Importance Score: 52 / 100 🔵
Claire Rowlands: The Supportive Mother Behind Football Star Phil Foden
Claire Rowlands, mother of Manchester City and England footballer Phil Foden, has lived a life as captivating as her son’s career. A constant source of encouragement for the Premier League talent, Rowlands, a mother of five, has been instrumental in enabling Foden’s meteoric rise in professional football.
Public Scrutiny and Family Strength
Rowlands, 44, has often found herself under public scrutiny, from neighborhood disputes regarding elaborate firework displays at her £3.5 million Cheshire residence to an incident in a Welsh nightclub. Despite external attention, within her family she remains a steadfast and nurturing figure for Foden and his siblings: Callum, Kenzi, Lois, and Avayah, all raised in Stockport.
Abuse at Old Trafford and Manager’s Response
During a recent Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Rowlands became the target of offensive chants from a segment of Manchester United supporters. Sections of the home crowd directed vile abuse at her during the 0-0 draw, prompting condemnation after Foden was substituted in the 58th minute.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola voiced his disapproval after the game, stating that the Red Devils fans should be “ashamed” of their “lack of class.” He recognized Rowlands’ significant contribution to the development of one of Manchester City’s key players.
Foden’s Reaction to Fan Abuse
In response to the derogatory chants, Foden posted a succinct message on social media: “We keep going.” He also visibly reacted to the group of abusive fans during the match with sarcastic applause and a thumbs-up, displaying his disdain for their taunts.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Early Career and Family Gratitude
Despite recent fluctuations in form compared to his award-winning seasons at Manchester City – including being named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and securing multiple Premier League titles – Foden’s talent remains undeniable. In late 2017, shortly after his breakthrough into the City first team, Foden publicly thanked his mother, Claire, and his Manchester United-supporting father, Phil Foden Sr., for their unwavering support throughout his footballing journey. “Family,” his heartfelt Instagram post read, “Thank you to my mum and dad who have made all this possible.”
Balancing Football and Personal Life
Finding equilibrium between the intensity of professional football and peaceful family moments is important for Foden. He enjoys unwinding through hobbies like fishing and sticker collecting, offering a contrast to the pressures of his career.
Mother’s Understanding of Son’s Need to Unwind
In a previous interview, Rowlands expressed understanding of her son’s need to disconnect from football, making the recent stadium abuse even more distressing. “I think it’s great for a footballer to unwind from all the stresses,” Rowlands stated. “I don’t really get (fishing) myself but Phil and his dad love it. Once he gets his rod out there’s no going back.”
She further added, recalling a conversation with Foden while he was with the England national team, “Me and his dad FaceTimed him when he was away with England last month and he’s sat there in his room doing his sticker books. I think he’s got about four on the go. Panini, Match Attax. It’s hysterical. It’s a good thing, don’t get me wrong, but that’s how obsessed he is about football.”
Foden as a Father
Now a father of three, including Ronnie and True, with his partner Rebecca Cooke, Foden has spoken about the joys of parenthood. “I love being a parent,” he shared in a recent interview. “When things are not going well, if you’ve not won, you don’t think you’ve played well, it helps to go home to your kids – just to see them smiling and joking definitely helps me. It makes you feel like there’s more to life than football.”
Nightclub Incident and Legal Proceedings
While Foden seeks a quiet family life, Rowlands has experienced public incidents. In January 2024, footage emerged of Rowlands being escorted from a Welsh nightclub in handcuffs after an altercation where she removed a hat from another patron’s head.
The incident at Bentley’s nightclub in Towyn, Wales, occurred in September 2023, shortly after Foden played for England in a Euro 2024 qualifier. Video footage shown in court depicted Rowlands engaging with responding police officers.
In the video, she challenged officers, asking, “Go on then, what’ve I done? Don’t come into my face unless you’ve got evidence.”
Court Outcome and Explanation
Rowlands was acquitted of assault but received a fine for her conduct. She admitted to police, “I do not drink often but when I do, I make up for time. I am like an animal.”
The court heard that Rowlands was out with friends seeking respite from caring for her youngest son, who requires constant care. She recounted that the evening began with a caravan gathering, “The plan was just to go out, have a laugh, let our hair down and enjoy ourselves. We went to the caravan, had a few cans, washed our hair and got all dressed up.”
The group visited a bar, then Sunny’s, and finally Bentley’s nightclub. Rowlands admitted to drinking tequila and vodka shots before being asked to leave by security staff who accused her of assault.
CCTV footage presented to magistrates showed Rowlands removing a baseball cap from Paul Shortman’s head and then attempting to return it. Rowlands explained to the court it was intended as “a bit of fun” and she did not mean any harm.
She described the incident as being “drunk. It was just a bit of fun, a bit of banter. I just could not believe it, that I could get into trouble for knocking someone’s cap off. It’s my party trick, knocking someone’s cap off and putting it back on. I did not mean him any harm or to hurt him and you can see that on the video. It was just a bit of banter which has been taken the wrong way.”
Previous Attack at Boxing Event
Two years prior to the nightclub incident, Rowlands was assaulted at a boxing match involving Kell Brook and Amir Khan. Manchester City described the event as “shocking and appalling.” Social media footage captured an assailant striking Foden’s mother backstage after the footballer faced harassment in a corridor at Manchester’s AO Arena.
Foden was subjected to abusive language, including homophobic slurs, before being escorted to a private area. The situation escalated, leading to Rowlands being struck in the face. Others in Foden’s group intervened, including one person brandishing a fire extinguisher in an attempt to defend the player.
Fireworks Display Controversy
In November, Rowlands reportedly caused disturbance to neighbors with a lengthy fireworks display at her Cheshire home. Residents of the Prestbury area complained about the “deafening two-hour fireworks party” in her garden. Neighbors stated they received no prior notice of the event, which lasted from 6 pm to 8:30 pm and caused distress to pets and young children.
One nearby resident commented, “It must have cost thousands. They wouldn’t have looked out of place at the New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Sydney Harbour Bridge or at Disneyland! Not that the neighbours were impressed. Most were concerned about their pets.”