Perfect Partner? Marie Pro Weddings!

Colchester will emulate Birmingham City in encouraging couples to get married at their new Cuckoo Farm stadium.

Chief Executive Marie Partner predicts the U`s will offer a compressive service which expands beyond just the conventional matchday routine. They`ll have to, she admitted to the BBC during a recent launch day at the new site on the A12, because costs are doubling in some areas when compared to current expenditure at Layer Road.

"Believe it or not, there are staunch supporters there that will do anything to set up a chapel in the dressing room and read their wedding vowels... it`s been known before," Ms Partner explained.

Jason Berry, the club`s marketing manager,admitted there is a market for the bizarre idea; there would probably be a few wives-to-be in need of persuasion to say the least.

Although research did not reveal any famous exchange of nuptials among football fans, the old Bill Shankly quote did appear. Responding to an interviewer, as we now aptly approach valentines day, he said many moons ago: "Of course I didn`t take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present, it was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves."

On a U`s front, there was the famous couple from Colchester who christened their newborn baby Cureton as a first name last March.

The former Championship top scorer has since returned to Norwich. Boy, are they going to have some explaining to do!