THEY say it’s the beautiful game. And for a Christchurch couple, a cup final has ousted one of the most important days of their lives.

Teenage sweethearts Chris Forbes and Stacey Johnson have moved their impending wedding day after Priory Quays FC made it to the final of the Hampshire Sunday Senior Cup.

But after the mammoth reshuffle, which saw the couple rebooking both their venue and the registrar, yesterday wet weather postponed the match, once again leaving their initial chosen date free.

Stacey said: “It’s unbelievable that it’s been postponed after all that.

“But we’re glad too because the weather’s so bad. It’s for the best.”

Forward Chris, 28, has played for the team for more than a year, and his understanding bride said she supports him all the way.

“We set the date in November last year for April 6,” she said.

“We’d even booked the venue and the registrar. But in January, Chris found out that the team were going to be playing in the finals on the day of the wedding.

“I was a bit upset for a while but luckily we were able to move the date back a week to April 13 in the end.

“The final won’t be played on that day, so we’re still going to have our wedding then!”

Fortunately, the soon-to-be newly-weds hadn’t yet sent out their invitations.

“That would have been a nightmare,” said Stacey, 25.

“When we called around to tell people what had happened, they all had a bit of a laugh. We’re just really pleased that we were able to move it.”

Stacey and Chris have been together for more than 10 years, and he got down on one knee “years ago”.

The couple are even holding their big day at Dean Court.

Mum-of-four Stacey said: “My six-year-old son has done trials at AFC Bournemouth.

“He’s really good at football but he’s a bit little for it at the moment, so they’ve told him to come back in the future.

“He’s so excited that we’re going to be there as his dream is to play for the Cherries.”

But even a couple as happy as this have their arguments.

Stacey said: “We always go along when the weather’s nice to cheer Chris on when he plays.

“But he supports Man U and I support Tottenham, and he says once I’m his wife I’ll have to change that. There’s no way I’m going to though!”