A die-hard Newcastle United supporter who "bleeds black and white" has sacrificed his chance to watch the Carabao Cup final at Wembley so that both of his kids can go.
Season ticket holder Barrie Dunn from Ashington has been a devoted Newcastle fan all of his life so was delighted when he managed to secure two tickets for the historic cup final. However, the 48-year-old was then faced with the agonising decision of choosing which of his children to bring with him to Wembley.
His daughter Anna, 15, and son James, 12, are both huge Newcastle fans and share a season ticket to accompany their dad to games. But despite his best efforts, Barrie, who works as a retail manager for Sainsbury's, was unable to get a third ticket so they could go to the match together.
READ MORE: Newcastle hospitals issued with warning after inspection finds mental health care failings
"We were wondering what to do, which kid do we pick," Barrie's wife, Kate Dunn, told Chronicle Live.
"When we were talking to people about it they were saying, 'just toss a coin,' but for a good couple of weeks, we just wrestled with the idea of one of them being disappointed and we couldn't bear it.
"We were at the point we were just going to give the tickets to someone who sits near Barrie on a normal match day or to my brother who lives in the London area. But we just couldn't give them up as the appetite was growing for the game and we thought we cannot let this bypass them so Barrie said, 'I'm going to give both kids the tickets.'"
The selfless dad decided that he would drive Anna and James down to London where they would be met by their grandparents, who are season ticket holders, and are also going to watch the match at Wembley. Barrie will then pick the children up from the match and drive them straight home so they can be back in time for school on Monday.
Kate continued: "I said, 'you can't do that, you bleed black and white!' But he said that he couldn't see them disappointed.
"The kids said they can't believe their dad is giving them his ticket but Barrie absolutely lives for his kids so he said it was totally fine."
Midwife Kate, who worked for the club for 15 years and even married Barrie at St James' Park, said she plans to watch the match at home with her daughter Libby, seven. She praised her husband's selfless decision in a post on Facebook which has attracted dozens of comments from impressed fans and parents alike.
"Barrie thinks he's only done what any other dad would," Kate said.
"[But] everyone who knows us personally knows how much the game means to Barrie so the fact that he has done this for his kids is a bit heartwarming."
And Kate's who joked that she's "the original football widow" due to her husband's devotion to the game, added: "I have forgiven him all those moments because the kids are smiling and they are happy."
Send us your photos of your cup final celebrations here.
READ NEXT:
- Shola Ameobi reveals special Wor Flags tribute ahead of Newcastle United's Wembley cup final
- Cramlington grandad in row with council over 'towering' tree that's blocking out his light
Newcastle fans can grab free Carabao Cup souvenir photos in Eldon Square
- Newcastle social club fined £25,000 for illegally screening Premier League matches
- Newcastle parking could become cashless with plans to scrap all coin-operated machines
