GK Barry says footballer partner has been training her for Soccer Aid in garden

By Casey Cooper-Fiske, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter

Social media star GK Barry has said her footballer partner, Ella Rutherford, has been teaching her how to play football in their garden ahead of her Soccer Aid debut.

The former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! contestant, whose real name is Grace Keeling, will play in the charity football match at West Ham United’s London Stadium on May 31st, despite having never played the game before.

She told the Press Association: “I said to Ella, let me just play in your position so you can teach me well, and she is a centre attacking midfielder, so I was like, ‘I’ll do that’.

“But what I didn’t realise is that that is quite a lot of attacking, and I am built like a beanstalk, so this could go one of two ways for me.

“We’ve been in the back garden with some cones, I’ve had my little football boots on, so I’m learning how to dribble, and she’s taking me to a football pitch so I can learn where I’m actually allowed to be on the pitch and where I’m meant to go.

“So this poor girl’s got her work cut out for her.”

The Saving Grace podcaster said that before meeting Portsmouth midfielder Rutherford, who plays in Women’s Super League 2, the second highest division of women’s football in England, her only experience of the sport was looking at what the footballers’ wives and girlfriends would wear at men’s World Cups.

The 26-year-old added: “To be honest with you, pre-Ella, I didn’t really have a clue about actual football, I’ve only just started when I’m watching her, (to) sort of kind of know what’s going on, usually I’ll be at the bar, I’ll get a Prosecco, and I’ll watch her play a game.

“But now I’m doing Soccer Aid, I’ve had to take it a little bit more seriously, like I’m proper watching what’s going on. So I actually know a little bit about football.”

Barry said she became interested in doing the charity match when watching last year’s edition and thinking it was “really wholesome” and “such a nice atmosphere”, before getting the call and telling Rutherford to coach her.

She added: “I don’t want to show off, but I can do an incredible header, the size of my head is criminal, so I do feel like I’m getting there, but I don’t want anyone to expect any amazing football skills out of me.”

Soccer Aid for Unicef takes place on Sunday, May 31st, at the London Stadium.