A COUPLE were forced to rearrange their wedding reception after the opening of Darlington Football Club's new stadium was delayed.

The club has repaid a deposit to Tracy Scott and Stuart Buchan and reprinted their invitations after catering bosses told them the stadium would not be open in time.

The couple had also been told there was not enough room at the old Feethams ground to accommodate them on their wedding day, planned for September.

Tracy and Stuart were given the disappointing news with just three months to go until the big day and a frantic search began for a new reception venue.

Tracy's grandfather, Alan Scott, said last night: "It was disappointing for them but they managed to find somewhere else. The worst thing was that they had expensive invitations printed saying the reception was at the club.

"I don't think they want to make too much of an issue out of it - they just don't want anything to ruin their big day."

Trevor Johnson, bars and catering manager at the club, said: "We apologised to the couple and fully reimbursed their deposit. Most of the events which were booked for the new stadium are now taking place at Feethams.

"But as the Scott wedding was on a match day, and we only have one function room at Feethams, as opposed to two at the new stadium, we had to cancel the booking.

"We even bought them new invitations so they wouldn't be out of pocket.We have only had to cancel two functions because of the delay with the stadium."

l Football fans who are set to kick off married life at the same time as the start of the new season are being offered a reward.

To celebrate opening matches, Nationwide Building Society, sponsor of the Football League, is offering couples who are tying the knot on Saturday a £2,000 "loan" which will never need to be repaid.

The top prize will also include a wedding video for the football-mad couple, including messages from players and highlights of the day's match.

Six runners-up also get a date for two at their club's home ground.

To enter, couples are asked to register their wedding at www.nationwide.co.uk/football or by calling (01652) 641370