Die-hard Hibs fan proposes at Easter Road
And what better way to ensure they forever remain intertwined than a romantic proposal at Easter Road during the Scottish Cup quarter-final?
Fellow fans cheered as the words scrolled across the scoreboard: “Lisa McLarty. You are my one true love. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? All my love Connaire.”
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Hide AdLisa turned back from the screen to see her boyfriend of six years down on one knee, ring outstretched.
He had been planning the proposal for months, and told the Evening News: “I have loved her since the moment I met her.”
Stadium announcer Barrie Wilkins read out Lisa’s seat number at half-time, instructing her to look at the board.
“I thought I had won a signed football or something,” she said. “I was totally overwhelmed.”
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Hide AdConnaire added: “I had a whole speech prepared but the board didn’t update for 30 seconds and I panicked – the rest is a bit of a blur.”
The bank manager from Cockenzie also admitted it was the first game since he started going 20 years ago that he didn’t “give a monkeys what the score was”.
And while not every girl dreams of a football ground proposal, Lisa, 23, from Haddington, was over the moon.
“I can’t stop smiling,” she said. “I had thought about how he would propose but I could never have imagined it being like this.
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Hide Ad“He put so much thought into it. Hibs is his passion and it makes me so happy to see him so in love with something. I was never a massive football fan but I enjoy going with him.
“We have many friends there it’s such a big day out. I really enjoy the atmosphere and Connaire’s even got me singing songs, like Sunshine on Leith at the derby the other week.”
Despite the moment being a complete surprise, the couple had discussed getting married.
Connaire said: “She started talking about it on Saturday morning, I had to quickly change the subject – I thought she’d guessed.”
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Hide AdThe couple met when they were 17 and 16 at a friend’s party in Haddington. They exchanged phone numbers and despite Connaire having to work at 6am the next day, they talked through the night.
“It was love at first sight,” he said. And Lisa agreed, adding: “We’ve grown up together and been through a lot together. It has never been anyone else and never would have been anyone else for either of us.”
The couple plan to marry in the next three years, with Lisa firmly in charge of the wedding.
She said: “I said he could have one thing to do with Hibs so we’re having the engagement party at Easter Road.
“We have lots of friends and family so it will have to be a big venue, maybe the Balmoral, Archerfield or Edinburgh Castle.”