NEWCASTLE striker Callum Wilson could not resist flirting with an old teacher when visiting his Coventry school.
In the third episode of the Amazon Prime documentary ‘We are Newcastle United’, Wilson returns to President Kennedy School and is reunited with Mrs Osborne, who the Magpies star “used to fancy as a kid”.
Not known, clear with picture deskCallum Wilson enjoyed a flirty reunion with an old teacher in the next episode of ‘We are Newcastle United’[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskThe Toon ace was all smiles after sharing a hug with his former teacher[/caption]
The pair share a big hug with Wilson, 31, beaming: “Lovely to see you. Long time no see, you’re looking well!”
Mrs Osborne replies: “I talk about you all the time in class. I say, ‘I had Callum sat in English and now look at him.’”
Asked if he used to behave himself, cheeky Wilson laughs “only for you” before giving his old crush another hug.
It was an emotional return to Coventry for the England forward, who spent part of his childhood in foster care and using food banks.
Speaking to SunSport in 2020, Wilson, who has five younger siblings, recalled: “Domestic violence at home put us in that position. It was out of my mum’s hands — she was in hospital.
“We got taken away by social services. I can’t remember the people we lived with. We went to this house and they said ‘You’re going to be living here for a while’.
“Then we moved to another house. Me and my brother got separated. Then I lived with my auntie for a while. Then my mum saw me when she shouldn’t have. It was all just a big mess, really.
“We got taken back away again. It was a case of my mum not wanting us to be in that situation. She was in an abusive relationship and that was the result of it.
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“I can’t remember how old I was. Subconsciously, I think I’ve blocked it all out.
“My missus says I can never remember anything as a kid. I always say, I put a line through anything that happened back then.”
Wilson moved from Coventry to Bournemouth in 2014, where he bagged 67 goals before moving to Newcastle for £20million in 2020.
Aston Villa rivalled Toon for his signature, but Wilson reveals in the documentary: “It doesn’t really feel like home – it feels like somewhere I tried to escape from.
“Villa was home and everyone was saying I can come back but it’s not actually something I wanted.
“I worked hard to get away and I felt that going back was almost a failure.”
Asked about what he was like at school, Wilson’s old PE teacher says: “He was always on the edge but not in the middle of the more difficult group of boys.
“If I am absolutely honest I thought it was 50/50. I knew he had the talent but it’s about what’s up there.”
Wilson adds: “When I went to school I liked it!
“I can’t say I behaved the best. I was that person who was distracting other kids’ learning, not by choice but just I just think from the hostile atmosphere I was in.
“I thought that was normal. I wanted to be the centre of attention I’m guessing and was crying out for help in a round-about way.
“But I don’t have any regrets because ultimately that makes me the character I am.
“Football had to be on the cards because there was no other option in terms of getting out of the turmoil I was living in at the time.
“If I didn’t have those experiences I probably wouldn’t have made it to where I am now because I wouldn’t have the fight, hunger and determination.
“Mental strengths and how you handle the setbacks is what takes you to the next level.”
GettyToon hero Callum Wilson liked to be the ‘centre of attention’ at school[/caption]
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