A Newcastle man has interrupted the biggest day of his life to captain his football team to victory.
Just ninety minutes after Simon O’Brien married his sweetheart Catherine Reed at St Mary’s Star of the Sea on Saturday, he helped the Cardiff Hawks win their semi-final match.
But far from being an upset bride, the new Mrs O’Brien reportedly watched the team sail into the grand final from the sidelines, calling the interruption ‘kind of fitting’, according to The Newcastle Herald.
Newcastle man Simon O’Brien (left) interrupted his wedding to Catherine Reed (right) on Saturday to captain his football team to victory
Just ninety minutes after the Cardiff Hawks captian (pictured) married his sweetheart at St Mary’s Star of the Sea, he took the the field with team for their semi-final match
The couple reportedly planned the date of their wedding back in January and at the time were unsure whether the team would even make the finals.
But after the Hawks qualified last weekend the couple were forced to change up their plans, with their wedding set for 12pm and kick-off at 1.30pm.
‘I’m scheduled to leave the wedding at one o’clock. The service should go for about 35 minutes, and then obviously a bit of mingling afterwards,’ Mr O’Brien told Fairfax Media earlier in the week.
But rather than be annoyed at the circumstances, his bride was full of understanding – having been an avid player for the Hawks female team this year.
‘I’ve really enjoyed my season, and if I was playing tomorrow, I’d want to play as well,’ she said.
Around 80 guests from the wedding were expected to join her on the sidelines to cheer the team on and enjoy a pre-reception of meat pies an sausage rolls.
The day turned out to be a double celebration for the couple though the team sailed into the grand finals after beating the Nelson Bay Marlins 108 points to 48
Rather than be annoyed the new Mrs O’Brien (right) reportedly watched the game from the sidelines, calling the interruption ‘kind of fitting’, according to The Newcastle Herald
Thankfully the day turned into a double celebration with the Cardiff Hawks beating the Nelson Bay Marlins 108 points to 48.
The team will now take on the Terrigal Avoca Panthers in the Black Diamond AFL grand final, after losing to them in the first semi-final match.
With kick-off at 2.15pm next Saturday though, Mr O’Brien might also have to pull double duty with his honeymoon.
The team have not made the grand finals since 2012, with Mr O’Brien reportedly yet to win a premiership since joining the club a decade ago, according to NBN news.
The couple are said to have met while at the University of Newcastle, when Mr O’Brien was studying to become a lawyer and his new bride was earning her teaching degree.
The couple reportedly met while at the University of Newcastle, with more than 80 friends and family said to have watched the game before returning to the reception