A SOCCER fanatic forced to kick the second love of his life into touch when he got married today scored a prize for making the ultimate sacrifice.

Window cleaner Gary Barker, 28, of Russell Terrace, Padiham, decided he couldn't afford to wed sweetheart Lisa and also renew his treasured season ticket to watch Burnley FC.

But a month after he made the great sacrifice his Turf Moor withdrawal symptoms are about to be treated -- after the happy couple won VIP tickets to a match of their choice.

Gary, 28, and care assistant Lisa, 29, married at St John's Church in Padiham on the first day of the season on August 10.

"I even got the dates wrong when we planned the event," Gary said. "I thought with the World Cup being in the summer, the start to the new season would be delayed for a week."

It meant the Clarets fan was enjoying a lavish wedding reception when Burnley kicked off the new campaign -- although younger brother Mark missed the meal in favour of seeing his Turf Moor heroes in action.

Lisa said: "At least the wedding was a Clarets affair. We had claret ribbons on the car and the bridesmaids wore caret-coloured dresses."

Burnley stars Gareth Taylor and Mark McGregor turned up at Turf Moor to congratulate the couple, on their competition triumph.

They won the VIP tickets -- to see Burnley play Portsmouth on October 26-- in a contest run by Football League sponsors Nationwide to find newly-weds who had tied the knot instead of going to that crucial first match of the season.

Now Gary can't wait to see his favourites from an executive seat -- but Lisa's not so sure. "Gary once took me to a Burnley game, but it was a boring nil-nil draw," she said.