Football is better known for breaking marriages than making them.

But for Albion fans Robin Purbrook and Jane Varney, the game has proved more of a bond than a burden.

So much so that Jane, 36, wore a dress in the club's blue and white for her wedding ceremony at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton on Saturday.

And, as if they needed further proof of their devotion, the couple made it to the second half of the Seagulls' clash with Leyton Orient at Withdean - still in full gear.

Jane, a medical sales rep, said: "We've both lived in the Brighton area all our lives. I've been an Albion fan since I was ten and Robin has since he was six.

"I was there to see them go up to the old First Division and I've been there to see them go down several times since.

"We just wanted the game to figure as part of our big day. We're not complete football saddoes, we just wanted it to be fun. It was a bit embarrassing, but a laugh." Jane wrote to the club to ask whether they could be moved from their normal season ticket holders' seats to a covered area to spare the dress the rigours of a rainy day at Withdean.

A letter came back from chairman Dick Knight promising not only that but four pairs of last year's football boots for the reception at the Royal Norfolk Hotel, Brighton.

Jane said: "We used them as vases for our wedding flowers, which were in a blue and white arrangement.

"The club has been absolutely brilliant. I can't thank everyone enough for being so kind.

"One of our guests was an Orient fan and a few of them followed Fulham, but we left them alone."

Gas engineer Robin, 41, made it to the FA Cup Final in 1983 when the Albion lost to Manchester United after a replay.

He said: "I've seen some ups and downs with this club. I thought Saturday was a really good day. It was Jane's idea. She's more of an extrovert than I am.

"To be honest I hadn't thought of it, but it seemed like a great way to celebrate.

"We had a few pictures taken on the beach after the ceremony and had a bit of candy floss before the game."

But for Alan Parkinson, 58, landlord of the Shakespeare's Head pub in Spring Street, Brighton, where the couple are regulars, the whole day was something of an ordeal. He said: "I've always followed Crystal Palace, arch enemies of the Albion."