FA Cup: Bradford's Billy Clarke facing potential wedding dilemma
- Published
Billy Clarke won 11 caps for Republic of Ireland Under-21s
Bradford City forward Billy Clarke may find himself rushing to his own wedding if his side reach the FA Cup final.
The 27-year-old Republic of Ireland man is getting married on Sunday, 31 May, one day after his side could be playing in the Wembley showpiece.
The League One Bantams take on Reading in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
"My wedding is the day after the Cup final so I've been joking about with my missus saying I might not be able to make it," he told BBC World Service.
"I've told her that if I'm late she'll know where I am.
"I think since she found out what date the final was she's been going into every game thinking 'Oh my God, he's getting closer' but we're still a way off. It would be naive to think about it now."
When sportsmen and weddings collide |
|---|
Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy was given permission to miss an England friendly against Belgium before Euro 2012 to get married but ended up getting injured and having to withdraw from the squad. The injury? He broke his wedding ring finger. |
Huddersfield Giants scrum-half Luke Robinson postponed his wedding in October 2010 after being called up to the England squad for their tour of Australia and New Zealand. He suffered a broken elbow against Papua New Guinea but was able to tie the knot the following month without a sling. |
Liverpool and England midfielder Adam Lallana moved his wedding forwards from 14 June 2014 to Boxing Day 2013 after realising it would have clashed with England's opening World Cup match against Italy in Brazil. Just as well, he made his competitive debut for the Three Lions in that game. |
The Bantams have beaten Premier League sides Chelsea and Sunderland in the last two rounds to reach the last-eight stage of the competition for the first time in 39 years.
Clarke joined Bradford from Crawley in the summer and has scored eight goals in 31 games, as well as claiming the assist on their first goal against the Black Cats in the fifth round.
The Valley Parade outfit are currently eighth in the third tier, two points off the play-off places, and Clarke has the perfect May mapped out.
"It would start off with us winning the play-off final and then winning the FA Cup final and then coming in third place would be getting married," he joked.
- Published5 March 2015
- Published7 June 2019
