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Honeymoon England flag on World Cup pilgrimage

Stuart RustSouth of England
Serena Stone Serena and Dave Stone pose for a picture in a football stadium ahead of England's World Cup match against Croatia. Serena, to the left, has long brown hair. Dave has a beard and is wearing a lanyard around his neck with a pass which has an image of the World Cup on it. There are crowds of people behind them and the football pitch is almost fully visible. Jets of water are being sprayed onto the grass. Serena Stone
Serena and Dave Stone's flag has travelled from a 2010 World Cup honeymoon to England's 2026 campaign

A flag spotted at England's World Cup opener has celebrated a couple's marriage - and the football club that brought them together.

Serena and Dave Stone's flag, reading "World Cup Honeymoon 2010" and "Still Married", caught the attention of BBC commentator John Murray during England's 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas.

The couple, from Bournemouth in Dorset, are now following England's journey through the tournament, with the team's next group game against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.

The flag also features the AFC Bournemouth badge. Serena worked in the club's ticket office and Dave was a director there when they married at Dean Court in 2010.

Getty Images A close-up of stands within a football stadium. The picture focuses on two large balconies with St George's flags - red crosses on white backgrounds - draped over the barriers at their edge. The flag at the top right of the image has "still married" printed across the central red stripe. Elsewhere, in the corners, it includes the words "Serena & Dave", "AFCB" and "World Cup honeymoon 2010". The flag also includes the emblem for AFC Bournemouth. Getty Images
The flag once read "Just Married" before being altered to mark the couple's anniversary

The flag was made for the couple's honeymoon at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, having first been displayed at their wedding reception at the ground.

The pair are following England throughout the tournament under Fifa's Follow My Team ticket package.

Their journey so far has taken them from Dallas through Memphis, Nashville and Philadelphia.

Speaking after the final whistle, Murray, commentating for BBC Sounds, described the flag and said "well done" to the couple for the longevity of their marriage.

"They'll have enjoyed this, I'm sure," he added, referring to the result.

The flag originally read "Just Married" and was altered years later to mark the couple's anniversary, before being brought out of storage for this tournament.

Dave told the BBC the flag's first appearance at Dean Court came when Bournemouth were playing Port Vale - and said he was thrilled the team will play in Europe next season.

"It just shows how far we've come in those 16 years," he said. "It's absolutely phenomenal."

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