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FA Cup semi-final: Married football rivals travel 3,000 miles for tie | FA Cup semi-final: Married football rivals travel 3,000 miles for tie |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Shaun Littler and Caroline Oatway met in an MSN chatroom in 2004 | Shaun Littler and Caroline Oatway met in an MSN chatroom in 2004 |
A married couple have flown more than 3,000 miles together to attend the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley - only to sit at opposite ends of the stadium. | A married couple have flown more than 3,000 miles together to attend the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley - only to sit at opposite ends of the stadium. |
Sheffield United fan Shaun Littler and his wife Caroline Oatway, a Manchester City supporter, moved from the UK to Boston, Massachusetts, last year. | Sheffield United fan Shaun Littler and his wife Caroline Oatway, a Manchester City supporter, moved from the UK to Boston, Massachusetts, last year. |
Luckily, their trip to the UK to visit family coincided with the game. | Luckily, their trip to the UK to visit family coincided with the game. |
Ms Oatway, 32, said: "As soon as the draw was made, I was like, this is going to be absolute hell". | Ms Oatway, 32, said: "As soon as the draw was made, I was like, this is going to be absolute hell". |
The sports journalist, who works for New York City Football Club, said: "I said I wished we'd recorded our reactions" when they realised the Blades would meet the Blues. | The sports journalist, who works for New York City Football Club, said: "I said I wished we'd recorded our reactions" when they realised the Blades would meet the Blues. |
Her husband, also 32, is from Handsworth, Sheffield, and will travel to the match with a group of family and friends. | Her husband, also 32, is from Handsworth, Sheffield, and will travel to the match with a group of family and friends. |
The couple moved from Manchester to the United States last year | The couple moved from Manchester to the United States last year |
He said: "I'm going with my mum, my stepdad and my dad, and my brother Ryan, his wife Kerry and my six-year-old nephew Jackson. | He said: "I'm going with my mum, my stepdad and my dad, and my brother Ryan, his wife Kerry and my six-year-old nephew Jackson. |
"It's his first time seeing a match away from Bramall Lane, so it's going to be really special for him." | "It's his first time seeing a match away from Bramall Lane, so it's going to be really special for him." |
Ms Oatway will travel with fellow City fans, including one of Shaun's best friends. | Ms Oatway will travel with fellow City fans, including one of Shaun's best friends. |
She said: "Shaun was talking about getting a minibus that would have been full of Sheffield United fans, so I said I'm not travelling with you because I'll get it in the neck. | |
"I said you're going to be a nightmare - and he said my family will be fine with you - I said it's not your family, it's you!" | "I said you're going to be a nightmare - and he said my family will be fine with you - I said it's not your family, it's you!" |
Mr Littler, who works in financial recruitment, said they would meet up for a drink before the game, and again afterwards, but joked it would be a "long flight home" whichever side won. | Mr Littler, who works in financial recruitment, said they would meet up for a drink before the game, and again afterwards, but joked it would be a "long flight home" whichever side won. |
The semi-final will take place at Wembley on Saturday | The semi-final will take place at Wembley on Saturday |
Talking about the game, he said: "Really, we've got no chance, maybe a slim chance if we are being realistic... but football is a game of 90 minutes, City have two tough games either side of us, so we will just have to see. | Talking about the game, he said: "Really, we've got no chance, maybe a slim chance if we are being realistic... but football is a game of 90 minutes, City have two tough games either side of us, so we will just have to see. |
"They have never beaten us in the FA Cup in their history, and the last few times we have played them, we have never been destroyed!" | "They have never beaten us in the FA Cup in their history, and the last few times we have played them, we have never been destroyed!" |
The couple met in an MSN messenger chatroom in 2004, before meeting in person at Bramall Lane two years later, and marrying in 2017. | The couple met in an MSN messenger chatroom in 2004, before meeting in person at Bramall Lane two years later, and marrying in 2017. |
Manchester City will face Championship side Sheffield United at 16:45 BST on 22 April. | Manchester City will face Championship side Sheffield United at 16:45 BST on 22 April. |
It will be Sheffield United's first FA Cup semi-final since 2014. | It will be Sheffield United's first FA Cup semi-final since 2014. |
In the other semi-final, Brighton will play 12-time FA Cup winners Manchester United the following day. | In the other semi-final, Brighton will play 12-time FA Cup winners Manchester United the following day. |
The final will take place at Wembley on 3 June. | The final will take place at Wembley on 3 June. |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Sheffield | Sheffield |
Manchester | Manchester |
Boston | Boston |
Wembley Stadium | Wembley Stadium |
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