Northampton man surprises girlfriend with proposal at Leicester City match

Matt Yeoman, aged 34, had to rush fellow foxes fan Stacey Peach, aged 29, into her seat 30 minutes before the game at the King Power Stadium last Saturday.

The mortgage data analyst was so shocked when she saw the words “Stacey Peach will you marry me?” she hit Matt in the face - and then said yes.

Incredibly Matt only came up with the heart-warming stunt after buying the wedding ring days before.

The events manager, who lives with Stacey in St James, said: “I bought the ring on the Sunday before the game and spent the next two days really thinking of how I could do it.

“A few of my friends have taken their girlfriends away to propose and everybody was saying: ‘Ooh, off to get engaged then?’

“So I wanted it to be a complete surprise and completely catch her off guard. I rang up the club and they said they hadn’t done one in a while but would love to.

“The problem was they said the announcements start 30 minutes before the game so make sure you’re there.

“I was so nervous going down. Stacey kept asking why we were in such a rush and I said: ‘No reason’.

“I had to drag her through the turnstile and into the stand.

“I was shaking. Then the words went up on the screen and Stacey looked up and then saw me kneeling next to her.

“She actually whacked me first before saying yes.

“I know it was a massive risk and a massive gamble but it paid off thankfully. It was such a relief when she said yes.”

Matt has been a diehard Leicester City fan since the early 1990s and converted Stacey after taking her along when they started dating three years ago.

Stacey said: “I was completely oblivious, I was telling him we had 40 minutes and there was no rush.

“He had my hand was literally dragging me in the ground.

“I know it sounds bad, but I can’t actually remember what he said. I think I said, ‘yes’, and I know I whacked him and said’ ‘I can’t believe you did that.’

“I was lovely though and there were people taking photos all around us.”

The couple are looking to move to Leicester in the next few months before they start planning their wedding for next year.

Stacey added: “He wanted us to get married in Leicester shirts. His with ‘Groom 1’ on the back.

“I said: ‘Does that include me?’ I’m meant to be in white.

“And he reminded me about the new away shirt. But no, it’s just not happening.”