A FOOTBALL fixture a decade ago has resulted in an end-of-pier wedding proposal and long-term fixture for the sister of one of the team’s players.

Barry resident Andrew Colburn, got down on one knee on Penarth Pier and asked Rachel Butler to marry him, but this was no ordinary proposal as Andrew had ordered a special plaque to be fixed to the landmark to hopefully seal the ‘yes’ deal on Saturday, May 23.

The romantic plaque read: “Rachel I love you with all my heart, marry me?”

And she said agreed in front of a gathered applauding crowd.

The couple, both support workers, first met when Andrew played football with Rachel’s brother Simon and Andrew became friends with Simon and his whole family.

Seven years later Andrew, 30, glimpsed Rachel, 26, on a train bound for a night out in Cardiff and they exchanged mobile numbers.

Andrew arranged a date for the following week but Rachel called it off at the last minute, but not to be thwarted arranged the first date at the Salt bar in Cardiff Bay.

The later took a walk on Penarth Pier where they shared their first kiss.

Andrew loved that Rachel was so good with his then six-year-old daughter who is an important part of his life and they bought their house in Barry and made it a home.

Andrew’s mum, Lynne Colburn said: “Andrew wanted to make his proposal special something that would always be there. He thought of carving will you marry me into a tree and taking Rachel to a picnic nearby but he remembered their first date and kiss on the pier and enquired if this could be done.”

Julia, from Vale Council leisure and tourism and who deals with the plaques, informed Andrew it would take 16 weeks to process the request, but Andrew had already bought the ring with Lynne and his sister and didn’t want to wait that long.

Lynne said: “He explained what he was about to do and she rushed the order through for him thinking how romantic it was. The lady first phoned Andrew when he was in the car with Rachel and had to put it on hands free only to realise who she was.

“Before she revealed anything and had to put the phone down and pass it off as he had pressed a wrong button. After speaking to the lady again and explaining why he had hung up she told him the plaque was being laid so he and I went over to see it.

“It was perfect. They spoke to the manager David to ask if we were allowed to take photos from his balcony. He did even better. He let us use a private room with an excellent view.

“Saturday came Andrew was a nervous wreck. He gave me roses, candles and a heart to place around the plaque. I was to wait along with his friend Dave Williams who had a helicopter drone to video the event from the sky. Andrew took Rachel for a romantic meal at Romeo’s. Once they finished their meal he texted us that he was on his way. People walking past the plaque stopped, read it and went further along to watch. Andrew and Rachel walked along the deck hand in hand. He told me later Rachel didn’t really didn’t want to go for a walk he had to persuade her. Rachel pulled Andrew into the seating area half way along the pier to sit for a while, but by now Andrew was so nervous he convinced Rachel to walk to the end of the pier and then finally back home. Dave saw them approaching and he set up his helicopter, which got two foot of the ground and crashed due to the wind. Andrew stopped by his plaque and asked Rachel to look and read what it said.

She said: “No it isn’t for me, I can’t”. He insisted and when she finally gave in to read it, Andrew got down on one knee.

“Rachel was so full of different emotions. She laughed, cried and said over and over again: 'I can’t believe it, I’m so happy'. The crowd that had gathered all clapped and cheered, some even took photos themselves.”

Rachel’s mum Helen and dad Charlie had arranged a celebration for family and friends at their home and Rachel said afterwards that “she had wondered why Andrew had dressed so smartly.”

Lynne said: “She had noticed people looking at them when they were walking along the pier. She said she had absolutely no idea, and never thought Andrew could be so romantic, but she loved every minute of it. Andrew had teased her previously saying that 'hundreds if not thousands of people' would see his proposal. They would by reading the plaque on the pier.”

The couple plan to marry in Malta, where Rachel’s family come from, during the summer next year.