The support group for downtrodden WAGs: New retreat will help women 'cope' with life as footballers' wives - after revelations from Coleen Rooney and Claudine Keane about loneliness and safety fears
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Women who are struggling with the pressures of being a footballer's wife will soon be able to offload their cares at the UK's first retreat catering to WAGs who have discovered that the life is not all glamour and designer handbags. Many WAGs give up their lives and careers to follow their partners around the world at the drop of a hat, which can be extremely lonely, not to mention being trolled for their appearance or bullied when their husbands underperform on the pitch.
![[Coleen Rooney, pictured with Wayne Rooney, has had her fair share of brutal trolling over the years]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/16/93832753-14258749-image-a-32_1736267435308.jpg)
Now a new service to support WAGs has been set up by ex-Newcastle United star Paul Watson and former Hibernian FC player care liaison officer, Tracey Smith. Welfare group, Player Care and Support Services, are now hosting a retreat to help footballers' partners cope with the pressures of being married to some of the most famous sportsmen in the world.
![[Coleen discussed having days where she felt really lonely when the family moved to Washington DC in 2018]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/16/93832115-14258749-image-m-5_1736266031047.jpg)
The location of the retreat and exact details of what it will involve have not yet been revealed, but it will cater for eight WAGs and is expected to take place at the beginning of March. And former WAG Lizzie Cundy believes that it's a valuable concept and wishes she had thought of it herself.
![[Rebekah Vardy said someone tried to run her off the road once in 2017]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/16/93920209-14258749-image-m-92_1736439591069.jpg)
She told FEMAIL: 'I don't want everyone to feel sorry for footballer's wives but it can be tough living with a footballer, especially if they're injured, they're not getting picked for the team or not getting on with their managers and other players. 'They bring it home and you have to live with it and make them feel better. The whole of your life, football is number one. I think it's important that the girls don't lose their own identity.
![[Rebekah Vardy, who is wed to Leicester City star Jamie Vardy, opened up about her trolling in 2017 on an episode of Loose Women and then on a later show in 2020]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/07/16/93832041-14258749-image-m-12_1736266114358.jpg)
