A FOOTBALL fan will marry his sweetheart in the first marriage ever to be staged at his club's stadium.

Lifelong Darlington supporter Geoff Gale will tie with knot with fiancee Amanda Crawford next month at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena, after the pair met on the Greek island of Kos.

Mr Gale, 44, and Miss Crawford, 38, will host their big day on Saturday, July 15, with 80 guests, in the stadium's Penthouse Suite, before having a champagne reception in the Platinum Suite.

Darlington FC has recently been granted a licence to hold civil marriage ceremonies.

Yesterday, Mr Gale, a season ticket holder, said: "I have supported Darlington FC all my life and I am delighted I can marry the woman of my dreams at the Arena."

Dawn Whitear, chief superintendent registrar for Darlington, said she was looking forward to performing a ceremony in a new venue.

She said: "This is the first time we will have held a ceremony at the football club, and it could be the first of many now the club has a licence to hold civil marriages.

" I want to wish the happy couple the very best for the future."

Darlington FC conference and banqueting manager, Janet Murphy, said: "Football has often been the cause of many marriages being shown the red card, so we are delighted we can help Geoff and Amanda kick off married life in style."