Sun today:

A BRIDE and groom from California have snubbed a fancy honeymoon by flying 5,000 miles to watch Newcastle United.

Toon-crazy Dan Devlin and wife Tara will go to their first ever game tomorrow after years of supporting the Magpies from afar.

Thrilled Dan, 29, said yesterday: “It will be my dream come true.”

Bride Tara, 23, surprised him on their wedding day with tickets for the St James’ Park clash with Everton.

She grinned: “I knew he wanted to see Newcastle United before Alan Shearer retires. One room in our house is full of Newcastle memorabilia.”

Tara also shelled out £400 on air tickets from their hometown of Monterey. Dan, who works for the US Defense Department, said: “I knew there and then I’d wed the right girl.”

He became interested in United while sharing a house at college in North Carolina with three soccer fans — two from Dublin and one from Malaysia.

Dan said: “They used to watch Match Of The Day every week. It was the Keegan era and I’ve followed the Magpies since.”

The couple are spending five days on Tyneside. Tara said: “Dan brought four Newcastle shirts — and that’s all he’s worn since we got here.”

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

Answers

...we could have done with a bit of help from Dan's employers last Saturday lunchtime.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

Great story Ian! Thanks for putting it up here.

It would be magic if the club does something special for them - maybe a little souvenir of their visit presented to them on the pitch 10 mins before kick off. The first time Ciara came over she got a write up and her picture in the programme at the next match.

Doesn't bode well for the result on Friday though does it? :-)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

Would be a nice gesture Jonno - and good PR for the club. As for the result, well it's reassuring to know that Dan is California Dreamin'.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

They were on the local news yesterday having a drink in the Strawbeery!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

I just hope the result of their first match is better than the result of mine. ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

First match? Didn't know you'd been married before Ciara?

Hmph. Perhaps not. Mini cab please, and quick.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

Well I hope one of you gets close enough to slip them a note with the address and password of the bbs!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

Well, they've already found the Strawbeery, so I'm sure our BBS Krishnas will hand out the flowers invites on Friday. ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002

Bloody hell, 400 quid for two tickets to the Toon from the states? It costs me more than that to get home from Barcelona...

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2002