
As Gareth Southgate celebrated England's shock penalty win over Colombia last night, he made a beeline for the woman who played a secret but significant part in the team's success.

The England boss, 47, shared a tender embrace with his wife of two decades Alison, 51, whose off-pitch support the manager has credited with keeping him grounded.

Blonde former sales assistant Alison is a constant supportive presence, but shuns the flashy WAG lifestyle and largely remains out of the spotlight to focus on their two teenage children Mia, 19, and Flynn, 15.

And Gareth has spoken openly about how time with his wife and their two children helps to keep him sane away from the pitch, and his own experience has inspired a 'family first' strategy that could well be fuelling England's World Cup success.

Earlier this week, Jamie Vardy's wife Rebekah confirmed that Southgate's tactic is to allow players time with their loved ones, unlike in previous major tournaments.

The former player was in his early 20s and a trainee at Crystal Palace when he fell for Alison, a pretty boutique assistant almost four years his senior.

He would loiter around her boutique pretending to be browsing clothes, and was helped by the owner of an Italian restaurant in Croydon, which he and Alison frequented, who acted as a go-between.

Having been teased for his prominent nose, he was so unconfident of his looks that it took him about two years to ask her out. When he finally did, she told him she was living with someone. However, she eventually left her boyfriend for Southgate.

England boss Gareth Southgate, 47, shared a tender embrace with his wife of two decades Alison, 51, whose off-pitch support the manager has credited with keeping him grounded

The couple married in 1997 at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Worth, Crawley, West Sussex

In his book, Southgate recalls how he and Alison would meet in a Tesco car park to keep their romance secret from her ex.

However, when he was transferred to Aston Villa, she gave him an ultimatum: either she moved to Birmingham with him or the relationship must end.

His parents, were 'a little taken aback' when they announced they were living together because they had only met her once, and 'found it hard to believe that a son who had been so methodical, logical and weighed up everything' would behave so capriciously.

They married in June 1997, in a low-key ceremony at his parents' local church, carefully planned between World Cup and European Championship campaigns.

Supportive wife Alison celebrating the goal scored by Harry Kane during the Colombia vs England game

Hug for a hero: England manager Gareth Southgate was seen embracing his wife Alison and son Flynn after his side advanced to the World Cup quarter finals last night

England manager Gareth Southgate celebrating at the end of Colombia vs England

Gareth Southgate hugs his wife Alison while watched by his daughter Mia and son Flynn

The family home is Swinsty Hall, a magnificent Grade I-listed Elizabethan manor nestled in the wilds of North Yorkshire, that he bought for £3.75 million when he moved to Middlesbrough.

And he's spoken frequently about how his wife and children help him to stay sane away from the pitch.

Last summer he described how he was unwinding with his family ahead of preparing the England team for the world cup.

'Over the last couple of weeks I've just had a nice time spending it with the family though, and for me that's important because my kids are 18 and 14, and their development is as important for me as anything else in my life,' he told the Evening Standard.

'You do have to try to find a balance because my focus inevitably gets drawn towards making this team as successful as we can and driving them to be the best team in the world, but I'm also a dad and a husband.'

The glamorous blonde has been credited with helping keeping her husband sane away from the pressures of the pitch. Alison, pictured enjoying afternoon tea at Sketch in London (right), keeps a low profile and avoids the limelight

Earlier this week Rebekah praised the England's boss for prioritising players' time with their families.

'He's got the right idea of the team mentality,' she told The Sun. 'He's really relaxed with the players and he makes an effort with all of the families.

'He really encourages family days after games which relaxes the players, it brings a bit of normality in.'

Alison was seen cheering on her husband and the England squad from the stands last night, alongside her two children Mia and Flynn, as the team won its first ever World Cup penalty shoot-out.

England's win was all the more extraordinary after they conceded an equaliser with almost the last kick of the game sending the last-16 match into extra time.

The original WAGs! Alison Southgate (second right) talking to Louise Bonsal, girlfriend of Michael Owen, on their way to watch England play in the World Cup in 2002

They then went behind in the penalty shoot-out after Jordan Henderson's miss but an incredible one handed save by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford turned the match.

Then a winning spot kick from Eric Dier sent millions of emotionally exhausted supporters into hysterics. Back home jubilant fans flooded the streets to celebrate, climbing lamp posts, stopping traffic and even setting off fireworks.

Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Jack Butland, Kyle Walker and Marcus Rashford all took to social media to express their joy and relief after the final whistle in Moscow.

Jesse Lingard posted a photo of him talking on the phone while on the pitch, accompanied by the amusing caption: 'No mum, I'm not coming home. It's...' - a nod to England's beloved anthem Three Lions.

Gareth Southgate's team will now face Sweden in the quarter final on Saturday at 3pm - England's first for 12 years - with more than 20million people expected to watch.

Fans gush about having a crush on England manager Gareth Southgate (and his waistcoat!) As a teenager, he was teased about his prominent nose, and he felt so insecure about his looks that it took him two years to pluck up the courage to ask Alison, now his wife, out on a date. However, the World Cup has turned the England manager, 47, into something of an unlikely sex symbol, thanks so his composed nature - and love of wearing waistcoats. During last nights match, fans took to Twitter to admit having a crush on the former player, with one admitting her feelings had evolved into a 'full blown (one sided) love affair'. Another gushed over: 'The waistcoats, the composure, the managing the team that wins the first penalty shoot out in a major tournament'. After last night's game, fans took to Twitter to admit to fancying the English manager, thanks to his collection of waistcoats, calm nature and articulate commentary Advertisement

The national side's first knockout win in 12 years and only the second shootout win in eight attempts, along with a quarter final draw against Sweden, provoked scenes of jubilation around the country with many supporters now believing that 'football's coming home'.

Kensington Palace even tweeted the team congratulations from the Duke of Cambridge, signing the tweet W.

The apparently personal message from the president of the Football Association said: 'I couldn't be prouder of @england - a victory in a penalty shootout! You have well and truly earned your place in the final eight of the £worldcup? ?and you should know the whole country is right behind you for Saturday! Come on England! W.'

Former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: 'Football. There is nothing like it. Nothing.'

Fellow former Three Lions star Alan Shearer simply said: 'Yesssssssss boys yeeesss yes yes £RUSSIA-2018 @England.'

The country watched in disbelief last night as the miracle of Moscow saw England go through to the quarter finals of the World Cup.

After Colombia's equaliser in the final stages of the game and goalless extra time, the nation's heart sank as the match went to dreaded penalties.

Just minutes from defeat goalkeeper Jordan Pickford became a national hero after skilfully saving Carlos Bacca's effort.

The familiar curse of England losing on penalties seemed once again on the cards when Liverpool's Jordan Henderson saw his spot kick saved.

But failure then followed from Colombia's Mateus Uribe who crashed his effort on to the crossbar.

Pickford then produced a crucial save when he kept out Bacca's effort.

In front of a capacity 45,000 Spartak Stadium it was then left to Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier to step up.

He planted his effort past Arsenal's goalkeeper David Ospina to win the shoot-out 4-3.

Jordan Pickford executed an incredible save to secure England's victory during penalty shoot-outs at a tense match in Moscow

And substitute Dier settled the contest and fired England into a quarter-final clash with Sweden with a clinical spot-kick

England players pile on top of heroes Eric Dier and Jordan Pickford after the penalty shoot-out win over Colombia last night

Tottenham player Kieran Trippier said after the shoot-out: 'I thought we played really well in the first half and for their goal, it was a mistake by myself. I was gutted. I keep going on about the spirit of the team, we carried on, we believed and in the shoot-out, we have some great takers. We practised and practised and it paid off.'

Earlier the team had victory snatched from their grasp when the South Americans scored a 93rd minute equaliser to cancel out captain Harry Kane's second-half penalty.

His strike made him the tournament's leading scorer with six goals – not counting a seventh effort he bagged during the penalty shoot-out.

Substitute Eric Dier was the man who slotted home the decisive penalty which helped ease 28 years of pain from the penalty spot for the 'Three Lions.'

Jesse Lingard posted a photo of him talking on the phone while on the pitch, accompanied by the amusing caption: 'No mum, I'm not coming home. It's...' - a nod to England's beloved anthem Three Lions

England fans celebrate in Flat Iron Square near Borough Market after watching the tumultuous match on a big screen

Jesse Lingard celebrates with a selfie with family and friends after defeating Colombia in a see-saw tie in Russia

Southgate embraces England's penalty shootout hero Dier after the Three Lions secure their passage into the quarter-finals

The Tottenham midfielder would have been acutely aware that England has been eliminated from six major tournaments - three World Cups and three European Championships - on penalty kicks.

The 'Three Lions' have been beaten in five previous penalty shoot-outs. The losing famously began in Euro 96 - held in England - when the current coach Gareth Southgate was the man who missed the vital spot kick.

But this time Southgate had a wry smile after bringing in specialist sports pyschologists to the current training camp to help the players deal with the pressures of penalties.

Southgate may even have thought ' here we go again' after Jordan Henderson missed England's third kick last night.

But Colombia's Uribe hit the crossbar and Bacca's penalty was saved by keeper Jordan Pickford last night in a game that ended just before midnight.

It was then left to Eric Dier to convert the vital fourth penalty and win a shoot-out for the first time for almost thirty years.

Jordan Pickford dives to save Carlos Bacca's penalty in the shootout, a stop which gave Dier the chance to win it from the spot

Back home people were celebrating the win on their sofas, in pubs and on the streets including here in Brentwood, Essex

Fans take their clothes off and spray beer around at The Lord Stamford public house in Manchester as England beat Colombia

Megan Davison, Jordan Pickford's girlfriend (left), could hardly watch as the game went into penalties but her boyfriend was able to block Bacca (pictured, right, Pickford celebrates)