Tottenham interim manager Ryan Mason’s fiancee Rachel Peters supported him through dark days after horrific head injury
WHEN Ryan Mason was named interim boss at Spurs, first to congratulate him was his supportive fiancee Rachel Peters.
“I’m bursting with happiness for you,” she wrote captioning a photo of the former England midfielder on Instagram.
“Well done my love,” she added.
It was the pinnacle of the journey the two have been on since Mason, 29, suffered a life-threatening head injury that forced him to retire.
Rachel was Mason’s support through his horror ordeal, as he recovered from a fractured skull.
A SELF-CONFESSED GEEK
Describing herself as a “a geek, with my nose in a book” to The Guardian back in 2019, Rachel studied business and economics at Lancaster University before meeting her husband-to-be in her third year.
She wasn’t looking for love, but a mutual friends introduced to Mason and sparks flew.
Soon, she followed him to Hull City when he moved from Spurs in a £13million deal.
Personally and professionally life was great.
A ROMANTIC ENGAGEMENT
Just 10 weeks before a clash of heads with Gary Cahill would leave Mason in a crumpled heap on the Stamford Bridge pitch back in 2017, the ex-Hull City star whisked Rachel off to Dubai for a romantic break away.
There, Mason got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
She said on Instagram: “Tonight the love of my life got down on one knee and I said yes!!!”
Brunette Rachel also uploaded a picture of her sitting by the pool with flowers and champagne and wrote: “Back home after the best weekend ever.”
However, their romance was put under a stern test just months later, when Mason would be left fighting for his life.
MASON’S ORDEAL
Mason fractured his skull in the incident with Cahill and was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where he received immediate treatment for a bleed on the brain.
It was later revealed 14 metal plates were inserted into his skull held together with 28 screws and 45 staples – to save his life.
“Thankyou for the overwhelming support for my perfect boy it’s giving us strength,” Rachel wrote in a caption soon after.
In her interview with The Guardian, she said: “How can your life be so perfect and then suddenly your whole world is turned upside down?
“He was unresponsive. He actually died, and they brought him back. It’s crazy.”
In 2018, Mason was forced to hang up his boots.
THE AFTERMATH
When Mason returned home, Rachel became his full-time carer.
Any noise would be piercing for him, while the medication he took gave him nightmares.
Peters washed, dressed and fed her beloved.
“His body was traumatised. His skin was peeling off his fingertips, he had to wear white cotton gloves,” she said.
“When I got home from the hospital I had a nervous breakdown. I sobbed like a baby.
“I couldn’t cope because I was having to be so strong all the time. I felt guilty just to leave the house for a coffee.”
LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS GO TO PLAN
The same day the former Spurs youth trainee announced his retirement, again Rachel was there – showing her support on social media.
“Life doesn’t always go to plan, but you have to find the positives in a negative situation,” she wrote on social media.
“You wasn’t expected to make it through the night, let alone walk or talk again and now look at you!!”
In the meantime, the pair welcomed their first child together.
“The truth is you are so lucky to be alive and healthy and it’s a blessing we now have a beautiful baby boy and you’re his absolute world,” she continued.
“I’m so proud of how dignified, positive and strong you’ve been this past year you’re a true gentleman and professional!!
“You’ve achieved so much already, playing for your country and captaining your team, we are all so proud!!
“Your so loved by every one you meet because you are such a nice, genuine person. And I can’t wait for what’s next, I know you’ll be a success in whatever you do.”
A NEW CHAPTER
Life has come full circle for the pair – with a tragic circumstance pulling them even closer together.
In 2019, Mason returned to Spurs and began to work with their academy and stars of tomorrow.
Rachel wasn’t going to let that moment slip without praising her boy on social media.
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“Congratulations to my @ryan8mason on becoming an official coach at Tottenham. You deserve it and we are always so proud of you,” she wrote on Instagram.
Just a few years later, and Mason is now in the top job.
You can’t help but think he couldn’t have done it all without Rachel by his side.