Life-long Everton fans who celebrated a "very special proposal" are hoping their dreams will come true of tying the knot at Bramley-Moore Dock.
John Marchbank, 46, recently proposed to his partner of five-years Kelly Walker with the help of EFC star Duncan Ferguson. On September 30 at an "Evening with Duncan Ferguson" event at the Devonshire Hotel, John decided to take the plunge and get down on one knee, with the help of Duncan himself.
John told the ECHO: "It's been a running joke for a while that Kelly says she loves Duncan Ferguson more than me so I got his help to propose. He'd just been on stage and then we went into a private room with him and I said Duncan no longer wanted to be the third wheel.
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"She was in shock, she didn't realise it was true but eventually she said yes. Now the reality has sunk in and we are trying to plan the wedding."
As the shock settles down, the pair are now gearing up to plan for their very special day, with high hopes of being the first couple to marry at Bramley-Moore Dock. John told the ECHO: "It would mean everything to us.
"It would be a dream come true. It's mad enough getting our hero to help out with the proposal in the first place but this would be incredible.
"That would be the ultimate dream. I organise a mini bus tour and go to every match, even last week, the day after I proposed I went straight to Southampton for the match. We are both Evertonians."
John, who has a tattoo of Duncan's autograph on his leg, said once the EFC star heard of the proposal plans, he was "more than happy to help". Offering the use of the stage, John - from North Wales - said that he was "nervous" and so opted for a private room.
Having known Kelly since they were children, they reunited five year's ago at her uncle's 50th birthday. But as both families are life-long Everton fans, the pair say this would be the "ultimate dream come true" as he added: "We are still in shock really.
"Everyone is really happy for us and we are getting so many well wishers. We've had good feedback so far so fingers crossed we can make it happen. We've both followed Everton since we were in primary school, I go to every game and Kelly comes to as many as she can."
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