind of persistence that served him well on the pitch, refused to give up.
It took three years - and, we assume, some slightly better chat-up lines - before Tanya finally agreed to meet him, albeit during an already-planned night out on the town with some pals.
"I was going to a club with my friends and told him to just come there," Tanya remembered. Who says romance is dead? Fast-forward to today, and the couple, who tied the knot in 2014, have built a life together that includes kids, cars, and lessons learned about finances.
Tanya Bardsley later became a reality TV star
Tanya - best known for starring in The Real Housewives of Cheshire - was refreshingly candid about her love for luxury vehicles, revealing how she once asked Bardsley - who went on to play for Sunderland, Stoke and Burnley - for a Bentley as a "push present" and a Lamborghini Urus for her 40th birthday.
But hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. "I regret it now," Tanya told The Times. "He offered to buy me a house to rent out at the time, and now I don't have the car anymore."
Their romance might have started amid the glitz and recklessness of youth - but it wasn't long before Bardsley's grounded sensibility ultimately steadied their whirlwind lifestyle and helped Tanya embrace a more balanced approach to life.
"I have learnt more about money since and would make different choices today," she said. "Luckily my husband is sensible with money and runs a very tight ship."
Their story is a cheeky reminder that love doesn't always start with sparks flying. Sometimes, it begins with an underwhelming text message and plenty of persistence.
So the next time you're tempted to lead with a boastful one-liner, remember: it might take more than seven words - and three years - to win someone over. Just ask Phil Bardsley.
Arsenal preparing new contract offer SakaArsenal are all set to offer a new contract to their star player Bukayo Saka as they look to tie down the English winger on a long-term basis. Saka's current deal expires at the end 2026-27 season but Football Insider reports that the Gunners officials have already initiated contract talks with the player.Madrid to join Arsenal in race to sign ZubimendiPer ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Preston 0-3 Aston Villa (FA Cup)Rashford 2 goals That was the real Brazil.▫️ No TikTok dances.▫️ No extravagant hairstyles.▫️ No individualism.It was a joy to watch.. No way!!! LOL Soccer A GOATED FRAME! Solskjaer's Besiktas becomes the first club to beat Galatasaray in the league this season. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Cre...
Wayne Rooney was caught short as he got suited and booted for a lads night out. The Manchester United icon, 39, hit the town in a black suit and tie as he enjoyed a few hours at The Nest Rooftop bar in Marylebone, an exclusive bar that boasts a 360-degree view of the London skyline.And the group would then leave Marylebone and head for the posh district of Mayfair as they settled in for dinner and...
RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons alongside a Manchester United badgeManchester United have been linked with a move for RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons and TEAMtalk can confirm there is interest in the Dutchman, but a blockbuster deal this summer has major obstacles.The 21-year-old has had an interesting journey so far, having joined Paris Saint-Germain from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, before being sent to RB Le...
GABRIEL'S wife Gabrielle Figueiredo has given a concerning update on the Arsenal star's injury.The Brazilian, 27, went down clutching his hamstring barely 15 minutes into his side's 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night.Gabrielle Figueiredo appeared at the Married to the Game screeningGabrielle is married to Arsenal star GabrielAfter receiving treatment on the pitch, the centre-back shook his head ...
ANNE HATHAWAY shared the delight of her fellow Arsenal fans after Bukayo Saka's goalscoring return from injury.The winger made his long-awaited comeback from hamstring surgery in last night's 2-1 win over Fulham.Anne Hathaway posted a snap of her in an Arsenal kit after victory over FulhamBukayo Saka was back amongst the goals on his return from injurySaka came on soon after the hour mark and it t...
Liverpool have moved one step closer to the title with a 1-0 win over Everton thanks to Diogo Jota - and Daily Star Sport has a look at what Arne Slot got right and wrongLiverpool and Everton's second round dust-up lacked the tension their first round promised. In the end, it was a routine win for Liverpool.Arne Slot's side had pried and probed, much to the frustration of the Anfield crowd, with E...
A football fan tried to eat a raw pig's head as he celebrated his team's league title win.Revolting footage showed two supporters in Brazil holding up the animal part as elated supporters chanted around them.Corinthians defeated PalmeirasBafflingly, one of the men could be seen clamping his teeth around one of the pig's ears in a bid to rip a chunk out of it.After he finally let go, the second man...
DAVID Beckham has kicked off his 50th birthday celebrations — which include a month of partying.The former England skipper, who owns US club Inter Miami, got the ball rolling with a posh bash at his favourite restaurant in the city.David Beckham, pictured with wife Victoria, has kicked off his 50th birthday celebrations — which include a month of partyingGuests included 6ft 4in quarter...
Diletta Leotta, the better of half of Liverpool flop Loris Karius, has opened up on a traumatising airport experience after an invasive security check at a German airport.The stunning DAZN presenter had jetted from her native Italy to Germany to see Karius turn out for Schalke in the 2.Bundesliga. But she was subjected to checks on her way home.Explaining the story on Radio 105, as per BILD, she s...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender