It is going to be a ‘long flight’ home for one someone
A married couple will attend Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final after travelling more than 3,000 miles – but will sit at opposite ends of the stadium.
Caroline Oatway, 32, is a Manchester City fan but hubby Shaun Littler, also 32, is a diehard Sheffield United supporter.
The couple were watching live from home in Boston, Massachusetts when the teams drew to play against each other at Wembley today.
And when they realised they would be visiting family then, they decided to get tickets – in their clubs’ respective ends.
The pair will even travel down to Wembley Stadium separately as bluenose Caroline plans to go with her friends while lifelong Blades fan Shaun will travel with his family.
Caroline, originally from Manchester, is confident her side will win, but admits it’s “going to be a long flight” back home next week for whoever’s team loses.
“I certainly hope City are going to win,” she said, ahead of the match.
“On paper they definitely should but football doesn’t that work that way and I’ve followed City long enough to know that they don’t always work that way.
“It should probably be comfortable for us but who knows.”
The couple down fly home until next Thursday, which Caroline joked will allow for a “little bit of a cooling down period”.
Caroline, a sports journalist, recalled the moment the couple learned their teams would face each other while they were in the UK.
“I wish we would have recorded our reactions because there was just about 30 seconds of silence with our heads in our hands.
“It was the draw neither of us wanted really because Sheffield United obviously wanted the best chance of reaching the final.
“I just thought that the next couple of weeks are going to be interesting living with Shaun and then seeing his family of Sheffield United fans.”
Shaun, who works in financial recruitment, said that at first the couple didn’t want the draw but they realised it would be a “great day” for them both.
“It’s a funny one really because it’s the draw neither of us wanted,” he explained.
“We wanted the best chance to get to the final and we’ve drawn City and they are the hardest team who will completely destroy us to be honest.
“We realised we would be over for the game and then realised what a day out it will be. I think then we realised what a great day it will be for us as individuals and as a couple and for our families as well.”
Shaun thinks Sheffield United will “probably get beaten by about four or five goals”, but “my heart says that you never know and it’s 90 minutes”.
Shaun, originally from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, added. “I look back at the Wigan FA final in 2013 and they beat Manchester City – they were massive underdogs.
“Nobody ever gave them a slight chance of winning and they ended up beating them with a last minute goal.
“We’ll just be hoping for the best.”
Despite travelling to the game separately, the couple will meet up before kick-off for a “friendly pint” and to “wish each other luck.”
The couple, who have been together since 2009 after meeting on MSN, had already planned a trip to visit their family in the UK when the game was announced.
But Caroline said she thinks they would have “possibly made the trip” to see the match regardless.
“It’s not every day that the two teams play each other as they’ve only played each other four times in total since we’ve been together,” she said.
Sheffield United and Manchester City have played each other just four times since Shaun and Caroline got together, and every single time Manchester City have won.
After a game in 2019, where Sheffield United’s goal was disqualified, Caroline said that after the match, Shaun came “stomping up” to her and his face “was like thunder.”
She said: “It’s good fun actually because City has won every game which is obviously good for me.
“The first time we played each other there was obviously a big build up and some of Shaun’s family came to Manchester.
“I was in the home end though and he was in the away end. It was a pretty controversial game because Sheffield United scored first and it was disallowed. Then I think there was some controversy around one of City’s goals as well.
“We met up in the bus queue after the game and Shaun came stomping up to me with his arms folded and his face was like thunder.
“I don’t think we spoke for the whole of the bus journey home which was a bit funny.
“I’ve said this time that we’re not travelling together.”
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- The reason why Cody Gakpo chose Liverpool over Man United
