A couple of loyal York City fans have scored a particular personal goal.

But it meant that Ian Sanderson and Kathryn Ellis missed Saturday's home match with Hartlepool.

That was due to the London-based couple, who are both originally from York, having another fixture to attend.

For Ian and Kathryn were married that afternoon at the Merchant Taylors' Hall in the city.

They first got together at a meeting of the York City South supporters' club at the aptly-named Cittee of Yorke pub in Holborn, London.

Ian said he and Kathryn first met in 1997, and initially became romantically involved in April 1998 a time Ian remembers well.

"It was Luton away, we lost three-nil and had two men sent off," he said.

"But it was a happy evening that was when we went out afterwards."

Ian, 30, works at King's College in London, and Kathryn, 33, is a personnel manager for an advertising company.

Looking forward to his big day Ian said he had been "banned" from Saturday's game, which was sponsored by the Evening Press, as City continued their battle to escape the relegation zone.

"Our romance has coincided with their downturn," he said.

Updated: 10:27 Monday, March 05, 2001