The Everton defender was seen enjoying some time away from Merseyside
James and Samantha Tarkowski with Millie Gibson and Tom Neatis(Image: Samantha Tarkowski/Instagram)
James Tarkowski left some fans surprised as his friendship with a Coronation Street star was revealed. Tarkowski has become a crucial part of Everton’s side since signing for the blues in the summer of 2022. The centre-back has played 109 times over the last three seasons but will not play again in the 2024/25 campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury against Manchester City.
Away from the pitch, James Tarkowski is married to Samantha Tarkowski. The couple have been together since 2015 and tied the knot in 2023. They have two children together.
The couple enjoyed a meal out together last weekend with Millie Gibson and Tom Neatis. Millie is an actress currently starring in the latest series of Doctor Who as companion Ruby Sunday.
She also portrayed Kelly Neelan in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2019 to 2022. Millie is in a relationship with Tom Neatis. Tom owns his own music label, Bloom, and specialises in dance music.
The four friends had a meal at Winsome, a restaurant specialising in British food in Manchester city centre. Samantha shared several images from their meal on her Instagram page.
In the caption, Samantha said: “Gorgeous evening, gorgeous friends.” Millie left several hearts emojis in the comments section and said: “Love you guys.”
Other friends, as well as Everton fans, sent their support to Samantha and James in the comments section. One said: “Stunning couple.” Another said: “Wishing you a quick recovery Tarks, us blues adore you.” A third person said: “Beautiful people.”
Millie also shared pictures from the meal on her Instagram page with the caption: “Din dins with special people.” Many of her fans were unaware of her link with the Everton footballer.
One commented: “James Tarkowski?” Another said: “Didn’t expect to see Tarkowski.” A third person said: “Is that the Everton defender?”
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Samantha has got her personal training qualifications and, in a documentary last year, said she wanted to open a gym to help women feel great about themselves. The Amazon series, entitled Married to the Game, showed various wives and girlfriends of footballers about their personal lives.
During the series, Samantha admitted she found it hard being in the public eye at times. She said: “Everyone seems to think a footballer has to be with a very stereotypical, super skinny, really glamorous, gorgeous woman, whereas actually he’s just my husband, he’s just James to me. I don’t think of him as a footballer at all.
“I’d like to think people’s perception of me isn’t a thing to me, but it is. I want to be liked, I put a lot of pressure on myself fitness wise, body wise, because I want people to think, ‘Yeah, she looks good, I’d like to look like that’.
“I struggled for years with eating disorders, poor self esteem, poor body image, there is still a part of me that still struggles with that. I’m a woman in football, it’s hard work, it’s tough, because all people want to do is bring you down.”