Money, success and fame have been part of football for decades. But glamour? That only really came into play in the early 2000s with the rise of the WAGs. Women like Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and Nancy Dell’Olio turned the stale, macho world of football into something glitzy and fabulous, creating a cultural moment that would later become rich source material for Scottish artist Trackie McLeod.

McLeod’s exhibition at OOF Gallery celebrates the height of WAG culture. The World Cup summer of 2006 saw the WAGs descend on the hotels, bars and nightclubs of Baden-Baden in Germany, diverting the spotlight away from their husbands and boyfriends. Who could care about a bunch of blokes kicking a ball around when there was champagne, stilettos and drama to lose yourself in?

‘Growing up in the 2000s, like a lot of queer kids, I was obsessed with pop culture,’ says McLeod. ‘Glossy magazines showed me a world that felt miles away from where I grew up in Glasgow. I’d always try to stay up an extra hour to catch an episode of Footballers’ Wives. That show gave me a fictional peek into a world of glamour and scandal. Then came the 2006 World Cup. Suddenly, the WAG became a celebrity in her own right. You didn’t necessarily have to sing, act or even do anything – being famous was enough.’

McLeod traces a line from 2006 straight through to the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial, the high-profile libel case and social media feud between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy. The artist approaches the saga with the same religious fervour that most people reserve for football itself. At the heart of the gallery is a confessional booth where viewers can pass judgement on the High Court transcript of Vardy v Rooney. Elsewhere, celebrity culture takes on the form of modern religion, with WAGs cast as figures in 'THE LAST SUPPER', while works like 'CATCH-22' and 'HOOLIGANS WITH VISAS' highlight their mistreatment at the hands of the press. Throughout the show, McLeod asks: What happens when money, success, fame and glamour become things to believe in?

Exhibition runs 30 October to 26 February 2027 at OOF Gallery, N17. The gallery will be closed from 19 December to 15 January inclusive. 

Admission is free. Use entrance for the Tottenham Experience at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Open Mon, Thu, Fri, 10-5, Sat 11-5 & Sun 12-4. Closed Tue & Wed.

Opening hours are subject to change on stadium event days. Check our website/Instagram before travelling.