A football-mad man proposed to his girlfriend on the big screen at a match with over 16,000 onlookers - and she said yes. Tony Philpotts pulled the risky move during the Plymouth Argyle versus Ipswich game on Sunday, September 25.
Thankfully, it paid off when his blushing bride-to-be, Samantha Rickard, said yes. Tony, 44 from Barnstaple, North Devon, bravely proposed on the big screen.
It was lit up with a sign reading: "I told you I was serious. Samantha Rickard will you marry me?"
Samantha, 37, also from Barnstaple said: "It was all a shock really, I didn't expect any of it. I was so surprised to see it on the screen.
"I could feel myself going really red. I'm a massive Plymouth supporter and so are my dad and son so it means a lot to me and it's a big thing for my dad.
"When it happened we were just really excited on cloud nine. We then got to watch one of the best matches ever."
The affair was marvelled by the entire Home Park stadium which has a capacity of 16,000. Tony had originally planned the proposal for a previous game but it was cancelled due to the Queen's official mourning period.
Tony said: "I wasn't sure whether it was even going to happen because I asked them to rearrange and I didn't hear a response. But it came up on the big screen anyway and I just had to improvise.
"I chose to propose that way because it's such a big thing to us, and in front of so many supporters it's just something different." They were also joined by three of Samantha's children, her dad, brother-in-law and her nephew.
The couple have been inseparable since they met on a night out two years ago. Sunday's unique proposal marks the second anniversary of this magical evening.
They have seven children between them ranging from ages 18 to 9-months-old. When they returned home, Samantha was faced with one more surprise.
Their youngest baby, Bowie wore an adorable sleep suit that read Mummy Said Yes. They don't have any formal wedding plans as of yet, but hope to wed next year.
Samantha said: "We want to get Christmas out of the way and just have a nice small family wedding. I just feel amazing.
"The proposal was on our anniversary and we even have the exact same birthdays. The whole thing is just meant to be."
It turns out the game ended well for both the happy couple and Plymouth Argyle, who won 2-1 at their home stadium.
