A pair of lovebirds will enjoy a red and blue wedding after kicking off their romance on a football pitch.

Katie Cox and Lee McBride have agreed to tie the knot after falling in love while parading in giant eagle costumes as Crystal Palace FC mascots.

Supporters of Palace's arch rivals Brighton and Hove Albion would no doubt dispute any suggestions the union forged at Selhurst Park was a match made in Heaven.

Yet while 23-year-old Katie lives in Burgess Hill, her heart belongs further north along the A23 in south London rather than Sussex.

Lee, 21, has managed to muscle in on the devotion she previously reserved for Palace heroes such as former boss Steve Coppell - who later managed Albion before quitting for Reading last year.

Katie appears on the Selhurst Park pitch before every home game dressed as Alice The Eagle, wearing yellow tights and an over-sized red and blue football shirt.

Her enjoyment reached fever pitch, though, when Lee took over as her partner Pete the Eagle.

After Lee saw Palace storm to a thrilling victory on Valentine's Day this year, he got down on one knee and proposed.

Katie did not hesitate to say yes. The teaching assistant said: "We'd just watched Palace beat Stoke City 6-3 and we were on Cloud Nine.

"When he brought out a diamond ring it was so unexpected but I said yes straight away.

"I think Palace winning spurred him on. He said he saw it as a good omen."

Lee's family are staunch Palace supporters but Katie's parents don't like football, avoiding any potential for rivalry.

This has cleared the way for Katie's dream wedding to Lee, a computer science student at the University of Kent.

The pair are planning their big day around the club which brought them together.

Katie, who works at Chailey Secondary School in Chailey, near Lewes, said: "I've already told Lee I want the bridesmaids and ushers to wear red and blue, although I think I might stick to the traditional white bride's dress."

The wedding will not be until 2006 but they both plan to continue their big bird antics on matchdays.

Katie said: "I absolutely love being Alice. I get to dance around the pitch.

"At the moment my favourite tune is Peter Andre's Mysterious Girl - and Lee gets to do some fancy football flicks.

"We have such a laugh. I know he's the one for me."