Owls supporting wife ditches Blades fan husband to watch "true love" Sheffield Wednesday on Valentine's Day

Devoted Wednesdayite Carole Sutherland will be swapping the hearts and flowers and candelit dinners on the most romantic day of the year to join the Hillsborough faithful as Carlos Carvahal's side continue their promotion push against Blackburn Rovers.

And hubby Dave, 53, a Blades follower, will be left at the couple's Waterthorpe home as Carole and her two children head out into the cold to cheer on the Owls.

She said: "I've been an Owl all my life. Dave knows Wednesday is my true love and he did promise my dad on the eve of our wedding never to stop me from going!

"There will be no romance on Tuesday, I've got the night off work to go to the match."

And so when hundreds of other couples across the city sit down to romantic meals tomorrow, the pair will be spending the evening apart - with Dave forced to listen updates from the Blades' trip to Bristol Rovers on the radio.

Carole, 41, will be joined at Hillsborough by daughter Faith, 11 and son Ty, eight - with all three season ticket holders at Wednesday.

She added: "Dave has supported United all his life - but only told me three months before the wedding that he was an Unitedite.

"While me and the kids are season ticket holders, my husband just goes when he can.

"The three of us gang up on Dave - he has been very vocal lately with United being at the top of their league."

And it isn't the first time the pair's Steel City divided loyalties have got in the way of plans - with the family's trip to last year's Championship play-off final, which saw Wednesday defeated by Hull for a place in the Premier League, also seeing the couple go their separate ways.

"We all went to Wembley for the weekend but while me and the kids went to the match, Dave went to the pub," she said.

Added Carole: "This season I have gone to more away games with my dad which has left Dave fuming but he knows Wednesday is my true love."

And Dave won't be the only football widower or widow tomorrow - with plenty more footy devotees putting their love for their team ahead of their partners.

Amy May Johnston said: "I'm being ditched for Rotherham United - and its not just Valentine's Day, its our nine years anniversary too. If Sheffield United was at home though I'd be ditching him!"

Mark White said: Leaving the wife at home and I'm off watch the red and white WIZZZZZZZAAAAARDS at Bristol Rovers just like five years ago when we went to Huddersfield

Matthew Spriggs said: "Taking the wife out for afternoon tea so I can attend the match in the evening. #compromise."

Alison Rhead Sedgwick said: "The Wednesday are playing - it's not a difficult decision and its i my husband's birthday too lol."

And Mark Rainey added: "Blades for life. Women come and go."