Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor in phone call to estranged mum

Oct 18 2009 by Fionnuala Bourke, Sunday Mercury

Tina said: “I’m not interested in his money. I just want him to know me. There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. I’m so proud.

“Joy said he (Samson) told all the children I’d died from some kind of illness about three or four months after he was granted custody. I can’t begin to imagine what Sam told them about me during the years they were growing up.

“But if it’s as poisonous as lying about my death, then I can understand why they wouldn’t want to know me now.

“From the time I wasn’t allowed to see them, I sent birthday and Christmas presents and cards to all of them at Sam’s house. But when I rang to see if they liked them, Sam would tell me he’d thrown them away.”

The mum admits she came close to shouting out to her famous son when she saw him score in the 4-2 win over Bolton in December.

Tina said: “I had to stop myself from reaching out to him and restrain myself from shouting out to tell him who I am. It could have been very emotional for him – I didn’t want to ruin his game.

“Last month, during the UEFA Cup, we sat a few yards away from where Gabby was sitting in the dug-out. He was messing about and squirting water at the manager.

“Yet even though I was willing him to turn around so I could catch his eye and make some kind of connection, he doesn’t know what I look like.

“Of course, there have been times when I’ve wanted to run onto the pitch and fling my arms round him, but Nathan’s told me not to because I’d be banned from the ground.’’

A spokeswoman for Gabby Agbonlahor declined to comment.

fionnuala.bourke@sundaymercury.net