A FORMER professional footballer and his childhood sweetheart are celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Golden couple Harold and Betty Houlahan, from Mickle Grove, Coundon, jetted off to Benidorm for a week to celebrate.

Mrs Houlahan, 70, said: "We didn't want a party or a big fuss so we went away instead.''

The couple both grew up in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, and have known each other all their lives.

Romance blossomed after a night at the rink dance in Spennymoor and they married at St James' Church, Coundon, in 1953, after a two-year courtship.

Mr Houlahan, 73, enjoyed six years as a professional footballer playing for Newcastle, Oldham and Darlington.

After his footballing career he returned to his trade as a joiner for Durham County Council. Mrs Houlahan worked at George Matthews cash and carry in St Helen Auckland for 42 years.

Their only son, Kenneth, 49, is manager of Evenwood Football Club, where Mr and Mrs Houlahan are keen fans.

Mr Houlahan, an all- round sportsman who played cricket for his local team and once won an award for sprinting, said: "My wife has been a football fan for 50 years. We go to matches all the time.''

Mrs Houlahan said: "We like to go and watch our grandsons play at Evenwood, but we also like to see all the North-East teams do well.

"We have had some great times and I think the secret to being happy is doing things together and having similar interests.''

Mr and Mrs Houlahan, who have four grandchildren, Stephen, Martin, Gemma and Claire, also enjoy dancing.