Crewe Alex: Walton brings a little celebrity glitter to Gresty Road

SIMON Walton says football has helped keep his mind off the distraction of his fiancee's high-profile appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.

The midfielder, who is on loan from Plymouth until the end of the season, was impressed by Nicola Tappenden's performance on the Channel Four series.

The model rubbed shoulders with the likes of actor and former Wimbledon hard man Vinnie Jones, socialite Ivana Trump and singer Dane Bowers, and was among the final house-mates to be evicted this week.

Tappenden, aged 27, sprung to fame as a Page Three girl, and plans to marry Walton, aged 22, this year.

During the show she spoke of her relationship with the former Leeds youngster, with whom she has a daughter, Poppy.

"Sometimes people in that industry don't get portrayed in a good light, but she has done ever so well," said Walton.

"She got a good reception when she left the Big Brother House on Wednesday.

"It's been a strange few weeks to say the least, but I'm really proud of her.

"Fortunately, I've had quite a few games to keep my mind off things while she has been away.

"The first thing she asked me when she came out was how the football with Crewe was going."

No doubt the former Miss Great Britain contestant will have been pleased to hear of the Alex's return to winning ways.

Last weekend's 3-0 cruise over Darlington ended a sequence of four games without a win, but Walton was quick to point out that Crewe's overall improvement since mid-November has left them handily placed for a tilt at the top seven.

"It is being consistent which keeps you up there, and we've only lost two out of the last 10 games," he said.

Walton believes his appetite for the game has been revitalised under the coaching of Crewe boss Dario Gradi.

"I'm loving it here," he said. "I've played 14 games on the bounce, which is the most I've played for three years."