'Braveheart' Colin Hendry finds love again with Edinburgh shop worker

Scots football legend Colin Hendry has found love again more than a decade after he lost his wife, Denise.

The former Scotland international and Blackburn Rovers defender experienced personal tragedy when Denise, with whom he had four children, died in 2009, aged 43.

Denise passed away from an infection after 80 days in intensive care due to complications caused during an operation.

The op had been needed following bungled liposuction surgery performed in 2002.

Denise had endured seven years of torment because of a liposuction op and spent six weeks on life support after the surgeon punctured her bowel and colon. She went through 20 operations in the years that followed.

A year after her death, Hendry fell on hard times as he tried to cope with the loss and was made bankrupt.

But friends say he is head over heels once more, this time with his shop assistant girlfriend Sarah Matthews who has made it clear the feeling is mutual.

One said: “Colin has had enough of the limelight but he is just glad to have found someone like Sarah who is also enjoying the romance.”

The stunning brunette, who works for the retail chain Next, posted a loved-up pic of her cuddling the sports icon to her Facebook page as she proclaimed the couple's love for each other.

Using a blue heart emoji, the 38-year-old said: “I finally found my Braveheart, couldn’t ask for a better person who gave me a reason to smile.”

Pals have been quick to congratulate the sporting legend and Sarah, who has an HNC in Fashion Make Up, on news of the romance.

Jackie Bon commented: “Aww Sarah you deserve it babe look so happy.”

Stuart Goldie quipped: “She went in for the tackle, and won.”

Anthony Duncan said: “Amazing woman so happy for you and wish you two the best.”

And Hendry replied with a wink to Wilhelm Von Thurn who said: “Yer punchin' there, Colin.”

In 2010, the footballer was formally declared bankrupt at Blackpool County Court having faced a tax bill of over £1 million. He also owed thousands to creditors, including the betting company SpreadEx.

He was declared insolvent after turning to drink and gambling as he mourned wife Denise.

That same year, he was banned from driving for 17 months after being tested and found to be almost twice over the legal limit of alcohol.

Around the time, he confessed that he used booze and betting in a bid to escape his grief.

He said: "I did drink quite a lot initially. And I gambled - not as badly as has been reported.

"I'm not a bad guy. I've made mistakes in my life, like most people have."

However, in 2015, he was charged with harassing and assaulting an ex-girlfriend.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge of harassment, while the assault charge was dropped.

The footballer was part of Blackburn’s title winning side in 1995.

He also played for Dundee, Manchester City, Rangers, Coventry City and Bolton Wanderers and went on to have a career as a coach. In his international career, he earned 51 caps, scoring three times for Scotland.

Hendry was also part of the Tartan Army’s Euro 96 and World Cup 98 squads and featured in the video to the World Cup song Don’t Come Home Too Soon by Del Amiri.

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