A HUSBAND has recounted how he cut his honeymoon short to go see Swindon Town win the 1969 League Cup- and his wife didn’t mind!

Martyn and Janet Howes married on March 1 five decades ago in Yorkshire after the pair met as teenagers at Christchurch youth club.

Martyn, a lifelong Swindon Town fan was due to spend a week away in the Yorkshire Dales as part of his honeymoon but it clashed with the cup final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

He said: “The honeymoon was lovely, we had a great time but it was very cold as it snowed while we were up there.

“However, there was no way I was going to miss the match and so we cut our holiday a little short to make sure we were back in Swindon in time to travel up to Wembley.

“Janet and I are still together, so I guess she either did not mind or has long since forgiven me.”

Janet said she wasn’t that much of a football fan and said she understood how important the day was to her husband and other fans: “I didn’t mind really, Martyn was going with his brother and parents and it was such a great occasion for a small club like Swindon to make it to the final, it wasn’t to be missed!”

Martyn travelled to Wembley was his brother and parents in the family car and said the atmosphere at the stadium was amazing: “My mother managed to get a seat just behind the Royal Box while the rest of us were early enough to bag a crash barrier behind the goal at the dressing room end.

“Of course we all remember the pitch which looked more like Weston-Super-Mare than Wembley. Don Heath was the hero of course but what a game Peter Downsborough the goalkeeper had too, he was equally a hero!

“The journey home, no M4 in those days of course - was memorable as there was lots of cars with scarves and flags waving and lots of tooting of horns, plenty of coaches too. It was a wonderful day and great to see the fans and players celebrating.”

Martyn and Janet celebrated their own 50th anniversary by returning to the hotel where they had their honeymoon. But this time they didn't cut it short. Janet said: "He actually missed a home game this time but that was the deal, I give up my honeymoon for the final - he misses a match for our 50th!”