A flag spotted at England’s World Cup opener has celebrated a couple’s marriage and the football club that brought them together.
Serena and Dave Stone’s flag, reading “World Cup Honeymoon 2010” and “Still Married”, caught the attention of BBC commentator John Murray during England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas.
The couple, from Bournemouth in Dorset, are now following England’s journey through the tournament, with the team’s next group game against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
A love story born at Dean Court
The flag also features the AFC Bournemouth badge. Serena worked in the club’s ticket office and Dave was a director there when they married at Dean Court in 2010.
The flag was made for the couple’s honeymoon at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, having first been displayed at their wedding reception at the ground.
Following England across America
The pair are following England throughout the tournament under FIFA’s Follow My Team ticket package. Their journey so far has taken them from Dallas through Memphis, Nashville and Philadelphia.
Speaking after the final whistle, Murray, commentating for BBC Sounds, described the flag and said “well done” to the couple for the longevity of their marriage.
“They’ll have enjoyed this, I’m sure,” he added, referring to the result.
‘It’s absolutely phenomenal’
The flag originally read “Just Married” and was altered years later to mark the couple’s anniversary, before being brought out of storage for this tournament.
Dave told the BBC the flag’s first appearance at Dean Court came when Bournemouth were playing Port Vale and said he was thrilled the team will play in Europe next season.
“It just shows how far we’ve come in those 16 years,” he said. “It’s absolutely phenomenal.”
The bottom line
A World Cup honeymoon. A still married flag. A love story that began at Dean Court.
Sixteen years on, Serena and Dave are still together. Still following England. Still flying the flag.
And Bournemouth are in Europe. It just shows how far they’ve come.
As the flag says: still married. And still loving it.
